Grant to put area on show
PROMOTING Charters Towers as a place of beauty is at the heart of a proposal that received grants funding.
The tourism sub committee of the Charters Towers Chamber of Commerce and Mines has been successful in obtaining a $5000 grant from the Charters Towers Regional Council’s Community Grants program.
Committee spokeswoman Raylea Thomson said the funding would be used to make a promotional video of the town.
“We’re going to promote our beautiful town and the people that are in it,” she said.
“It’s about the architecture, the experiences, our beautiful town as we know it.”
Mrs Thomson said the group felt now was the time to be proactive in promoting the region in as many ways as they could.
She said the video would be shared on social media, and if further funding became available the committee would also look at running it as a television ad to attract visitors from other regions. The promotional video was one of nine applications for assistance approved by the Charters Towers Regional Council at the June meeting.
Among the other projects approved:
• The Gold City Bowls Club has been granted $5000 to construct a steel-framed shade shelter.
• The Charters Towers Ministers Fraternal was granted $839 to put on the annual Charters Towers Community Christmas event.
• The Gudjalbara Indigenous Corporation has been granted $5000 for the 2020 NAIDOC celebrations.
• Ravenswood Restoration and Preservation Association will install a touch screen at the Ravenswood Information Centre with the $5000 granted.
• The Queensland Country Women’s Association Charters Towers branch will hold an egg carton flower and card making workshop and was granted $900.
• North Queensland Offroad Racing Association plans on holding race and come and try days with the $3959 granted to it.
• Power points, lights and insulation of the new extension will be completed with the $5000 granted to the Hervey Range Rural Fire Brigade.
• The Charters Towers Miners Rugby League Club has been granted $1500 to replace a water pump filter system.
Council declined to support grant applications by C&K Charters Towers Community Kindergarten and the Blackheath and Thornburgh College P&F Association.
A total of $32,198 has been granted to the local organisations.
UNLICENSED drivers, drugs users, trespassers and thieves were among those who faced the Charters Towers Magistrates Court this week.
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Bike ride ends in fine
Taking a bike he was repairing on to a street has proved costly for a Charters Towers man.
Ryan Robart Lloyd, 20, pleaded guilty in the Charters Towers Magistrates Court to driving while unlicensed, driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle and driving without a motorbike helmet on May 7 this year.
The court heard Lloyd was riding the bike on North St, a dirt road adjacent to his mother’s house.
He told police he did not realise North St was classed as a road.
Magistrate Cathy Wadley fined Lloyd $350 for driving while unlicensed and disqualified him from driving for three months.
He was fined $100 each for the unregistered and uninsured motor vehicle offences, and $100 for riding a motorbike without a helmet. No convictions were recorded.
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Man blames brother
A man who initially claimed the marijuana found in his vest pocket was his brother’s has pleaded guilty to possession of a dangerous drug.
The court heard Jesse James Nelson, 26, tried to run away from police into Ryan St when he saw them on May 7.
Police noticed he appeared dishevelled, and when they searched him they found a bud of green, leafy material in his pocket.
Nelson asked police to put the item in the bin, before he denied any knowledge of it.
He told police the vest was his brother’s and he had got it out of the dirty washing to wear it.
Nelson was convicted and fined $100 for the possession of .39g of marijuana.
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School trespassers
Three people caught trespassing on a local school by the groundskeeper have been fined.
Jeremiah Edward Harris, 20, Reannon Kursty Walker, 19, and Ethan Laurence Doyle, 19, were each found guilty.
The court heard the three entered the grounds of Blackheath and Thornburgh College via the oval and ran when the groundskeeper spotted them.
They were later confronted by a boarding staff member who told them to leave the premises.
Police obtained CCTV footage proving the three had been there.
Each of the defendants was fined $100, with no convictions recorded.
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Mum fails to comply
A mother who completed just four hours of a community service order because she couldn’t find childcare has been resentenced for a stealing offence.
