Last Night I went to the Urangan Community Centre to listen to Lama Choedak Rinpoche a Tibetan Meditation Master talk on “How to bring about Positive Change”.

What an absolutely enlightening evening, with plenty of laughs at how disillusioned we are from a very engaging, intelligent, wise, positive & amusing speaker.

I was even laughing pretty hard at myself about some of things I have let consume me!

I also had the pleasure of meeting Choeying Dolma a Buddhist nun living in Hervey Bay. Well I didn’t even know there were Buddhist nuns; I assumed only monks let alone one right here in town! (How disillusioned of me!)

The Lama really switched back on a light bulb for me reinforcing personal self growth traits and goals I had been working on for enlightenment. Some of the key notes I enjoyed and will reflect upon were…

•1.    We must accept changes that are happening, everything is IMPERMANENT!

•2.    We refuse to think different & change our own opinions creating our own difficulties & suffering!

•3.    People blame god or someone immediate in their lives, never themselves for their own views!

•4.     All suffering stems from selfishness!

•5.    People’s senses are deceived by their own afflictions!

•6.    People believe the perceptive truth as the ultimate truth!

•7.    People make themselves suffer without realising they are the cause!

•8.    People justify their wrong by blaming others!

•9.    Positive change is to examine what the 5 senses are bringing in with your 6^th sense.

•10. People magnify small issues that you can’t see the good things your loved ones do!

•11. We want to believe that our suffering is caused by someone else & we want others to believe that we are the victim.

•12.  Some people see poison as medicine and others medicine as poison!

•13.  Buddhists practice meditation to air deceptive truth.

•14.  We must have our senses to be sensible. Sensibility comes when you are focused.

•15.  Afflictions obscure your mind & make you see non existing things & make you believe they are real.

•16.  Whatever you attach to are causes of suffering even your success.

•17.  No success is ultimate cause of happiness.

•18.  Positive change has to have a beneficial outcome.

•19. Treasure time & energy while you have them.

•20. Don’t worry about what didn’t go well, it’s too late & you’re wasting time now.

•21. Our past is only a memory, why remember bad things not the fantastic things!

•22. Talk less about your delusions & more about the greatness others do for you!

•23. People have a lack of the present, accept where you are now!

•24.  Look with eyes of kindness, compassion & wisdom.

•25.  Are you getting what you want or getting what you need?

•26. If you let something go your hands are free to receive good!

•27. Your relationship with yourself is most important.

•28.  Buddha said, “Be your own master, not seek one from outside”.

•29.  Most importantly, everything is IMPERMANENT!

For more information on the Padma Buddhist Centre at Point Vernon in Hervey Bay, Please contact Peter: 07 4124 2980 pleney@smartchat.net.au  or Choeying Dolma: choeying.dolma@gmail.com

Find out more about the Lama here.

On Saturday 28th March 2009, I will take part in Earth Hour.

On that day, people in Australia and around the world will turn off their lights between 8:30 – 9:30 pm for one hour – Earth Hour – showing their support and sending a powerful global message that it’s possible to take action on climate change and succeed.

I’m glad it’s just lights, at least I can watch TV with a candle and a cold beer.

 ANNA Bligh creates history, becoming the first elected women Premier and leading Labor into a fifth term of Government.

“It is simply extraordinary,” a beaming Ms Bligh said last night after it appeared Labor would lose only a handful of seats.

“Queenslanders, thank you. I feel very humbled and honoured by the strength of your support.”

The 48-year-old mother of two became the first female politician to be elected a premier in any Australian state.

Click here to read more.

[Image & Information via the Courier Mail]

Stay tuned, we should know by 6.30pm tonight!

WINNER!!!!

Wednesday night it was off for my first dance lesson with Taylor Harte a new Street Latin Salsa Teacher in Hervey Bay at Stafford Park Sports & Leisure Centre (Seagulls Football Club).

I took part in two lessons learning the basics of the progressive Jive, Cha Cha and Salsa and had a good time thoroughly enjoying the exercise.

Taylor knows her stuff and her Latin dance lessons are strictly FUN!

There was a good turnout for the first night with over 20 Latin dance enthusiasts attending, thought it always great to attract more, especially guys. So if you’re keen please contact Taylor and come on down to the classes. For more information please click here.

Hi Andrew,

Thank you for keeping me updated on your campaign progress, that is really appreciated and extremely professional… no other politician in the area including your opposition LNP candidate Ted Sorensen has bothered to respond to my request for information on their policies. 

One wonders if that would be the behaviour and response to be expected on issues if they were to be elected?

Also would it take no longer than one minute to copy and paste from a word document into an email and send, this should be a simple task for any switched on politician who cared about their voters | supporters..? ?

Dear Jeanette, 

Thank you for your interest in the State election and my candidature. 

In the election in a couple of days time, I am standing by my record of delivering millions of dollars of vital job-creating projects for our city. 

Road improvements on Boat Harbour Drive, the raising of Lenthall’s Dam to improve our water security, the new Gatakers Bay boat ramp, additional electrical substations to safeguard our power supply, and new schools, police and ambulance stations are just part of that proven track record. 

