Latest news with #Northam
ABC News
16 hours ago
- Business
- ABC News
Hot air balloons draw tourists to Northam in winter
Colour and light filled the skies in Northam during Western Australia's long weekend as the Wheatbelt town marketed itself as the "ballooning capital of Australia". Hundreds woke up to foggy skies in the Avon Valley, 100 kilometres east of Perth, to admire the hot air balloons over three mornings, before 8,000 visitors flocked to see the balloons light up at night, in time to rock tunes, for the Elevate Festival. A major drawcard of the Northam long weekend line-up was the inflation of the Skywhale and Skywhalepapa hot air balloons that were designed and made by Patricia Piccinini. Piccinini's artworks are travelling around the country with Northam one of six national showings. For a hot air balloon to take flight, on-ground wind speeds must not exceed 10 kilometres per hour, and the Avon Valley largely protects the area from such wind speeds. Unfortunately, due to unfavourable weather conditions, Piccinini's balloons were unable to take flight over Northam, instead tethering and putting on a show from the ground. Shire of Northam president Chris Antonio said the town's ability to embrace the cool conditions of the Avon Valley that were ideal for hot air ballooning, and turn them into a thriving tourist economy, was vital to the growth of the region. "Leveraging our unique climate and tying it in with ballooning is more important than I probably even realised," he said. "Traditionally in WA, tourism booms through the sunny months of the year, but we've been able to make tourism work in the peak of winter — that's our busiest time of year. "We are able to position ourselves as the ballooning capital of Australia." Mr Antonio said the town, which traditionally operated as a service town for smaller Wheatbelt communities, had previously struggled to establish a strong brand with tourists, but through hot air ballooning had become competitive with other tourism regions of the state. "But when winter comes, we have the flowing Avon River and the hot air balloons. "You can't do that in other places. That is our point of difference." Speaking at the Wheatbelt Futures Forum in Northam in May, North Eastern Wheatbelt TRAVEL's Linda Vernon said there was limited data on tourism in the region as a whole, with more focus on areas such as the South West. Despite limited data, she said there had been growth in visitor numbers to the Wheatbelt over the past decade that indicated an appetite for going inland. "The tourism space in the Wheatbelt is still immature and emerging," she said. Ms Vernon said feedback from tourists indicated that drawcards were niche events allowing visitors to connect with residents.
ABC News
5 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Northam shire to remove more works of artist Kirk Garlett convicted of child sex offences
A prominent Indigenous artist in Western Australia's Wheatbelt will have more of his artwork removed from public display after he was jailed for child sex offences. Between August 2023 and May 2024 artist Kirk Thomas Garlett, 50, recorded private activities on six occasions, indecently recorded a child and produced child exploitation material. The offences took place in Northam and the Perth suburbs of Midland, Cloverdale and Mundaring. Garlett was sentenced in the Perth District Court in April to one year's imprisonment on two charges of producing child exploitation material. He also faced the Northam Magistrates Court a week later and was jailed for an additional eight months on six charges relating to using an optical surveillance device to record a private activity. Once prominent around Northam, local authorities have worked to remove Garlett's pieces from public display since his conviction. Central Regional TAFE Northam was the first to remove Garlett's art in what was described as an "operational decision". In a closed door meeting this week, the Northam Shire Council discussed its collection after becoming "aware that a person who has artwork on public display has recently received a criminal sentence". Councillors voted to request the chief executive to "arrange the removal of artwork" which would be "placed into storage until further notice". A shire spokesperson said two pieces would be removed from public display but retained in the shire's collection. This included artwork 145, listed on the shire's website as a 2018 piece by Garlett titled Wardong and Manidj, depicting two cockatoos. "We understand the importance of public art for the community to enjoy and we will look at commissioning alternate pieces to recognise our local artists."