Jessica Schatkowski, 31, pleaded guilty in the Charters Towers Magistrates Court to contravening a community service order.
The court heard Schatkowski had completed just four hours of a 40-hour order in 12 months.
She was ordered to do community service after stealing an electronic sketch pad that belonged to her neighbour in
April last year.
Defence solicitor Mikayla Ward said Schatkowski was having some issues with her life and problems with drugs that impacted her ability to complete the order.
Ms Ward said Schatkowski had also obtained assistance with childcare, which enabled her to do the work.
Magistrate Cathy Wadley chose to revoke the community service order and fine Schatkowski for the original stealing offence. She was fined $200 and a conviction was recorded.
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Court order breach
Family dramas and an unwillingness to partake in community service have been offered as reasons why a Charters Towers woman breached her probation order.
Tamara Eleanor-leah Kennedy, 39, pleaded guilty in court to breaching a probation order and unlawfully possessing marijuana.
Kennedy was approached by police conducting patrols on Gill St on March 31 this year and was found with the drugs.
She told police she had obtained the drugs earlier in the day, had smoked some and intended to smoke the remainder that night.
The court heard that Kennedy had been previously sentenced to probation for a drugdriving offence and for failing to appear in court.
An officer from the Department of Corrections said Kennedy had failed to report for probation on nine occasions.
Defence solicitor Mikayla Ward said Kennedy was “not in a good space to want to comply with the order due to the family issues which are currently ongoing for her”.
Magistrate Cathy Wadley fined Kennedy $200 for the drug possession offence.
She revoked the probation order and resentenced Kennedy with a $500 fine for the original drug-driving offence and $100 fine for failing to appear in court. Convictions were recorded.
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Woman dodges work
A woman who claims to have a medical condition has had her 120-hour community service order period extended so she can finish it.
The court heard Tanya Althea Maree Mclean, 42, has completed none of the hours which resulted from charges of wilful damage and public nuisance, driving unlicensed and driving under the influence of liquor which arose from incidents on August 24 and September 8 last year.
On August 24 Mclean had attempted to smash a glass entry door to a service station and threatened customers.
On September 8 she was intercepted for a licence check and was found to be without a licence and had a blood alcohol concentration of .215 per cent.
Defence solicitor Mikayla Ward said Mclean suffered from a rheumatic heart condition and had not yet obtained the medical material required to prove impediments to her doing some community service tasks.
A Department of Corrections officer said if Mclean was able to provide the medi
RESILIENCE is being able to “bounce back” from difficult times, setbacks and other significant challenges. It includes being able to deal effectively with pressure and get through tough times with good outcomes.
Parents play a substantial role in the development of resilience in their children. The following eight tips outline the most effective things you can do to raise resilient kids.
TIP 1 LISTEN WITH YOUR HEART
Listening is one of the most important ways that we can build resilience. Rather than operating on “auto parent” we will help our children know they are important by giving them our undivided attention. Children feel validated and worthy when we listen to them. While children are upset, sensitive listening provides emotional first aid.
Listening with your heart allows you to be empathetic, take your child’s perspective or see the world through his or her eyes.
TIP 2 SEE THE WORLD THROUGH YOUR CHILD’S EYES
Imagine you had a difficult day. When you explained things to your spouse, the response you received was, “Oh well, I guess you’ll just have to try harder again tomorrow”.
While this response might be correct, it is unlikely to help you feel any better. If you don’t feel better, you’re unlikely to bounce back with quite as much bounce.
Likewise, giving this advice when children are upset just makes them feel frustrated or foolish. When they tell you they feel sad, saying “Cheer up, you’ll be OK. There’s no reason to feel like that” will undermine their feelings and make them question their worth and feel they are not normal.
Instead, reflect their emotions. Try saying “I can see it’s been a tough day” or “Wow, that must have made you feel really disappointed”.
