Surfers eye chance at national title
A GROUP of Denmark surfers is riding high on a chance in the national longboard titles in the lead up to third State round to be held at the weekend in Denmark.
Denmark Surf Life Saving Club will host the third round of the State longboard series, a qualifier for the national titles to be held at Pt Macquarie in New South Wales in August.
Hopes are high for Denmark surfer Patrick McCarthy, 22, after he won the men's open division at Avalon, near Mandurah on May 17.
Michaela Ross's chances look bright after she was placed second in the under-18 girls' division at Avalon and fourth in the women's open.
Michaela, 14, took the same placings in both events at Yallingup in March during the first round of the State series.
Her brother, Lachy Ross, 11, won both the under 16 and under 12 divisions at the Albany Wavefest - a shortboard competition - in May.
Emi Campbell, 11, won the under 18 girls' division at Avalon, and the under 16 girls' division at Albany Wavefest.
At Avalon, coach Mike Neunuebel was placed second in the over 50 division, fourth in the men's open and third in the over 45s.
At the Albany Wavefest he was first in the over 50 and second in the over 45 divisions.
Mike said the action at Ocean Beach at the weekend would be worth watching with the preliminaries contested on Saturday and the finals on Sunday.
A presentation would be held at the surf club at 4pm on Sunday.

Co-op looks forward to rising fortunes
THE fortunes of the Denmark Co-operative look set to turn around since posting a $266,000 loss at the close of its 2007-2008 financial year.
At the annual general meeting on June 8, the directors reported the year ended April 30, 2008 as being 'disappointing and difficult', culminating in the 'inevitable but sad decision' to close the IGA supermarket.
The directors acknowledged that the AGM and report were belated and hoped shareholders would understand that events over the past 12 months had brought 'considerable challenges and distractions' to the board and management.
Apart from the closure of the supermarket, they highlight legal action against a software contractor, and refusal of planning approval for the joint Co-op-Castelli Group shopping centre on Hardy Street.
The State Administrative Tribunal is currently mediating between Co-op-Castelli Group and the council, but the directors report the process could culminate in a costly appeal and tribunal hearing.
As a net loss of $266,000 was recorded, following a $117,000 loss in 2006-2007, no dividends were paid to shareholders.
Due to 'extenuating circumstances' and to ensure access to vital capital, certain preference shares were redeemed and shareholders were issued with a debenture on similar terms in exchange.
The directors, however, are optimistic about the future of the Co-op's rural and hardware supplies, the Co-op Corner department store and the Karri-Hi service station under the guidance of new chief executive Chris Langslow.
He was appointed in November last year.
Mr Langslow did not want to pre-empt the 2008-2009 report but anticipated it would tell a story of recovering fortunes.

Three rivers considered for dam in water option
A NEW dam, sourced from the Denmark, Styx or Bow rivers, is a long-term option being considered to secure water supplies on the south coast.
Other Water Corporation options include improved supply from Albany's Werrilup borefields and a desalination plant in Albany.
In the medium term the corporation has budgeted for a $10 million weir, or pipehead dam, to feed water into Quickup Dam, Denmark's main water source.
The weir, to be built in the next two to three years, will be located on the Mitchell River, either 6km north of Quickup Dam or at the confluence of the Hay and Mitchell rivers about 7km east of the dam.
Water Corporation Great Southern regional manager David Hughes-Owen said the weir would operate as a 'run-of-river' catchment, operating from May to November when the river was flowing.
These strategies are part of the Water Corporation's Water Forever Project: Securing Our Water Future for the South Coast.
Speaking at the project's launch in Albany last month, corporation chief executive Sue Murphy emphasised that among the long-term options, there were 'no favourites'.
Quickup Dam has a capacity of 1189 mega litres and on June 16 it was at 66 per cent capacity.

Investors warned on contracts
TIMBERCORP and Great Southern Ltd creditors received sobering advice at an Albany Chamber of Commerce and Industry-organised information evening on June 10.
Albany Legal director Jim Swann told about 50 landowners, contractors and investors affected by the collapse were there were many different types of connections and contracts involved.
Mr Swann emphasised the complex structure of the managed investment scheme companies and said older contracts, for example, might contain clauses whereby crop ownership would transfer to the landowner if the company were in default.
But the situation was far from clear for creditors with newer contracts.
Mr Swann suggested lessors of harvestable plantation, which would provide Timbercorp with an income, were more likely to be paid than those with younger plantations.
There was also a question over whether money raised in 2007 and 2008 had even been converted into plantations.
He also advised that contractors and ill-advised investors had little hope of recompense.
ACCI chief executive Graham Harvey said few people would have been happier after the meeting but they were more aware of their options.

SMALL business operator and facilitator Colleen Browne has been appointed to assist business affected by the collapse of Timbercorp and Great Southern Plantations.
She is field officer in the Albany and Manjimup Small Business Centres-run Timber Issues Program.
The centres have received $50,000 from the Small Business Development Corporation to support small businesses affected by the collapse of Timbercorp and Great Southern Plantations.
The program will provide consultations with affected small businesses in the South West and Great Southern regions and include a needs assessment of the business.
Options will then be explored for the business to overcome any difficulties caused by the collapse.
Funding has also been provided to cover the cost of professional legal and accounting services, through a voucher process.
Eligible small businesses can nominate an accountant or lawyer of their own choice or assistance can be provided to locate a suitable provider.
Wherever possible, local providers will be recommended.
Small business owners should contact either the Small Business Centre in Manjimup 9771 2699 or Albany 9841 8477, whichever is nearest.

