There'll be something for everyone at Sunday's Bushy Park Food and Fun Festival, with lots of stalls, entertainment and great prizes.

The festival, which runs from 10am to 6.30pm, has attracted 90 stallholders who will have a wide range of goods on sale.

Entertainment includes Patea Maori Club, Fred Loveridge, Erna Ferry, Square Jazz, Army Pipe Band and demonstrations of rock and roll, highland and belly dancing. To keep the young ones amused, there will be pony rides, a ferris wheel, merry-go-round and bouncy castle. And there will be a mechanical bull for the not so young.

Other activities include an auction and period costume competitions, one for the public and one for stallholders. The Miss Wanganui contestants will be hostesses for the day.

A major prize of a trip to Australia is on offer. It will be drawn on the day from the entry ticket numbers. There will also be a raffle for a bike from Avanti Plus.

Entry is $10 for adults; children free.

Bushy Park is located in Rangitatau East Road, about 20 minutes' drive from Wanganui.

They're the best of the best from all around the country – the National Youth Brass Band of New Zealand!

The band consists of New Zealand's most talented young brass and percussion musicians who are all aged under 23 and are selected from nationwide auditions. The band is based in Wanganui for training before beginning its concert tour of the lower North Island.

With their Musical Director Kevin Moseley, the 2007 National Youth Brass Band will perform Philip Sparke's "The Land of the Long White Cloud – Aotearoa" which is a great musical story describing this country.

"The National Youth Brass Band will also feature music written in the early years as well as more modern compositions, many by New Zealand composers," says spokesperson Marie Rockell.

Guest soloist is Colin Clark on soprano cornet. A former member of the National Youth Brass Band and four times winner of the Australian Junior Champion of Champions, Colin looks forward to performing with this group of talented players. He is in the world renowned New Zealand Army Band and also holds the soprano chair for famous Christchurch band Woolston Brass.

The National Youth Brass Band performs at the Prince Edward Auditorium, Wanganui Collegiate School, at 7.30pm on Thursday, January 24. Bookings at www.ticketek.com.

Work is continuing on the urban footpath renewal programme for 2007/08, with a number of footpaths already completed.

The programme is scheduled to continue through until June 2008 and may vary during that time. Regular updates will be published in Community Link.

Footpaths

Work is programmed to be carried out on the following sections of footpath:

Kerb and channel renewal programme

Subsoil drains renewals

Members of the public are encouraged to report graffiti via the Council's graffiti hotline, phone 349 0500. This number is for reporting graffiti only.

Sprinkler restrictions

The public is advised that the sprinkler restrictions are:

Even numbered houses can water on even numbered days and odd numbered houses can water on odd numbered days between 6pm and 10pm.

Hand-held hosing is allowed at any time.

Vacancies

Details about the following vacancies are available on this page:

Assistant Archivist
Applications close 18 January 2008

Executive Assistant
Applications close 20 January 2008

Customer Services Advocate
Applications close 22 January 2008

Senior Water/Wastewater Engineer
Applications close 8 February 2008

Scholarships on offer for sports course

Up to four scholarships will be offered to students enrolling in Whanganui UCOL's Certificate in Exercise and Sport Performance.

Administered by the Council's Sport and Recreation Committee, the scholarships will be supported by a range of Wanganui businesses including the YMCA and the Kingsgate Hotel and Conference Centre.

The Certificate in Exercise and Sport Performance is a practically-based course which introduces students to aspects of sport science, exercise science (fitness) and sport coaching. This course has been running successfully at UCOL in Palmerston North for the past five years and Whanganui UCOL is proposing to run this full-time, one year, level four course in 2008.

Fees

The fees for this programme are $4,423.15 plus student association fees of $135.00.

Qualification

The Certificate in Exercise and Sport Performance is NZQA Accredited as a Level 4 qualification. This means it is an applied, hands-on, qualification that provides foundation knowledge and skills in this area. Graduates with the CESP qualification are well suited to work as gym instructors, athletic trainers, coaches, sport co-ordinators or sports administrators. This course also opens the opportunity for students to progress onto higher study, such as the Bachelor of Human Performance degree in Palmerston North.

