Welcome to the Berowra Newsletter.

In this edition:

• Australian National Kung Fu Championship Titles
• Pollies for Small Business.
• $177,582 to improve television services in Wiseman’s Ferry
• 120 ex-servicemen and women and war widows honoured at Hornsby RSL
• More opportunities for school leavers
• Nominations for Human Rights medal
• The new marriage certificate
• Child Support Meeting - hosted by Centrelink

-o0o-

Australian National Kung Fu Championship Titles

I was delighted to attend the Australian National Kung Fu Championship Titles at Thornleigh on Sunday 18th September drawing approximately 80 athletes and several hundred spectators along with Mr Qiu Shao Fang - Consul General of the People’s Republic of China and Mr Yin Yali who is the Consul. These championships showcased Wushu, or Kung Fu, performances from athletes in a number of areas, ranging from the fast, acrobatic open-hand forms, along with a variety of traditional Chinese weapons, to the graceful, dignified movements of Tai Chi. The athletes also used weapons such as straight swords, broadswords, double swords, spears, cudgels, hooks, staffs and whips and included dueling with each other. As a new-comer with limited knowledge of this sport it was interesting to observe martial arts and to see so many enthusiastic people. Kung Fu in the West, is a generic term for Chinese Martial arts composed of basic offensive and defensive movements executed either barehand or with weapons. Wushu as we know it originated in China 5,000 years ago and it is considered to be one of China’s major cultural gifts to the world. The Australian Kung Fu (Wushu) Federation Ltd (AKWF) was formed in 1983 following the amalgamation of various State Kung Fu Associations. It is officially recognised by the Australian Sports Commission as the peak organisation governing the interests of Kung Fu/Wushu in Australia and is the sole representative body in the Australian development of Wushu as a Commonwealth Games and Olympic Sport. It was a pleasure to attend.

-o0o-

Pollies for Small Business.

I was happy to support the State Chamber of Commerce (NSW) in encouraging Members of Parliament to become involved in Pollies for Small Business. The aim of the program is to give politicians a first hand experience in the life of a small business operator. I spent some time learning new skills at Q Framing at Thornleigh alongside Roly Crook. There are 360,000 small businesses in NSW and they employ 1.1 million people. Pollies for Small Business is a great opportunity for this vital sector of the NSW economy to gain direct access to their local MP and to air their concerns.

I am pleased with the recent funding of more than $177,582 to improve television services in Wiseman’s Ferry which is part of the electorate. Residents of the Wiseman’s Ferry region, which encompasses the New South Wales Shires of Hawkesbury, Hornsby and Gosford, will benefit from the latest funding round of the Australian Government’s Television Black Spots— Alternative Technical Solutions (ATS) Program. The funding will enable residents to receive ABC and SBS services, as well as the remote commercial broadcasting services of Imparja and Seven Central, by providing direct to home satellite equipment. Under the Television Black Spots Program the needs of remote communities have been met with the replacement of obsolete television transmission equipment at 182 retransmission sites 106 of which have serve indigenous communities. More than 65,000 households across the country have, or will, benefit from this very successful program.

The Coalition is getting on with the job of providing more opportunities for school leavers. Recent information from the Department for Education, Science and Training shows that the number of Year 12 completers commencing a New Apprenticeship has significantly increased by 58% (from 20,230 to 32,060) which will flow on into my own Federal electorate. In 1995, under a Labor Government, the number of New Apprenticeships in training was 143,700. In 2004, there were 382,400 New Apprenticeships in training – an increase of 166%. In 1995, under a Labor Government, the unemployment rate for school leavers in their first year out of school was 14.3%. In 2004, the unemployment rate for school leavers was 9.3%. Additionally, I was pleased to hand out certificates to those students in my electorate who won the Australian Students' Prize which is a great credit to their hard work for the HSC in 2004.

Do you know someone who should be nominated for a Human Rights medal or one of their awards? Perhaps constituents may know an individual or a group in Australia who have promoted for example, action to overcome discrimination or infringements of human rights greater harmony between people of different race, sex, age, sexuality or ethnic origin the rights of Indigenous Australians equal opportunity for people with a disability, or awareness of issues of injustice or inequality. For eligibility please contact Public Affairs Unit, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission on 9284 9600 OR www.humanrights.gov.au. Entries are now open and must be received at the Commission's offices by deadline 5 p.m. Friday 7th October 2005.