The critical issue facing Hervey Bay is how we protect local jobs and ride out the global economic crisis.  The government’s capital works spend over the next three years will be the key factor in determining how well we come through the toughest economic challenge we have seen since the Great Depression. A strong voice for Hervey Bay at the Cabinet table will be vital in these tough times. 

This week I committed $4 million dollars towards the construction of a solar power plant here in Hervey Bay.   My goal is to have a 20 MW solar thermal plant here that would generate around one third of the current power demand of Hervey Bay from clean energy.   This would have many benefits for the city’s energy security, international image and would provide around 140 high paying jobs.

- If I am returned as your local Member, I give my commitment to deliver the following vital projects during the next term:

- The Hervey Bay Dental Clinic will undergo a $7 million expansion, doubling its capacity from 8 to 16 chairs.

- The $30 million upgrade of the Maryborough-Hervey Bay Road between Dundowran Road and Torbanlea Road will be completed by June 2010 including a major realignment of the Booral Road intersection.

- The new Hervey Bay Community Centre will be built with a $1.5 million contribution by the Bligh State Government.

- A $2 million expansion of the Hervey Bay Hospital Pathology Laboratory.

- Coordination of the $800 million expansion of the Urangan Boat Harbour redevelopment that will create 600 jobs during construction, and

- The $12 million water park at Pialba will be completed and opened in June 2009. 

To keep Hervey Bay strong, I ask for your vote on Election Day, 21 March 2009. 

Kind regards,

Andrew

 For more information on Andrew McNamara MP please click here.

HAVE YOU WATCHED GIANNE!  

GIANNE ABBOTT from Brisbane / Sunshine Coast, Queensland is in the Top 12 of “So You Think You Can Dance” on Sundays Channel 10 at 7.30pm. 

This is one talented woman, her performances are definately worth a look!

Let’s support Gianne by voting for her and keeping her in the competition.  

Send SMS message to 19 10 10 and type in Gianne or call check the number from the show – changes weekly

[Image Via So You Think You Can Dance}

Keep an eye on Cyclone Hamish here, if it comes into view I’m heading for the hills with a napsack and sixpack!!

More news here…. Lets hope we all have storm damage in our home & content insurance (just in case!).

Tropical Cyclone Forecast Track Map here.

Minister for the environment, Andrew McNamara said he was certain there was a large saltwater crocodile on the south west end of Fraser Island.

“There have been a number of credible sightings in the last two weeks.

“I’ve spoken to members of public involved and I have no doubt there’s a crocodile there.”

 To read more please click here…..

Thanks heaps Mr Currie for your submission from the Widebay Burnett Conservation Council; I’ve uploaded it for the readers; please click here to view.

Way too many figures for me, hopefully someone can break it down into brief lay mans dot points, though it does appear very informative and well analysed. I will do a thorough brief over the weekend…. 

Hello Jeanette, this is our submission which I presented to Andrew last Friday, cheers 

Roger 

REMC
Regional Ecosystems Mapping Consultancy
The Widebay Burnett  GIS & Environmental Planning Specialists
For all Your Biodiversity Needs
PRINCIPAL PLANNER
ROGER M CURRIE Bc App Sc UQ R.E.A.T
Healthy Habitats Extension Services Officer
roger.remc1@bigpond.com

Last night I emailed our Fraser Coast State Members to find out their policies and vision for our Region, so that I and my readers can make an informed decision at the state election on March 21^st 2009.

Mr Andrew McNamara MP was quick off the mark getting back to me by 10am this morning…..! 

Dear Jeanette,

As a dedicated follower and blogger of Hervey Bay politics, I suspect you know my policies as well as I do!  I have attached a copy of my water plan and will be making a statement a little later in the campaign about new election commitments.

The key to what I offer generally is a commitment to deliver Labor’s infrastructure program to protect jobs and a very strong personal commitment to do more to protect our environment, particularly in the face of the burgeoning challenge of climate change. 

Kind regards,

Andrew

Thanks heaps Andrew for you prompt and professional response, I can’t wait to hear your upcoming statement in relation to your election commitments.

I think you should maybe consider a facebook profile like Lawrence Springborg and Chris Foley to also target the younger voter…. The Borg has 1,030 friends & Foley has 563 with their numbers / supporters rapidly rising daily. A smart way to do mass notifications of policies, campaign news, upload video’s and appeal for volunteers!

Anyway thank you for your time getting back to me and all best wishes for an influential and successful campaign!!! 

You can find out more about Mr McNamara MP here or download his current Water Plan here. 

Still waiting to hear from the others……….

The Hervey Bay candidates will appear on the ballot form as: Paul Brown, the Greens; Ted Sorensen, LNP; Andrew McNamara MP, Labor; Jason Powning, DS4SEQ; and Peter Schuback, Independent.

In Maryborough, we will see  Anne Maddern, LNP; Brad Hansen, Labor; Chris Foley MP, Independent; and David Arthur, Greens.