Delivery of the CESP Programme

The CESP programme will be delivered in 2008 using a blended delivery model. This means that a variety of teaching methods (such as practicals, labs, online support, tutorials, practicum placements) will be used to maximise both student learning and its application to the sport and fitness industries. An important part of this course is the industry placements, and the ability for students to apply what they learn within this setting. In addition, throughout the course student learning is monitored and staff delivering the course will also be involved in mentoring the students to ensure they continue to progress towards a successful completion.

Papers

Within the course students study a range of papers focused on both sport and fitness:

• Anatomy and Physiology (how the human body works both at rest and during exercise)
• Sport Practical (sports skills, tournament design and officiating)
• Exercise Science I (nutrition and how the human body grows and develops)
• Professional Studies (computer skills, communication and study skills for tertiary study)
• Exercise Training (weight training techniques, stretching and cardiovascular training)
• Exercise Prescription I (exercise testing and writing exercise programmes for fitness)
• Exercise Science II (how the body responds and adapts to exercise, sport psychology, sport movement analysis)
• Exercise Prescription II (exercise testing and exercise programmes for sport)
• Sport Coaching (planning and running a series of coaching sessions)
• Introduction to Fitness Industry (understanding of the fitness industry and fitness operations)
• Introduction to Sport Medicine (sports injuries, massage and strapping)

To be eligible to apply for a scholarship students will need to register their 'intent' to enrol in 2008 by January 31.

Call Whanganui UCOL on 965 3800, email to enquiry@ucol.ac.nz or go online to www.ucol.ac.nz or visit the UCOL information centre at 15 Victoria Avenue, Wanganui.

Wanganui District Council Sister City Scholarship to study at IPC

In the interests of fostering international awareness, the Council invites students who are actively pursuing a career in International Business, International Relations, the Environment, Japanese or Ecotourism to apply for a full time scholarship to study at IPC in a Bachelor of International Studies programme.

IPC offers

• personalised support
• NZQA Degree, Diplomas, Masters without financial worries
• holistic education
• exciting international career opportunities.

Expressions of interest for semester one close 31 January 2008.

To get started phone Bex on 0800 367 472.

To comply with the requirements of the Local Government Act 2002, the Council will establish a Maori Committee. This committee will not replace the Tupoho and TamaUpoko Link working parties. The establishment of the Maori Committee provides a forum for all Maori residing within the Wanganui District Council's district.

The Council seeks wide representation from persons in the Maori community or people who reside within the Council's district who can represent Maori community groups. It is important for Council that the views of all Maori on issues affecting them are fully represented to Council.

Tangata whenua will be represented on the committee; however, the Council wants wide Maori community representation so that all views are considered.

For further information about serving on the Maori Committee contact Councillor Rangi Wills, phone (06) 348 8338.

Please register your interest by letter together with your CV, including two nominated referees, to:

Governance Services Manager
Wanganui District Council
PO Box 637
Wanganui

Expressions of Interest close Friday, 8 February 2008.

We welcome members of the public to attend our meetings

Council – Friday, January 18 (2.00pm – Council Chamber)
- The purpose of the meeting is to consider a report on Wanganui Gas Ltd. It is expected that due to commercial sensitivity the matter will be considered with the public excluded.

Council – Monday, January 28 (3.00pm – Council Chamber)

Infrastructure – Monday, February 4

Heritage – Tuesday, February 5

Sport and Recreation – Thursday, February 7

Unless otherwise noted, these meetings are held at 4.00pm in the Council Chamber, 1st Floor, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui.

Agendas are available at the Customer Services Counter, Municipal Office Building, 101 Guyton Street, Wanganui, and the Wanganui District Library two working days prior to the meeting.

Meeting cancellation
The Strategy Committee's meeting scheduled to be held on Thursday, January 24, has been cancelled.