The missing 110km/h link on the Newell Highway has been completed and was officially opened by the Roads, Maritime and Freight Minister last week. The $36 million upgrade at Trewilga (just north of Alectown) means the speed limit on the Newell Highway will be 110km/h all the way from Forbes to Gilgandra.

Minister Melinda Pavey said the roads budget in the Central West had tripled since 2011. The work at Trewilga involved the widening and realigning of 6.5km to improve safety. In addittion a 1.3km northbound overtaking lane was built, as well as a bus turning area at Baldry-Peak Hill Road and a truck parking area on the eastern side of the highway.

The Minister mentioned the importance of the addition of the centre space in the middle of the road to give motorists extra time for correction. “It is great to see this initiative being rolled out so strongly on the Newell.”

A special guest at the event was 90-year old Laurie Narris who grew up in Trewilga and remember when the Newell Highway was first built in 1935. “I was seven years old and used to ride five miles to school on my bike opening seven gates along the way.” He clearly remembers how he saw a steam engine for the very first time working on the road, as
well as the two teams of ten horses each driven by a man helping to build the road.

“We all laughed when our teacher said there would come a day when it would be a job trying to cross the highway…”

By Maggi Barnard

Enduring Powers Of Attorney

Powers of attorney have been around since 1500 or thereabouts. An enduring power of attorney authorises another person chosen by you to make decisions for you on legal and financial matters. The main difference between a general power of attorney and an enduring power of attorney is that the latter remains valid even if you become mentally incompetent.

You can limit the powers that you give to your attorney, and you can limit it in time to be revoked at any time, provided you are mentally competent to do so.

You can appoint one or more persons. If you choose more than one attorney, you must decide whether they can act jointly or severally. Jointly means they must act together. Severally means each attorney can make decisions by themselves and bind all other appointed attorneys. There are no set rules on whom you can appoint but there are rules against the attorney giving gifts to themselves. Attorneys are trustees and they must not intermingle the principal’s monies with their own. Breach of these rules might see criminal prosecutions.

An enduring power must be witnessed by a Solicitor, Barrister or the Registrar of the Court. In each case the witness must not work for, or have any close connection with, the person appointed as the attorney. The power of attorney lasts until you die; you cancel it (you have to be mentally competent to do this) by tearing it up and notifying the attorney that it is cancelled, you become bankrupt; or a court cancels it.

This is a complex legal field and is becoming an essential legal document. Feel free to call us for any legal matters.

It’s been 10 years since Greg and Tracy Kearney have been burning the midnight oil at Johnson’s Bakery. They are ready to celebrate this milestone with the community next Friday, 23rd February with a day of festivities. The day includes a pie eating competition, spinning wheel, lucky door prizes, give aways and cake of course, while Petie Pie will also make an appearance. Remember to get your entries in for the pie eating competition before it’s too late.

The bakery is looking spic and span for the big occasion with a brand new look after renovating work done over the past 18 months with the help of Bec Thomson of Saint Flo Design. The work included a coat of new paint, new flooring and lighting.

“A lot of blood, sweat and tears have gone into the past 10 years,” said Tracy, “and we would like to thank our friends, family and staff for helping us along the way, and most of all our valued customers for their support.

Greg are I are over the moon that we have made it this far.”

Do you sometimes feel a pain in your hip or the outside of your knee after sitting for a while? Maybe when you stand up or when you run? It could be that you have a tight Iliotibial Band (ITB).

The ITB is a thick band of fascia that runs down the outside thigh. It starts at the top of your pelvis, runs over the hip and attaches to the outside of the knee. It also attaches to some of the buttock and hip muscles allowing it to co-ordinate how these muscles work to stabilise the hip and knee. Fluid sacs, called bursae, located at the hip and knee, provide cushioning between the ITB and the bones beneath. If the ITB is tight it can irritate the bursae causing inflammation and pain.

An inflamed bursa at the hip is called a Greater Trochanteric Bursitis and at the knee it is known as ITB Friction syndrome or Runners Knee.

The ITB shortens when sitting for prolonged periods. It can also tighten if the muscle is overworked. This occurs with sudden increases in exercise load or volume or if pelvic control is poor due to weak hip and glute muscles.

Because the ITB is a thick, fibrous band rather than an elastic muscle it requires a longer lighter stretch than most muscles. The use of a foam roller can also be quite helpful in increasing the flexibility in the ITB. A YouTube search of “foam roller + ITB” will yield videos of how this can be done.

For the fitness of you,
Linda Reilly