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24.01.2022 Are you looking for an exciting and rewarding new job? Gwydir Shire Council is currently inviting applications for a suitably qualified and experienced candida...te for the role as Gwydir News Editor. Further information regarding the role and position description can be found at: https://gwydirshire.com//gwydir-shire-co/positions-vacant/ See more

23.01.2022 When Claudia Adams won the Dr William Hunter Scholarship last year, she was dumbfounded. I really couldn’t believe it when I found out I got it, I was really proud of myself, she said. Liam Winter was equally stunned. ... I was blown away, I didn’t think I would win after seeing and knowing some of the people who applied for it, who are all extremely worthy recipients. The Moree duo are just two in a long line of local health students to benefit from the scholarship over the past 16 years, which has supported emerging nurses, physiotherapists, doctors, speech pathologists, radiology technicians and dietitians in their studies. This year, up to $5000 is available to second year medical, allied health and nursing students from the Moree, Warialda, Bingara and Collarenebri communities. Applications are open until October 30, 2020. Dr Hunter is a retired GP and surgeon who spent much of his career in the Moree area. He is keen to see the region attract more health professionals and believes students from rural areas have a unique insight into the needs of the country. Liam and Claudia are passionate about rural health and hope to use their skills to benefit the Moree community in the future. Claudia is already working at the Moree Hospital after completing a pathology course at TAFE, and says she definitely wants to stay in the country when she graduates. The reason I started to do my degree online is so that I could come back here and make foundations, Claudia explained. So that when I do have my degree and have a full-time profession, I’ve already got those relationships with people. The current plan after graduation of my para medicine degree is to return to complete my nursing degree as it would give a greater depth of care and scope of understanding for the health system, Liam said. I would love to bring my new found skills and knowledge back to the community of Moree and continue working in the country. The Dr William Hunter Scholarship was established in 2004 by the Barwon Division of General Practice. Applicants must be in their second year or above of an undergraduate medical, allied health or nursing degree at any Australian university, and cannot currently be receiving payments from another scholarship. The recipient/s will agree to spend two weeks at a student placement in the Moree Shire, or a week in Warialda/Collarenebri and another in Moree, to be funded by the scholarship. The $5000 will be paid in three instalments over the course of the academic year, and will assist with rent, books and associated university costs. To learn more, call 6752 7196 or email [email protected] to receive an application form. Community donations are welcome, and will go directly to the scholarship fund. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MOREE CHAMPION

23.01.2022 Have you taken an awesome photo over the weekend - of a local person or place? (*Please email photos - DO NOT post below) We’d love to feature it in the Gwydir News! Send your high-res pic through to us at [email protected]

22.01.2022 NOMINATE NOW FOR BINGARA'S CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS. Time is running out to nominate that special person that goes above and beyond for one of the NSW Local Bingara Citizen of the Year Awards. This is a great opportunity to celebrate those that inspire us through their own achievements. With just 5 days before nominations close now is the time to stop thinking about it and do it. Categories for this year’s awards include Citizen of the Year (26 years and over) and Young Cit...izen of the Year (16 25 years). All Nominations MUST be received NO LATER THAN close of business (4.00 pm) Monday January 11th, 2021. For more information on how you can nominate a member of your local community for the Local Bingara Citizen of the Year Awards, please contact Jen Mead, Tourist Officer, at Bingara Visitor Information Centre on 67240066. Local Bingara Citizen of the Year Awards Winners will be announced on Australia Day, Tuesday 26th January 2021, during the local Bingara ceremony which will be held in the Roxy Theatre.

