Friday 9 June 2023
Welcome to Community, your Dumfries and Galloway community bulletin.
We are always keen to hear of any positive stories about things that are happening in your community and would like to feature them in Community – please email us at communitybulletin@dumgal.gov.uk and one of our reporters will get back to you.
 A to Z of Dumfries and Galloway Council
A to Z of DGC – A is for Ahoy Matey!
Meet Gail, the senior harbour assistant for Stranraer Harbour and Marina for Dumfries and Galloway Council.
Gail’s role is to ensure that the port’s staff and visitors can go about their business safely.
Booking berths for visiting yachts, managing commercial boat access, ensuring water sports for all abilities are made possible, and craning boats on and off the water for storage and maintenance – it’s a very busy job!
Over the last year Gail is particularly proud of the expansion of her team and the training undertaken by Colin, Garry, Mark, John and Peter in all aspects of their casual roles, including craning of vessels which can only be done (as we learnt) two hours before high tide and two hours after high tide.
What is craning? Well, Gail tells us that it’s the fun bit of the job, working as a team to move the boats on and off the water using some impressive equipment.
Gail has trained all staff so they can do this very technical role as efficiently and as safely as possible and could not express enough how much she enjoys expanding the team and working with them to do these important jobs.
You can see by the images that these remote control super-sized machines are not for the faint hearted to work with, requiring absolute focus and communication from all – something Gail and her team pride themselves on.
She said: “This team is incredible, we all share the love for the technical elements, love being outdoors, being hands-on and working with our regulars and visitors. I’m so proud to have this team around me, I really do have the best job in the world.”
As one of the only female harbour masters in Britain (which is impressive) she is also working with the wider council in preparation for the marina’s expansion. Although they can house 90 yachts at present, the plans mean that soon they will be able to berth an additional 180 yachts meaning Stranraer will be the biggest port in the west of Scotland.
When asked “why do you love this job when you are often cold, wet and worn out some days?” Gail responded “I am still smiling, aren’t I? I would not change this job for anything. It’s like managing a small village, all of which is full of banter and excitement. No two days are the same. I love the practical part of the job; it is very hands-on. I love every day that I come to work!’
Gail, your passion, and your enthusiasm for what you do is amazing – it’s smooth sailing when you’re around for sure!
Dumfries and Galloway Council Increasing its Roads Service Workforce
At Full Council on 28 February 2023, an additional £30m investment over the next five years was agreed for the Roads Service to repair more potholes, improve the drainage of our roads, repair more bridges, and improve the condition of our foot and cycle ways.
The first stage in delivering the roads improvement plan is to increase the workforce – ensuring additional capacity through the creation of good quality local jobs, and having the needed resources in place to deliver this major maintenance programme.
The first round of recruitment was launched on Tuesday 6 June, with posts in our front-line operational teams available in depots across the region.
The Roads Service is undertaking a recruitment campaign to encourage as many potential applicants as possible to apply to become a Roads Operative or Senior Roads Operative.
You can meet with Roads Service staff at the Department of Work and Pensions’ Open Doors Recruitment event at The Bridge, Dumfries on 15 June, 10am–2pm.
For those in the west of our region, the Roads Service staff are hosting an informal drop-in session at Barnkirk Depot, Newton Stewart on 19 June, 1pm–4pm.
You can speak to our staff at these sessions about career opportunities in the service, what’s involved in the roles day-to-day, and how they started their careers. You will also be able to get support to complete and submit job applications through Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Employability Skills staff.
Applications close on 22 June.
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Sheelagh Wins Lifetime Achievement Award
Our recently retired Education & Learning stalwart Sheelagh Rusby scooped a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Education Scotland Awards, held in Glasgow earlier this week.
Sheelagh started her teaching career in 1982, but it wasn’t until 1987 that she reached us here in Dumfries and Galloway, starting with us at Annan Academy. From there, Sheelagh moved to Castle Douglas Academy, where she really cemented her name as an education legend. Overseeing change in the way exams were carried out, writing chapters in renowned education and learning materials, delivering talks at national seminars and being a general inspiration for who was lucky enough to be a pupil, colleague and friend.
In 2013, Sheelagh moved into the centre and became an Education Improvement Officer, before moving onto a Quality Improvement Manager role. A decade on from the move into the centre, Sheelagh decided that it was time to retire and did so in March this year, following more than 40 years serving local authorities from the Western Isles to here in Dumfries and Galloway.
