New Council Chambers

The new council chambers will be officially opened by the Minister for Local Government, Mr P.H. Morton, during the sesqui-centenary week.

He will be invited through Mr Bruce Cowan MLA, to open the chamber on Friday, October 11, at 3pm. If this day is not suitable, it will be suggested he perform the ceremony on the Wednesday afternoon. Ald N. Matesich said he would prefer a descendant of one of the original aldermen open the chambers. He felt this would give public recognition to the old identities of the town, and be more fitting for the sesqui-centenary week. Ald Adams pointed out it was a bit late for a change of mind; the minister had already been invited.

Nominated for quest

A local girl who conducts a dancing school has nominated for the Miss Australia quest. She is Miss Glynn Parry, daughter of Mr and Mrs Fred Parry, of Owen Street. Glynn has joined the other local candidate, Miss Shevauneen Blomfield, who is a nursing sister at Hastings District Hospital.

They must raise $100 each to be eligible for judging. They will then enter the regional judging at Coffs Harbour on September 16, when Miss North Coast will be crowned. This title is held by the municipal librarian, Miss Lyn Prince; it was held by another local girl, Mrs Robyn Hehir (nee Stewart) in 1966. The state judging will be in Sydney on October 4.

Glynn is interested in music and art as well as dancing. She also likes swimming. She is presently working on a classical and modern jazz ballet display for the sesqui-centenary celebrations.

The Parrys came to Port Macquarie 10 years ago from Parkes, where they operated a hotel. They built the Surfside Flats on the corner of Owen and William Streets in 1963.

New aeroplane for flying club

Hastings District Flying Club took delivery of a new $13,000 aeroplane on Monday. It is a Cherokee 140, a four-seat, low-winged monoplane with a cruising speed of 135mph. The plane was purchased from Ansett General Aviation, the Australian distributors of Piper aircraft at Bankstown.

It will be fully equipped with reference instruments for training up to night visual meteorological conditions. This allows pilots to fly cross-country at night provided there is sufficient visibility to see the horizon.

The club now has two aircraft, the other being the Cessna 172 purchased in February 1966. This plane has proved very popular, flying nearly 2000 hours in two years.

Tourist road for North Shore

North Shore residents want the road from Settlement Point to Crescent Head via Point Plomer declared a tourist road. North Shore and Settlement Point Progress Association wrote to this week’s meeting of the Hastings Shire Council forwarding a petition concerning the road and suggesting the council take immediate steps towards having the road declared a tourist road.

The council will advise the association it is aware of the position but, owing to the present financial position and the high cost to council of tourist roads,  the work could not be carried out at the present time.