www.katherinetimes.com.au KATHERINE TIMES, WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 6 2013 5 >> news Volunteer to make Katherine a safer place for everyone NEIGHBOURHOOD Watch NT is urging lo- cals to join forces to help make Katherine a safer place to live. Neighbourhood Watch NT support offi- cer Senior-Constable Tracy-Dale Middleton said the group is look- ing for volunteers to “watch their environ- ment and pass impor- tant information on to the right people”. “Locals know their area, and if locals talk to locals about issues in their area - such as large bushes which would make good hiding spots for offenders, or street lights that are not work- ing - people can come up with ideas to make the area safer and get the appropriate people - stakeholders and police - to help with solu- tions,” Senior-Consta- ble Middleton said. Senior-Constable Middleton said volun- teers were also needed to report suspicious ac- tivities, conduct safety audits to locations, get feedback from the com- munity and man stalls at functions and events. “Police can’t be everywhere all the time, that’s why Neighbour- hood Watch needs vol- unteers to keep their eyes and ears open and report what they see and hear to the right people.” To get involved with Neighbourhood Watch in Katherine, contact Duana Job on 0419 658 311 and fill out an ap- plication form. Neighbourhood Watch volunteers are required to obtain an Ochre Card. A LIVE animal export market devel- opment unit is going to be created by the Department of Primary Industries in an aim to supporting the growth of the live export industry. On Monday Minister for Primary In- dustry, Willem Westra van Holthe, an- nounced a $300,000 a year ongoing funding investment for the unit which will sit within DPIF’s Pastoral Produc- tion Team and will focus on emerging live animal trade markets in Asia. Mr Westra van Holthe said the fund- ing was an important investment in the future of the industry. “The live animal export industry is still hurting from the Commonwealth Government’s 2011 ban,” Mr Westra van Holthe said. “Many established pastoral opera- tions have been forced to put their pas- toral properties on the market. “This will be the first time the De- partment has been given a team and re- sources to focus on emerging markets and seek out foreign opportunity for our local cattle producers,” Mr Westra van Holthe said. “This is about planning for the fu- ture, satisfying current market demands whilst exploring new market potential. “Asia is hungry for beef and the Northern Territory has the pastoral land and experience to satisfy new markets.” Mr Westra van Holthe said the new live animal export market development unit would be part of a strategic plan to reinvigorate the Department of Primary Industries with a renewed focus on sup- porting industry growth. Govt to invest in live export industry KATHERINE Regional Arts has a new executive officer. Musician Bill Grose moved to Katherine to head the organisation last month, after working in tertiary educa- tion and workplace training administra- tion in Canberra for five years. The classical guitarist said he was ex- cited to be living in Katherine. “I’ve got friends and family here. It feels like coming home, ” he said. Mr Grose said he liked the “can-do attitude” and the collaborative nature of Territory-based artists. “All the artists tend to know each other and support each other no matter what their genre or style is.” Mr Grose said his main role was to engage the community in art programs, develop relationships with artists and or- ganisations, to continue mentoring pro- grams and to increase the skills base within the region. He said Katherine was well known for its indigenous artists and musicians, while the arts board members included printers, writers and fabric artists. “Katherine Regional Arts have been putting on a lot of events and (my role now is) trying to weave them into on- going programs,” he said. He said he has begun to develop part- nerships with Mission Australia, Youth- worx and Djilpin Arts to name a few. “Being a musician, since arriving in town lots of people want to talk to me about getting music up and running,” Mr Grose said. He said he would like to see music groups rehearse and perform on a regu- lar basis but needed to find suitable ven- ues. “I would like to get some on-going programs happening, maybe a folk and country music club, a blues jam and a choir.” The 47-year-old said he also has more ambitious long term projects in mind for Katherine. “In a year or more down the track (I’d like to see) a big band or concert band or maybe even a chamber orches- tra.” He said he wants to form a Katherine Music Society, and develop an on-going screen printing program. “As well as bringing in visiting ex- perts from Darwin and further-a-field, we are going to try to use some of the people from the community who have already been printing as mentors. “It’s difficult obviously from logistic purposes, but we are very keen to get further out into the communities.” Mr Grose studied classical guitar and majored in ethno musicology in Adelaide, and he has taught music at Charles Darwin University. Musician Bill Grose is the new Katherine Regional Arts executive officer. Muso takes over Katherine Regional Arts Home of Dining Accommodation & Dining Bookings essential Phone 8972 2644 O’Shea Terrace, Katherine Carriage Restuarant Operating Hours Monday - Sunday: 6 -9pm Under New Management By TAMARA PENNIKET