Business Upturn
16-05-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
College Bound Commemorates 30 Years of Helping American Teens Get Educated and Stay Employed
Winona, Minnesota, May 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — College Bound, Inc. Founded in 1995 by financial services veteran Jim Northam, College Bound, Inc. now celebrates three decades of success connecting high school and college-aged workers with employers willing to offer qualified education benefits. With 70% of 16-to-19-year-olds having been with their current employer for less than a year, this has become even more imperative. 'It's about creating a sense of purpose and payoff,' says Northam. 'When a 15-year-old, and more importantly, their parents, know that staying with a job for two years or more could mean walking away with anywhere between $3,000 and $10,000, depending on how long they stay, I believe they're a lot more likely to stick with it. In some cases, depending on total years of service, it could be even more. This amount is tax-free education money, which could really change the family's life.' At the heart of the College Bound Program is a Qualified Educational Assistance Plan, authorized under Section 127 of the Internal Revenue Code. Participating employers commit to offering up to $5,250 a year in tax-free educational benefits to eligible employees, money that can be used not just for traditional college tuition, but for vocational schools, professional or industrial certifications, trade schools, or even career-advancing online courses. These funds are income tax-exempt for employees and exempt benefit payments for employers. To qualify, employees must work a minimum of 1,200 hours over at least two years. That means kids who typically job-hop every few months must now commit. And that, says Northam, is where the real transformation begins. 'Turnover in this age group of 15 to 21 is off the charts,' he says. 'I've been in this space for 30 years, and one thing that hasn't changed is the average length of service for young part-timers. It's always short. But if you can get them to see a tangible, financial benefit for staying, suddenly you're building habits of discipline, reliability, and commitment.' The College Bound Program begins tracking an employee's benefit accrual from day one. Every dollar they earn is matched by an additional 15 to 20% from their employers, held in trust until they're vested. If they leave before hitting the 1,200-hour threshold, the funds are forfeited. But if they stay, they walk away with a tax-free pool of money for their next chapter, may it be post-graduation or a learning course and certification. College Bound, Inc. supports the employer through the entire process, from plan setup to quarterly benefit tracking. Every three months, Northam's team provides customized reports showing each enrolled employee's accrued balance, how far they are from vesting, and what they stand to gain. Employers are encouraged to post the reports, sparking conversations among staff. There's also a responsibility built into the system. Once vested, employees have two years from their high school graduation date, or vest date, to enroll in a qualifying educational program and up to 72 months to use their benefit. 'It's not open-ended,' Northam explains. 'The kids have deadlines to meet. And the employer has to manage their liability. I help both sides navigate that.' The 'loyalty economics' that Northam has created is a systematic win-win. When kids stay longer, others follow. When staff stay longer, employers thrive. He says, 'We're not promising miracles, but a structure to follow: one that gives kids a reason to stay, learn, and grow, and gives parents a reason to encourage their kids to stay on track.' Media Contact Name: Jim Northam Email: [email protected] There is no offer to sell, no solicitation of an offer to buy, and no recommendation of any security or any other product or service in this article. Moreover, nothing contained in this should be construed as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any investment or security, or to engage in any investment strategy or transaction. It is your responsibility to determine whether any investment, investment strategy, security, or related transaction is appropriate for you based on your investment objectives, financial circumstances, and risk tolerance. Consult your business advisor, attorney, or tax advisor regarding your specific business, legal, or tax situation. Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
College Bound Commemorates 30 Years of Helping American Teens Get Educated and Stay Employed
College Bound, Inc. founder Jim Northam celebrates 30 years in the industry, giving teenagers a reason to stay in their jobs and employers to have lower attrition rates. Winona, Minnesota, May 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- College Bound, in 1995 by financial services veteran Jim Northam, College Bound, Inc. now celebrates three decades of success connecting high school and college-aged workers with employers willing to offer qualified education benefits. With 70% of 16-to-19-year-olds having been with their current employer for less than a year, this has become even more imperative. 'It's about creating a sense of purpose and payoff,' says Northam. 