When they know you understand them, ask them how they think you can help. Let them strategise the most effective way to overcome their challenges and support them in their decisions or guide them toward appropriate actions.
TIP 3 ACCEPT YOUR CHILDREN FOR WHO THEY ARE
Your child is likely to be resilient if they feel accepted for who they are.
We must resist the temptation to judge and criticise. Continual faultfinding is a sure-fire way to create questions about self-worth in children. Additionally, children who are consistently criticised will start to wonder about their relevance.
By contrast, children whose parents affirm their efforts feel useful. When children are validated they feel worthy and accepted. And they are also likely to work hard to maintain those positive feelings, which means when they encounter setbacks they will have the confidence to try again.
Letting children know specifically what you love about them or why you are proud of them can bolster resilience.
Be specific and avoid general praise such as “You’re such a good boy.”
When we let our children know we accept and love them, and offer them specifics, they feel like they can conquer anything!
TIP 4 DEVELOP STRENGTHS
One of the best things for promoting resilience is a belief that we are competent and able to complete difficult challenges. Parents who identify their children’s strengths and help them develop those strengths will see their children become increasingly competent. Their children will experience success. They will be inspired and confident. They will gain a sense that they have something to offer the world.
Maddie, a seven year-old, had trouble with reading and writing. But her parents and teachers noticed her love for drawing. They encouraged Maddie to draw by displaying her art in the classroom and at home.
Maddie’s strengths ensured she was not defined by her weaknesses in reading.
Your child may possess strengths in relationships, academics, music, sport, creativity, curiosity, or any number of other areas. Developing those strengths, inspiration, competence, and confidence will build resilience in your child.
TIP 5 TEACH THAT MISTAKES ARE A CHANCE TO LEARN
When you make a mistake do you throw your hands in the air and say it’s too hard? Do you give up and go back to what you know you can do? Or do you see the mistake as a chance to learn something new and try again?
When your children make a mistake, what do they do? And perhaps more importantly, what do you say to them?
By teaching our children that continued effort, practice, and learning are the keys to success, setbacks are no longer seen as frightening and children become more resilient — willing to take risks and try new things.
They are also more likely to look forward to possibilities in the future and have a more optimistic and curious nature. This mindset is strongly linked to resilience.
TIP 6 GIVE RESPONSIBILITIES TO PROMOTE RESPONSIBILITY
Many parents are unwilling to give their child any responsibilities because they fear the child will not be responsible.
Lectures will not promote responsibility. Instead, responsibility comes from opportunities to be responsible, a chance to help, and by being part of a family that is involved in doing things for others.
TIP 7 TEACH YOUR CHILDREN TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS
When our children struggle, we often want to tell them what to do to fix things. Constantly making decisions for our children can undermine their decision making skills and confidence.
When your child is faced with a problem, listen with your heart. Then see the world through their eyes. When they feel understood, ask the question: “What do YOU think we should do?”
Let your child know that you are willing to help and support. Then invite him or her to make a decision, and be supportive.
If a decision is poor, offer gentle guidance or ask, “I wonder what might happen if we did that.” As your child thinks through the various possibilities, they will gain confidence in making their own decisions following challenging situations.
TIP 8 DISCIPLINE BUT DON’T DENIGRATE
Children will make lots of mistakes, even when trying their best. When our children do things that are wrong, we can focus on teaching them rather than punishing them.
Often the most effective way to teach is to invite our children to think about what they have learned from a particular situation. We can then ask them to make decisions about the most appropriate course of action, such as apologising, making restitution and refraining from doing what they have done again in the future.
WINTER is upon us, and it’s time for the slow cooker to take centre stage (if it hasn’t already). But what if you want to use the slow cooker to make your favourite oven-cooked recipe? It’s good to know a recipe doesn’t need to have slow cooker in the title to work.
