WE’RE hearing on the grapevine that all is not forgotten after all with the Hungry Jacks project at Bowenfels. After an initial burst of activity and clearly a good deal of expenditure on property acquisition and clearing the whole thing came to a mysterious standstill and rumours came thick and fast. But all is not lost. The company has now submitted a revised plan for the site to Lithgow Council planners and this apparently includes added family friendly facilities. Watch this space.

Ranges or tables?

SEEMS there’s been something of a location change that has snuck in on us. The government’s Bureau of Meteorology for a start now refers to us as part of the Central Ranges when issuing warnings and forecasts. So what happened to the old familiar Tablelands? Relegated to the geographical dustbin. Maybe it’s due to the fact that with one less syllable to pronounce you can get ‘ranges’ out faster that ‘tablelands’.

White Christmas

RECENT publicity on unseasonal snowstorms has revived (once again) the old argument about snow in Lithgow on Christmas Day. Did it really happen or was it just another urban myth. And if it did happen when was it. Former resident Nell Lennox, now residing at Elemore Vale, believes she can solve the debate once and for all. Nell said it did indeed snow for Christmas — in 1947. She has good reason to recall the date — it was her family’s first Christmas since her engagement to future husband Harold. So will someone please place that information in the official records.

Achievers

THOSE hard working girls at Lithgow Inner Wheel have done heaps for charity over the past year with sponsorships for local schools, preschools, Guide Dogs, cancer research, CareFlight, the Geldenhuys Trust and St Vincent de Paul. And they’re not finished yet. On Friday they’ll be holding their final fundraiser for the year, a Christmas raffle at Woolworths in Mort Street. They’re looking forward to seeing you there.

Carols at Oakey Park

HERE’S another important one for your pre Christmas diary. Wednesday December 10 from 6pm will be the annual Zig Zag School Carols, in the school grounds at Oakey Park. Apart from the carol singing the big attraction as usual will be the chocolate wheel with all sorts of goodies to be won including hampers, hams and turkey rolls and more. If that’s not enough there’s also the sausage sizzle, live music and a ‘glow stall’. That’s December 10.

Oz Day at Portland

ORGANISERS of the Australia Day celebrations at Portland are putting a call out for all interested persons or organisations to become involved in the annual Australia Day Celebrations to be held on January 26 2015. They would welcome suggestions to add or improve the celebrations. The celebrations in Portland have now been running for 14 years and there is always room for improvement to the program or activities. Criticism or non-action does not help to change anything and organisers welcome participations from the community. The activities will centre on Wolgan Street between 10am and 3pm. Australia Day is always an important event on the calendar in Portland and it is hoped the community of Portland and district will once again come to the fore and support their celebrations. Full details of the program will be publicised once they are finalised. It is not too late to become involved or assist on the day and further details can be obtained by contacting John Kearns on 0409 345 752 or Ron Bidwill on 6355 5288.