From Hilltops Council – Marg Roles

In our crowded world, every month and every day seems to be assigned to some cause, activity or institution. I decided to investigate what August has been designated and what is happening during my Councillor Column week.

August – Tradies National Health Month.
Nationally, ‘tradies’ make up 35% of the workforce – in Hilltops, the 2016 stats show that technicians and trade workers make up 14% of the local workforce; but if we combine machine operators and drivers (6.6%) and labourers (15.9%); 36.5% of our local workforce is connected to a trade. Almost 3 in 5 serious workplace injuries involve a tradie or trade connected work. It is vital that the best health and safety advice is followed so that we are a Worksafe Hilltops. MS Readathon Month – a ‘gazillion’ books have been read since the first readathon in 1978. The readathon helps fund vital support services plus encourages children to read. Don’t hesitate to become a sponsor.

Now for the days of the week:
Monday 10 ts of the present time. Rudolf Diesel 1912.

Tuesday 11 – National Spoil Your Dog Day. Covid19 has seen a spike in dog ownership. Hilltops rangers make sure that our canine companions do not roam. All dogs need to be registered and tagged so that Council can easily contact owners of lost hounds. I recommend the Hilltops Council guide to companion animals – on the Hilltops website.

Biodiesel Day celebrates the role of biodiesel in helping the environment and developing solutions for a sustainable future. “The use of vegetable oils for engine fuels may become, in the course of time, as important as petroleum and the coal-tar products of the present time. Rudolf Diesel 1912.

Tuesday 11 – National Son’s and Daughter’s Day – be with the joys of your life.

Wednesday 12 – International Youth Day is a celebration of the role of young women and men as essential partners in change. Youth participation in political, economic and social life is vital – investment in our youth is an investment in a better future for Hilltops. Courage and our support is especially needed by our young people as they journey into a structurally fragile economic and social world.

Thursday 13 – International Lefthanders Day. A day to rejoice the unique character trait of those, who unlike the majority of the globe, use their left hand as the dominant one.

Friday 14 – World Lizard Day. All 5 families of lizards can be found in Hilltops – skinks, dragons, goannas, geckos and snake-lizards. Habitat loss and predation by cats and dogs are the primary threats to species survival. Leave that fallen branch and tumble of rocks – the local lizard population will thank you. The goanna is also the totem for the Wiradjuri nation and to go for a walk on country with local elders and see a goanna stretched along a tree branch was a memorable experience.

Hilltops is our patch of the world to care for and nurture: may every month and every day be a Hilltops month and a Hilltops day.

– Councillor Marg Roles

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• Local Council