21.01.2022 BINGARA Showground’s grandstand is set to undergo a major facelift, with Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall today announcing an $85,378 State Government grant to re-clad the structure and dispose of asbestos-based fibro sheeting. This grant takes the total amount provided to the Bingara Showground through the Showground Stimulus Fund (SSF) to $110,718. Mr Marshall said maintenance of the grandstand was vital for the safety of users. Punters, spectators and eventers have al...l have benefited from the bird’s-eye-view provided by the historic grandstand at Bingara Showground. With more than half-a-century under its belt the grandstand, built from large timber beams and clad in fibro sheeting, is in much need of refurbishing,"Mr Marshall said. Given the age of the building there are concerns the fibro, which currently covers the grandstand, contains asbestos. This project will remove and dispose of the asbestos sheeting and reclad the outside of the structure with colorbond and fibro sheeting internally. The inside of the building will be painted, as will the trimming. Gwydir Shire Council will have up to six staff working on the project, plus local electrical tradesmen. All materials will be purchased through local suppliers, providing further stimulus to the local economy. Mr Marshall said all projects at Bingara Showground funded by SSF Phase 1 had been completed. I commend the Bingara Showground’s Land Managers who have done an outstanding job utilising $25,340 to tick-off five individual projects across the venue, he said. Using all local tradespeople the cool-room, located under the grandstand, is back running at full capacity with a new motor, while an additional awning now covers the cool-room at the polocrosse canteen. A number of electrical works have been undertaken with new LED spotlights installed in the main pavilion and electrical lighting and power points added in the general purpose shed. These improvements have all greatly increased the functionality of the showground and made it safer for its multiple user groups including Bingara Show Society, Bingara Jockey Club, Bingara Pony Club and Bingara Polocrosse Club.

20.01.2022 Crews are today undertaking work at the rest area just east of Warialda. The rest has been shut for the past fortnight, after a directive of the Department of Transport. Trees at the rest stop have been deemed unsafe and remedial work on the trees in question will be undertaken today.... The area has also been subject to vandalism when the stands for the ‘road closed’ signs were last week stolen.

20.01.2022 UPDATE......The owner has been found and the horses returned to them.......thank you all for your help in finding the owner HORSES - Found on the Mosquito Creek... Road Warialda If you are the owner or know who might be the owner please contact Council's Compliance Officer on 0428 241 783 so that we can get these beauties home to their owner

20.01.2022 Upper Horton Sports Club AGM Sunday 10th January 2021 5:00pm

19.01.2022 Local businesses are being encouraged to register with VendorPanel Marketplace, so that they can be considered for future Council projects. Gwydir Shire Council is introducing VendorPanel Marketplace, as part of its strategy to increase its support for local and regional business. This initiative is funded through the regional Joint Organisation of Councils, which means five Councils will have access to the same marketplace as individual entities. VendorPanel Marketplace is ...free for suppliers, there is no costs for signing up to conduct your existing business with Council or to receive new notifications, submit quotes and get requests for purchasing from Gwydir Shire Council. To continue to receive RFQs, businesses will need to register at www.vendorpanel.com.au/marketplace. Once registered, the business profile will be visible to buyers across five Local Government Areas in the Joint Organisation and who may be searching in the categories of work you are registered in. VendorPanel Marketplace enables staff from Gwydir Shire Council to easily identify local suppliers and include them in their purchasing and procurement processes. It is hoped that by creating a regional focus for businesses locally and in the region, Gwydir Shire Council and the other member Councils of Namoi Unlimited can generate opportunities for our region. Please NOTE, if you already have a VendorPanel account, you do not need to create a new profile. Just select the Marketplace category that best describes your business and use your existing email address to register.

19.01.2022 Those clouds and rain radar look promising! The Bureau of Meteorology forecast for the North West Slopes and Plains for today is Cloudy with a very high (near 100%) chance of rain, most likely from late this morning. Daytime temperatures between 12-18 degrees.

