January 2012
Helmsdale Burns Supper participants >>>
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Deirdre Mackay's column article on Obesity >>>
December 2011
Switching on the Christmas Lights at Brora
Click on the image above to view the photographs
Download Deirdre's latest newspaper column >>>
DIGIT
click on the image above to read more about DIGIT
November 2011
Report from Northern Joint Police Board
October 2011
Deirdre's latest column
"The cost of heating our homes has become a real issue."
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Golspie "Circus Stars" certificates presentation
Councillor Deirdre Mackay said,
"There was an exceptionally high number of entrants from East Sutherland this year.
"Well done the children for taking part and well done the parents for their encouragement and support.
"
Click on the image above to view a larger version
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Councillor’s delight over funding for council housing in Helmsdale.
21 September 2011
Councillor Deirdre Mackay has expressed her delight at news that the bid for funding from the new Innovation and Investment Fund to build 4 new council houses in Helmsdale has been successful.
She said,
" I am thrilled by the success of this bid.
"A partnership between Highland Council, HSCHT and the community worked very hard on this successful bid.
" 4 much-needed 2 bedroomed houses will be built in Helmsdale.
"This will be the first council housing to be built in 40 years and will be greatly welcomed by the community."
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12th. September 2011
I CAN Awards
Presentation of I CAN awards, a training initiative aimed at early years intervention for young children with communication difficulties.
Highland Council nurseries staff all undertook the training in their own time and achieved high results.
This excellent programme has proven results.
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THE FIRST MONSTER Challenge
Teams from Brora and Dornoch competed in the THE FIRST MONSTER Challenge this Saturday around Loch Ness. ( website link )
Husband Kevin and Keith Macrae undertook the gruelling Iron Man Challenge in which they ran and cycled the full 120k. (photographs>>>)
The route is made up of 8 legs of varying difficulties and teams allocate legs according to individual strengths and weaknesses.
The route takes in parts of the Great Glen Way, Abriachan, Drumnadrochit, Fort Augustus, Whitebridge and Dores.
With difficulty ratings from 6 – 10+ and titles such as ‘Hell’N’Back, Mountain Mayhem and Nessie’s Revenge this is not an event for the faint hearted.
Nessie’s Revenge is a 10+ and the descriptor advises this is ‘One for the Masochist’ and is a test of physical strength and mental toughness
Congratulations to all who took part.
They are a credit to Sutherland and did us all very proud
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21 August 2011
Helmsdale Charcoal and Coppice
Mike Ellis of Helmsdale Charcoal and
Coppice has set up thefirst ever course in Scotland that carries a nationally
recognised qualification in traditional woodland skills. (
read more >>>)
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14th. August 2011
14th. August 2011
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Speech marking Helmsdale Lifeboat Day
6th. August 2011
For the people of Helmsdale and Wick the sea forms part of every day life. It is
livelihood, pastime and heritage.
But the sea is also unforgiving.
Nobody knows that better than the brave souls who put their lives on the line to
save others from its grasp.
That is why we hold in unique regard the courageous and selfless men and women
of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute.
The people of Helmsdale and Wick are very proud of their long association with
the RNLI.
This is why we recognise the vital part that Corrie and his crew play in our
combined effort to save people from the sea.
Last Thursday I enjoyed a lovely, entertaining evening in the company of Sandy,
Annie, Margaret and Andy.
I come from Wick and am delighted with the strong connection between my former
home and my new one.
Conversation flowed with stories about the sea, Helmsdale and Wick boats past
and present and Helmsdale and Wick worthies past and present.
Colourful stories which should be recorded before they are lost
Many a colourful tale, paticularly about Wick when the town was dry.
The shebeens, illicit stills, …… even a block in the wall of a house where, if
you chapped with a coin, the block came out, the coin went in and a bottle would
be placed in your hand.
Reflecting on these stories later on what struck me was that every story
involving criminality involved a Wicker!
The Helmie never featured in the illegal goings on– apart from happily being on
the receiving end of the contraband!
So, in defence of my home town, all I can say is try knocking on any wall in
Helmsdale and see if a dram miraculously appears!
With the humorous stories however were the graphic, tragic tales.
Men lost just yards from here we stand today - while relatives struggled to save
them.
There are few people here today who do not know someone tragically lost at sea.
This is why we understand the strong relationship between Helmsdale, Wick and
lifeboat
It is surely from these bitter personal experiences that sailors al around the
coast could see the value of a nationally organised sea rescue of well built
boats, volunteer crews, funded completely by voluntary effort.
It is no mean feat that the RNLI has weathered every national economic upheaval
by remaining a voluntary organisation. And why?
Through effort like we see today.
Helmsdale branch always been strong and raised lots of money.
It’s a wee branch but is widely, and at highest level, recognised as top
fundraisers.
This year they should be very proud of this magnificent cheque for over £5000.
Fundraising is not easy particularly in present times so thanks to everybody who
willingly gives their time to the lifeboat for their hard work, constant support
and dedication.
This is what it takes to maintain a thriving lifeboat service which, through
your efforts, is the envy of the world.
Thankyou also to all those who contribute so generously to the boxes not only in
Helmsdale but also down the coast, Brora, Golspie, Tain and in to Rogart.
There is a very special thank you this year and it sums up the generosity of the
fishing community so concerned with the welfare of those on the sea that it does
all it can to support them.