Many of our favourite dishes, from curries to tagines, can be adapted. How? Read on. 1.25kg chicken thighs
1 cup natural yoghurt
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp ground coriander 3 tsp garam masala
1 tsp salt
3 cloves garlic, crushed 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated 1 cup tomato passata ¼ cup tomato paste
1 cup cream
2 tsp caster sugar
Trim thighs and cut into a depth of flavour. You may even consider coating it lightly in seasoned plain flour or cornflour, which will help to thicken your sauce.
Adding onions and garlic to the slow cooker
If a recipe has onions and garlic or a base of celery and carrots, you’ll want to saute those to caramelise, sweeten and get the most out of their flavour. The same goes for curry pastes. It can be beneficial to lightly saute these base mixes to pull out their magic first.
Adding vegetables, pasta or rice to the slow cooker
Be mindful of the timing of adding any vegetables, pasta or rice. Hard vegetables like potatoes and carrots can be added at the start. In contrast, soft vegetables and herbs should be added closer to the end of the cook. The same goes for pasta and rice. Add those with enough time before the end of cooking because they absorb a lot of liquid. You may want to adjust the amount of liquid you have in there to suit your desired outcome. It can be a good idea to consider precooking or par-cooking them before adding them.
2. CHOOSE THE BEST CUTS OF MEAT FOR SLOW COOKING
The best types of meat for slow cooking are secondary or cheap cuts such as chicken thigh and drumsticks, shanks and shoulders or ribs and rumps. Meat kept on the bone is especially ideal.
When a recipe traditionally has, say, chicken breast or a type of meat typically unsuitable for slow cooking, don’t be shy to change things up and opt for another cut. For example, a Thai green chicken curry works halves, or quarters if they are large. Combine yoghurt with spices, garlic, ginger and salt. Add chicken and stir to coat. Cover and refrigerate overnight or for at least 4 hours.
Place chicken with the marinade into the bowl of a slow cooker. Whisk together passata, tomato paste, cream and sugar, and pour over chicken. Cook on high for 4 hours. Check for seasoning and add salt if required.
Serve with steamed basmati rice and warm naan breads. really well when you replace the breast with drumsticks or even pork shoulder.
3. CONSIDER TEMPERATURE AND TIME
Don’t expect that your traditional recipes will take the same amount of time in the slow cooker. If a recipe takes around an hour, you should allow around 4 hours on a high 2 tbsp olive oil
800g beef brisket, cut into pieces, trimmed
1 brown onion, finely chopped 2 carrots, thinly sliced halved lengthways
1 celery stalk, finely chopped 200g mushrooms
1 bay leaf
3 sprigs thyme
3 garlic cloves, crushed
¾ cup liquid beef stock
¼ cup tomato paste
2 tbsp red wine
500g tagliatelle pasta, to serve
1 parmesan shaved, to serve setting and 6-8 hours on low.
4. ADD THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF LIQUID
Slow cooking tends to retain most of the liquid because of the lid and low temperature. Consider adding less liquid than usual, or you’ll need to remove the lid for the last hour or so of cooking to encourage evaporation. And if you do this, you won’t get the kind of intense reduction that may
Heat 2 tsp of oil in a large frying pan over high heat. Cook half of the beef for 3 minutes or until browned. Transfer to a 5.5-litre (22 cup) slow-cooker. Repeat with 2 tsp of oil and remaining beef.
Heat remaining oil in same pan over medium-high heat. Cook onion, carrot, celery, mushrooms, bay leaf and thyme for 6 minutes typically thicken your sauce. Stirring through some cornflour mixed with a little water can help thicken the sauce. When it comes to adding fats like cream or yoghurt to act as a thickener for recipes like pumpkin soup, leave them until the end, so they don’t split.
So, there you have it — four tips to help you adapt your favourite recipes for the slow cooker. It’s really worth its weight in gold. or until browned. Add garlic and stir for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Transfer to cooker.
Combine liquid beef stock, tomato paste and wine in a jug. Pour into cooker and stir to combine. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or until beef is tender. Season.
Serve with pasta and cheese.