New policy on memorials
THE unveiling of a 'memorial tree' structure to hold commemorative 'leaf' plaques will mark the Denmark Cemetery's centenary next year.
Following advice from the Denmark Cemetery Advisory Committee the Denmark Shire Council is also considering a new niche wall for the internment of ashes.
This would complement the two niche walls installed in 1992 which are also
earmarked for an upgrade and rendering.
The council has also adopted a new policy regarding memorial furniture and plaques in places other than the cemetery.
Two recent requests prompted the move.
One was to remember a leaseholder who had been at Peaceful Bay since 1969 and the other to commemorate the tragic drowning of a man off Eagle's nest at Easter.
The policy allows for memorials in the form of plaques on community infrastructure such as benches, picnic tables, and playground equipment, but not on structures such as obelisks, concrete blocks or boulders.

ATM card thief sought
DENMARK Police want information about a person who used someone else's transaction card to withdraw money from an ATM in Strickland Street on May 15.
The man, who is wanted for questioning, was photographed on a surveillance camera.
He is described as Caucasian, aged between 20-30 years, about 175cm tall and of slim to medium build.
He was wearing a black 'Jackass' T-shirt and Converse shoes.
The man withdrew the money from the National Australia Bank ATM on Strickland Street, Denmark at 12.18pm on May 15.
The card was left in the ATM after it was used.
Anyone with information, or who can identify man from the photographs, should contact Constable Kriss Logan at the Denmark Police on 9848 0500.

Choir director's return a big trill for local singers
A FAVOURITE visitor choir director, Digby Hill, will combine his wit, warmth, love of sound and knowledge of choral music in a workshop of a cappella singing on Saturday, June 27.
Digby, who presented workshops in January, will return to the Denmark Uniting Church for a two-hour vocal feast from 10am-noon.
The director of four Perth-based choirs will guide singers - from beginners to the more proficient - into songs of many genres and cultures.
His choice of songs, which are accessible to everyone, make for lively workshops and bring joy to participants.
The versatile, talented and gifted musician enjoys 'stretching the boundaries' of conventional a cappella singing by exploring what the voice and body can do.
Interested people can contact Jenny Wilson on 9848 2723 for more information or just turn up at the workshop.

Arts office refurbished
MEMBERS and supporters of Denmark Arts are invited to a sundowner at 5pm on Friday, July 3 at the newly-refurbished office in Strickland Street.
Everyone can celebrate the end of another year of community arts over a glass of wine and nibbles.
This is an opportunity to meet the team at Denmark Arts and find out about forthcoming events and talk about new project ideas.
Interested people should RSVP on 9848 3623.

Author roped in
THE first session of the Sustainable Men series, Not Enough Rope, will be held on Wednesday, July 1 with interviewer Peter le Breton's guest being a man on a mission.
But the mission nearly didn't happen, due to a fluke, or the grace of God, as he didn't board United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001 - the flight he usually took.
That day he was booked on a later flight from Newark Airport to San Francisco.
The passengers forced the hijackers to crash Flight 93 in Pennsylvania and everyone on board was killed.
Since the day he nearly died, Jon Abrams has transformed his life and is now helping others to transform theirs.
Over two and half years following 9/11, he lost more than 100kg.
Not Enough Rope will be held at the Centre for Sustainable Living.
Telephone CSL on 9848 3310 to register.

Local practitioners offer tune-ups for local blokes
A TUNE Up and Tune In health and wellbeing expo for men will be held on Sunday, July 5 at the Centre for Sustainable Living as part of the Sustainable Men series.
Men and women can to learn about and sample what local practitioners have to offer to help with their health and wellbeing.
About 20 practitioners will demonstrate massage, acupuncture, reiki, physiotherapy, martial arts, family constellation, and many more healing arts.
The expo will include a hands-on demonstration, with some practitioners giving talks, and people will be able to sample their work.
There will be a limit of three sample sessions a person.
The main focus will be to attract people who would not normally participate in such a day.
The day will run from 10am-4pm.
Interested people can pre-book a session at CSL on 9848 3310 or just come along on the day.
See the advertisement for a full program of the talks and demonstrations.
Other events in the series include Secret Men's Business on June 25, Bush Walking with Basil (June 26), Art Works (July 4), and Staying Afloat in Stressful Times (July

 

The Denmark Bulletin

The Denmark Bulletin is a privately-owned tabloid newspaper, folded to present a quarter-fold cover for ease of distribution and handling.

The Bulletin is published fortnightly, with 3, 000 copies delivered to every letterbox, post office box and RMB in the Denmark shire, which includes Nornalup.

Copies are also distributed in Youngs Siding and Walpole, to Perth subscribers, and through local newsagencies.

Extra copies are also distributed to accommodation houses and tourist outlets during peak holiday times.

Denmark guaranteed

Our local circulation is guaranteed and readership of the Bulletin far exceeds that of any other newspaper distributed in this area.

Most residents read the Bulletin from cover to cover and it is often kept as a reference until a new edition arrives.

Essential reading

The Denmark Bulletin is essential reading for south coast residents. It reports on council issues, local happenings, achievements and personalities.

Community groups and sporting clubs use the Bulletin to keep their members informed and a lively Letters to the Editor section provides a forum for vigorous debate on a wide range of issues.

Our regular advertisers include retailers, eateries, real estate firms, tourist businesses, builders, tradesmen, natural health practitioners and wide range of other service providers.

The Bulletin Trades and Services section and Classifieds are an essential tool for householders and the local commercial sector.