Mr and Mrs Jappy, recently celebrated their Golden Wedding, and instead of
presents,requested that donations instead be made to the Lifeboat – heartfelt
thanks for the raised £800.
I had the great privilege today of travelling down from Wick on the Roy Barker
11 and, in a world so often marked with arrogance and selfishness, it is
humbling to witness the unassuming commitment and dedication of the crew of
volunteers who, without question, have elected to put their lives on the line to
save others.
Corrie and crew - it is a comfort to us all to see you here today and on behalf
of the people of Helmsdale we pray that the Roy Barker 11 will keep you safe
while you work to keep others safe and we thank you for your work in the past
and your work in the future.
Download Deirdre's
speech >>>
Helmsdale LIfeboat Day photographs >>>
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Support for automatic barriers to be installed at Brora and Dalchalm
Councillor Deirdre Mackay has added her support to the call by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) for automatic barriers be installed at the crossings at Brora, and Dalchalm.
She said,
"I very much welcome the move to install physical barriers at the level
crossings in Brora and at Dalchalm.
"It has been said that open level crossings are safe if used properly.
"However, over the past few years across the Highlands, we have witnessed
horrific accidents involving multiple causalities which have brought this into
question.
"Any impact between a vehicle and a train is likely to be devastating.
"Safety of the public is paramount and the layout, configuration and use of
level crossings vary from location to location, so each one is essentially
unique.
"I therefore welcome the Rail Regulator’s findings and am pleased that efforts
will be concentrated towards those crossings that are determined as presenting
the greatest risk."
Download Deirdre's statement >>>
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Deirdre with Russell Henderson, Engineering Director, Stagecoach in the
Highlands, promoting road safety awareness
Click on the image to see the photo gallery >>>
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Deirdre with Turkish visitors to Golspie High School who were impressed by the pupils
Click on the image to see the photo gallery
>>>
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Deirdre Mackay is trying to ensure that teenage drivers are more aware of the dangers they can encounter once they pass their driving test such as driving at night and with other young passengers.
Her move comes against a background of a continuing high number of deaths and accidents that involve young and recent-qualified drivers.
She says: "Every year a number of young men and women
die, or are seriously injured, in car accidents in the Highlands. Here in
Sutherland most of us know all too well of mothers, fathers, sisters and
brothers of a youngster who has lost their life or been seriously injured in an
accident which to all intents and purposes was avoidable.
"It is a hard fact that 27 per cent of fatal and serious accidents involve young
people aged between 17 and 25 and, on average, there is one fatal accident every
week in Highland. The sudden loss of life in a collision causes unimaginable
grief not only to the immediate families but also to friends, classmates,
colleagues and the wider community.
"As a councillor I sit on the Northern Joint Police Board which meets every
quarter. A regular report on road accident statistics is presented to each board
meeting and sadly I don't recall one where young fatalities have not been
recorded.
"One of the strategic priorities of both Highland Council and Northern
Constabulary is to reduce the numbers of road deaths and injuries in line with
government objectives.
"This provides me with the opportunity to pursue this issue and to look at any
initiatives which can be put in place locally, or even nationally, to help
reduce the number of accidents amongst young people in our area.
"This week saw 350 senior pupils participate in the Driving Ambitions event in
Sutherland, Caithness, and Tain. The pupils of Kinlochbervie High School,
Golspie High and Dornoch Academy all met in Golspie for the event which is aimed
at improving the driving of young people who are about to get behind the wheel,
sit their test or who have recently passed it.
"Driving Ambitions is a national initiative which, by its nature, can only reach
a limited number of young people each year.
"I believe it is imperative that as many youngsters as is practically possible
have the opportunity to benefit from the event and last year we set up a local
partnership with the specific purpose of delivering DA to all senior pupils in
the north. This proved to be a great success and saw the start of what is now an
annual rolling programme.
"The event involves a range of sets which address different aspects of driving
and involves specialist input from the Fire Service, Police, Red Cross and
Highland Council Road Safety, local mechanic Roy Fraser and driving instructor
Pete Andrews.
"The day started with the hard hitting DVD 'Just Another day' which centres on
the terrible accident involving Donald Geddes from Ullapool.
"The main achievement of Donald's story is that it has succeeded where
conventional road safety messages have failed to make an impact.
"Donald is the living example that this type of crash can happen to anyone and
young drivers hear it straight from the source.
"Driving Ambitions can only be deemed a success if the young people themselves
feel they gain something positive from it and feedback to date supports this.
"It is important however to keep moving forward and I am keen to seek new and
different ways to increase young driver safety through involving young people
themselves. Most accidents involving young drivers happen at night and when
carrying passengers so I am very keen to seek their views, and have their active
participation, to address these issues and that of peer pressure in particular.
"Much can and should be done at a national level and around the world there are
examples of measures which have had a direct result in reducing serious
accidents.
"The Graduated Driving Licence for example is a more disciplined, phased
approach to people being granted a licence to drive. After a period of learning
to drive with an instructor the learner then has experience of driver
observation and motorway/dual carriageway driving and thereafter can pass the
first part of the test.
"They are then deemed intermediate drivers for a fixed term and have
restrictions - for example, no night driving, no passengers and no alcohol.
After a fixed term, when 'P' plates are displayed they can then progress to a
full licence.
"I would be pleased to hear from anyone with an interest in this issue and can
be contacted on 01408 622 340, e-mail deirdre.mackay.cllr@highland.gov.uk."