Sheelagh now moves on to the UK-wide Education awards, to be held next month. We’ll let you know how she fairs!
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 50 Years of Community Councils
Across our region, from Gretna and District Community Council in the east to Stranraer, Ochtrelure and Belmont in the west to Kirkconnel and Kelloholm in the north, 90 established community councils play an important role in community empowerment and provide the most local tier of statutory representation.
The Local Government Scotland Act 1973 made provision for the establishment of community councils in order to provide a bridge between communities and local authorities. There are around 1,200 active community councils in Scotland with provision for 106 in Dumfries and Galloway alone and a potential of 1,250 Community Councillors volunteering on behalf of their local community.
Community councils are involved in consultation for planning, licencing and, in many areas, the administration of windfarm benefit funding. Community councils also provide representation at civic events, support local galas and community events and work in partnership with other local voluntary groups in the completion of community projects.
Some of the varied work of community councils across our region have included:
- The launch of a dedicated website entitled Love Gretna, to help local businesses.
- Establishing the Upper Nithsdale Community Trust to support and promote community projects.
- Maintaining war memorials.
- Improving local assets like renovating local bus shelters and providing planters and floral displays across the region.
- Hosting local galas and supporting Christmas celebrations across the region.
- Ensuring road safety by installing four speed indicator devices, and setting up a repair system for cyclists to deal with emergency repairs.
Dumfries Fountain Project gets the Royal Seal of Approval
In recognition of her voluntary community and conservation work, Dumfries Fountain campaigner Kirsten Scott has been invited to attend the King's Garden Party at Holyrood Palace in July.
In September 2016, furniture restorer and interior designer Kirsten launched the campaign to save Dumfries Fountain. Following months of extensive voluntary research, fundraising and investigation, and by joining forces with Matt Baker, orchestrator of local arts and community organisation, The Stove Network, they took their campaign to Dumfries and Galloway Council to highlight the importance of preserving this historic landmark for future generations.
The newly restored fountain will be officially launched to the public at a ceremonial switch-on, on Friday 23 June between 12pm and 2pm. All are warmly invited to attend.
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 Limit your speed, not your future
Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable groups on our roads as they have no protective shield to absorb energy from an impact.
As more bikers get ready to explore what our region has to offer over the summer months we are promoting the national campaign and asking them to "limit your speed, not your future". Losing control when travelling at excessive speed is one of the most common causes of collisions involving motorcyclists, the consequences can be devastating.
The limit your speed, not your future campaign aims to improve road safety for bikers by urging them to travel at a safe speed. The campaign focusses on the future plans of bikers
to emphasise that inappropriate speed on the roads can result in lives being cut short, ambitions being unfulfilled and devastation for family and friends.
 Eardley Explored
The Art of Joan Eardley with photography by Audrey Walker
In conjunction with Gracefield Arts Centre, the Royal Scottish Academy and the Walker family, Kirkcudbright Galleries presents an exhibition exploring the life and works of Joan Eardley. Featuring original artworks, film and candid photographs by the artist’s friend, Lady Audrey Walker, this is a unique view of one of Scotland’s most celebrated artists.
The exhibition runs from 17 June to 1 October in Gallery Two, Kirkcudbright Galleries on St. Mary Street, Kirkcudbright.
Opening times: Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 11.30am to 5pm.
 Dumfries and Galloway Council is developing a burial strategy for our region, and members of the public are invited to tell us their thoughts.
We understand bereavement is a sensitive subject but it is important that we are able to seek the views of our communities to help us shape the future of the service.
There are in-person conversations and online sessions, for anyone who cannot attend in person.
Our face-to-face sessions will include a presentation and discussion for the first hour followed by a drop-in session for anyone who would like to learn more and complete the survey.
Wildfire Warning Continues for Scotland
As another wildfire warning is put in place across Scotland, members of the public are being cautioned that even the smallest fire can spread uncontrollably and devastate entire hillsides.
A ‘very high’ warning for an increased risk of wildfires began on Wednesday 7 June and runs until Saturday 10 June.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) warns that many rural and remote communities are hugely impacted by wildfires, which can cause significant environmental and economic damage.
Many people will be hoping to enjoy the outdoors when the weather is good, but please enjoy the weather responsibly, be aware of the risks and follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
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