'When a 15-year-old, and more importantly, their parents, know that staying with a job for two years or more could mean walking away with anywhere between $3,000 and $10,000, depending on how long they stay, I believe they're a lot more likely to stick with it. In some cases, depending on total years of service, it could be even more. This amount is tax-free education money, which could really change the family's life.' At the heart of the College Bound Program is a Qualified Educational Assistance Plan, authorized under Section 127 of the Internal Revenue Code. Participating employers commit to offering up to $5,250 a year in tax-free educational benefits to eligible employees, money that can be used not just for traditional college tuition, but for vocational schools, professional or industrial certifications, trade schools, or even career-advancing online courses. These funds are income tax-exempt for employees and exempt benefit payments for employers. To qualify, employees must work a minimum of 1,200 hours over at least two years. That means kids who typically job-hop every few months must now commit. And that, says Northam, is where the real transformation begins. 'Turnover in this age group of 15 to 21 is off the charts,' he says. 'I've been in this space for 30 years, and one thing that hasn't changed is the average length of service for young part-timers. It's always short. But if you can get them to see a tangible, financial benefit for staying, suddenly you're building habits of discipline, reliability, and commitment.' The College Bound Program begins tracking an employee's benefit accrual from day one. Every dollar they earn is matched by an additional 15 to 20% from their employers, held in trust until they're vested. If they leave before hitting the 1,200-hour threshold, the funds are forfeited. But if they stay, they walk away with a tax-free pool of money for their next chapter, may it be post-graduation or a learning course and certification. College Bound, Inc. supports the employer through the entire process, from plan setup to quarterly benefit tracking. Every three months, Northam's team provides customized reports showing each enrolled employee's accrued balance, how far they are from vesting, and what they stand to gain. Employers are encouraged to post the reports, sparking conversations among staff. There's also a responsibility built into the system. Once vested, employees have two years from their high school graduation date, or vest date, to enroll in a qualifying educational program and up to 72 months to use their benefit. 'It's not open-ended,' Northam explains. 'The kids have deadlines to meet. And the employer has to manage their liability. I help both sides navigate that.' The 'loyalty economics' that Northam has created is a systematic win-win. When kids stay longer, others follow. When staff stay longer, employers thrive. He says, 'We're not promising miracles, but a structure to follow: one that gives kids a reason to stay, learn, and grow, and gives parents a reason to encourage their kids to stay on track.' Media Contact Name: Jim Northam Email: jim@ There is no offer to sell, no solicitation of an offer to buy, and no recommendation of any security or any other product or service in this article. Moreover, nothing contained in this should be construed as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any investment or security, or to engage in any investment strategy or transaction. It is your responsibility to determine whether any investment, investment strategy, security, or related transaction is appropriate for you based on your investment objectives, financial circumstances, and risk tolerance. Consult your business advisor, attorney, or tax advisor regarding your specific business, legal, or tax situation.
West Australian
29-04-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Bobby Hill signs four-year contract extension to stay at Collingwood until end of 2030
There'll be no WA return for Bobby Hill anytime soon, with the Collingwood grand final hero inking a four-year contract extension that will keep him at the club that 'feels like home' until the end of 2030. The Northam and Wesley College product had been contracted for next season, but put pen to paper on a fresh deal that sees him remain in black and white until at least age 30. Hill secured his place in Magpies folklore in his first year at the club after crossing from GWS, snaring the Norm Smith Medal in the 2023 premiership win. The 25-year-old said he had instantly felt comfortable at the club as he looks to strive for more flag success. 'It feels like home here,' Hill said. 'My family loves it, especially my son - he loves it, running around like he owns the place. 'Collingwood is my future and I can't wait to spend the rest of my career here. 'Getting the taste of premiership success in 2023, that's what drives me to want to play more footy here at the Pies in front of our big fan base. 'From now to 2030, I'd love to achieve more premiership success but I really just want to keep playing consistent footy and making more memories to cherish for the rest of my life.' The fresh deal has quashed any prospect of a WA return in the immediate future, with Fremantle unable to entertain the prospect of recruiting Hill to the club where his cousins Stephen and Bradley played. Collingwood list manager Justin Leppitsch said he was thrilled to have locked in the 95-gamer. 'Since arriving at the club, Bobby has become an integral part of our forward line and continuously works to grow and develop his own game,' he said. 'At only 25, Bobby has a lot of football ahead of him, and we look forward to seeing many more magical moments that will excite our fans.'
