FINN(COM) DAILY RECORD: TUESDAY, 05 APRIL 2005

 

 

 

CORRIEDALE RAMS FOR TRISTAN

 

By J. Brock (SARTMA-TdC)

 

Four Corriedale Rams have been purchased at the National Stud Flock sale at Goose Green for Tristan Da Cunha.  At present, Tristan da Cunha has sheep imported from South Africa after the 2001 hurricane.  They are a mix of Scottish Black Face and Cheviot breeds.  The Corriedale Rams are expected to result in a breed with finer, whiter wool and better meat quality.

 

Corriedale sheep have 25 to 27micron wool, while the Cheviot and Black Faced Scottish sheep have 30micron wool.  The progeny should yield 27 micron or better.

 

Rams were chosen rather than importing seamen or embryos.  ET and AI treatments can cost as much as £1700.00 per sheep, while the 4 Corriedale rams cost £1,000.00.

 

The sheep will be transported to Tristan aboard the FIC Charter Ship, Marian Danika on 10 April and should arrive in Tristan around the 20^th of April.

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NEW MENTAL HEALTH GROUP PROPOSED

 

By J. Brock (FINN)

 

The Health Service is looking for lay people to serve in a Mental Health Group, which is being formed to produce a plan to improve and develop Mental Health Services in the Islands.  If you have an interest in Mental Health Services and you feel that you want to join this group, then please call Norman McGregor Edwards on 28003 or 21442 during the evenings for more information.

 

Mr. McGregor-Edwards says that there is about a week to express an interest and that in two or three weeks’ time an initial meeting will be called.

 

 

ST. MARY’S MEMORIAL MASS FOR THE POPE

 

By J. Brock (FINN)

 

Fr. Peter Norris would like to express his thanks on behalf of the Congregation of St. Mary’s Catholic Church to all people who have expressed condolences for the Pope.  He also expressed a special thank-you to Paul Sweeting of Christ Church Cathedral.

 

There will be a special Memorial Mass at 0700 on Friday, 08 April 2004 for anyone who would like to attend.  Memorial pages are in the Porch at St. Mary’s for everyone to sign. 

 

The Pope died on Saturday, 02 April 2005 at 1630 LMT.

 

FIDF IN WEEKEND EXERCISE

 

By Corina Bishop (FIBS)

 

As part of their extended role, members of the Falkland Islands Defence Force (FIDF) have been training with the RAF Search and Rescue Sea King and its crew recently.  On Good Friday, Force members spent the day practicing being winched from one of their rigid raiders in Stanley Harbour into the helicopter.  This was followed up this Saturday by a large contingent from the FIDF, including this year’s recruits, taking part in Helicopter drills.

 

On Sunday, three teams responded to a scenario involving two missing walkers on 12 O’clock Mountain with troops setting off by rigid raider from the Public Jetty at 1000 in the morning.  The teams were dropped at Sparrow Cove, where they were taken by helicopter to the area where the missing people were likely to be.  A successful sweep of the mountain led to them being found in good time.  And, after carrying out first aid drills on the pair, the teams were airlifted back to Sparrow Cove.

 

Aircraft Captain Curley Alstead told those involved that he was extremely impressed with the professionalism of the Force, saying that they were a pleasure to work with.

 

FIBS NEWS DIRECT: 05 APRIL 2005

 

GIRL GUIDES OFF TO UK CAMP:

 

The Girl Guides have recently started selling tickets for the annual Fly-away Raffle.  I (SF) asked Guides Commissioner, Jane Cotter (JC) what the money raised will be used for.

 

JC:  Every year, as people know, we do fundraising but every other year we try and send some girls away on an overseas Camp.  We get invitations from time to time for various places.  We’ve had an invitation to “Swing 2005,” a Camp in Herrin’s Way, Tilton.  It’s not far from Gilford  and it’s in the July-August period.

 

SF:  How many girls are actually going?

 

JC:  Probably only two.  We are always influenced by the cost of the flights and we have to raise money for all of it.  We are looking at raising somewhere around £3,500.00.

 

SF:  What do you think the girls are going to get out of going to something like this?

 

JC:  They are representing the Islands.  It’s an opportunity for them to mix with other Girl Guides and it’s an international Camp.  There will be about 500 girls there.  It’s good for them to get out of the Islands and see Guiding in another light and with the influences from all the other countries that are represented there.  There is Canoeing, Grass Sledging, Riding, Quad Bikes, Climbing Towers, and Cycling across the international arena.  That’s a broad base of what’s going on in the Camp.  They will be expected to say something and do something related to guiding here as well.  And, they go out on visits and things.  This year they will have the choice of going to Windsor Castle and Fort Park, so they get out and see quite a bit of the UK.

 

SF:  How is the fundraising going so far?

 

JC:  We have done a few jobs for people.  We did gardening and some fruit picking at Government House.  We have done painting in the past and we are open to suggestions, if anybody’s got any odd jobs that they would like done.  As usual, the Fly-away Raffle is one of our major fundraisers and we have just started another Fly-away Raffle in the last couple of weeks.

 

SF:  The Fly-away Raffle will be drawn on Friday, 02 July.  If anyone has any questions, they can contact Jane Cotter.

 

EDUCATION BOARD REPORT

 

 

School Manager Chairman and Education Board Member, Barry Elsby has called for a change for the way it decided who is entitled to take career breaks and sabbaticals.  He feels that the process needs to be standardised for Government, making it less discretionary, such as giving all employees the chance to take a break after 10 years.  He said that currently the discretionary element is divisive.  Cllr. Richard Cockwell says that although he supports the concept of career breaks that he doesn’t feel able to comment whilst wearing his Education Board’s hat.  Director of Education, Sylvia Cole, told the meeting that she would approach Human Resources to discuss whether they could have a look at the wording of the relevant section to the Management Code.  Education Board Chair Cllr. Jan Cheek says that if people go away and carry out the same jobs in other countries then they can only bring back valuable experience.

 

SCIENTIFIC SECONDMENT:

 

A teacher, who spent five weeks secondment to schools in England earlier this year has brought back a wealth of experience from the visit.  The Education Board heard this morning that Community School Science Teacher, Louise Taylor, had the chance to attend a series of lectures including advances in science and how GCSE Science could be changing.  She also went to a Technology in Education Conference and reports that a specific area that’s gaining more use is video conferencing.  The main part of her secondment was to a school and inspection theme in Leicestershire.  She also went along to Chichester College and Peter Symonds in her capacity as the School’s Careers Advisor, saying that she felt it was especially beneficial seeing the places and making personal contacts.  Louise also raised a concern about insurance having an affect on work experience placements.  Currently, it seems like students will only be covered for working in Government Departments but not in the private sector.

 

HARBOUR SHIPPING AND FISING NEWS:

 

There are 13 vessels fishing for Illex and catches aren’t very good.  In contrast, Loligo Catches are reported to be excellent for the 15 trawlers that are fishing for it.  The three vessels fishing for finfish have been reporting average catches.  The Uruguayan Scallop Trawler, Holdberg left for Montevideo yesterday after reaching most of its quota with very good catches.

 

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