19.01.2022 The North West Theatre Company Film Club’s movie for November takes us to London’s historic Windmill Theatre. Mrs Henderson Presents is a 2005 British-American biographical musical film directed by Stephen Frears starring Judi Dench, Bob Hoskins, Kelly Reilly, and Will Young. It tells the true story of Laura Henderson, an eccentric British socialite who opened the Windmill Theatre in London in 1931. Recently widowed, well-to-do Mrs. Laura Henderson (Dame Judi Dench) is at a b...it of a loose end in inter-war London. On a whim, she buys the derelict Windmill theatre in the West End and persuades impresario Vivian Van Damm (Bob Hoskins) to run it, despite the fact the two don't seem to get along at all. Although their idea of a non-stop revue is at first a success, other theatres copy it and disaster looms. Mrs Henderson suggests they add female nudity, similar to the famous Moulin Rouge in Paris, something unprecedented at that time in the United Kingdom. Van Damm points out that the Lord Chamberlain, Lord Rowland Baring, 2nd Earl of Cromer, who licences live shows in Britain, is likely to have something to say about this. Luckily, Mrs. Henderson is friends with him. The Lord Chamberlain reluctantly allows it under the condition that the nude performers remain immobile, so the performances can be considered art, the equivalent of nude statues in museums. The Windmill Theatre became famous during the Second World War. During the Blitz, theatres, restaurants and pubs closed, but never the Windmill. We Never Closed" became the catch cry of the Windmill. It finally closed in 1964. The script is clever, sharp and witty, with just the right amount of sentiment thrown in to give the movie the fairy tale quality it needs to succeed. In terms of the sets, cinematography and costume design, the film is a sumptuous, lovely-to-look-at and a perfect re-creation of its time period. It received two nominations at the 78th Academy Awards, Best Actress and Best Costume Design. It is rated M. As you would imagine it does contain nudity. Mrs Henderson Presents will show on Sunday November 29th at 4pm in the Roxy Theatre. As with previous months, we will be adopting Covid - Safe practices with appropriate distancing and we ask members not to bring food to share. The Club will provide some. This is the final movie for 2020 except for the members’- only President’s Pick movie in December. Our programme for 2021 is currently being prepared and we intend to publish it before Christmas.

18.01.2022 Bingara Bakehouse is celebrating their success at this year’s Official Great Aussie Pie Competition. This year the bakery received a silver medal for both their curry mince and curry chicken pies along with bronze medals for their chicken and vegetable pie, cheese and bacon pie, cracked pepper pie and sausage roll. The judging panel consists of TAFE trainers, chefs, bakers and bakery reps who are all experts in their field. Entering required the bakery to send samples to be j...udged on specifications such as pastry thickness, even baking and meat content. Bingara Bakehouse’s Caitlyn Smith told The Gwydir News that they are already looking forward to next year and returning with gold.

18.01.2022 Brace yourself for some cold weather this weekend! The Bureau of Meteorology says that the cold and windy conditions are likely to continue in NSW and the ACT in coming days, with snowfalls expected in many low-lying areas by the weekend. The main details are below:... A series of vigorous cold fronts is crossing NSW and the ACT Damaging winds, strong enough to potentially bring down trees or powerlines, are a risk Very windy conditions are likely to continue through to the weekend The coldest weather over the weekend could see daytime temperatures drop more than 4-8 degrees below average With the wind chill many locations will feel even colder Significant snowfall is expected across the Alps and to low-lying areas down to about 500-600m along the southern and central ranges, and to 1000m along the northern ranges Locations which may be affected include Orange, Crookwell, the Blue Mountains, Barrington Tops, Armidale, Guyra and Goulburn. Higher suburbs of Canberra could see a light dusting of snow Some locations could experience a series of snow showers over 24-36hrs, starting Friday evening Blizzards and avalanches are a risk through the Alpine region. Driving could be hazardous See more

18.01.2022 Bingara’s Lynne Clark and Bev Matthews are busily gauging support and preparing their case for a new Bingara Op-shop. The pair have been planning in the background, a way to get the much-needed service back off the ground since the closure of the Salvo’s Store earlier in 2020. One of the aims of the concept is to unify people of faith in Bingara, under the umbrella of the Bingara Op-Shop. Ms Clarke says that the store will not be affiliated with any of the larger op-shops and... they would like the community of Bingara to feel a sense of ownership regarding the store. It is for the community. Money will stay in the community. The idea for us is to unify people of faith. We would like all denominations in the coming together to be involved, and not just churches but community groups too. A meeting will be held next week at 10:00am on Tuesday at the Uniting Church Hall in Cunningham Street, to seek expressions of interest from those wishing to be involved. Following on from this Ms Clarke says they hope to be able to present a case, with a COVID-safe plan, to the Uniting Church in Inverell which may assist in supporting the project further.

17.01.2022 Great news for Gwydir Residents - we're included in the QLD Border Bubble.

17.01.2022 PRESCHOOL SET FOR EXPANSION Bingara Preschool is set for expansion in the new year after receiving grant funding for an extension the existing building. With attendance numbers steadily increasing over recent years the preschool has been looking for some time to gain financial support to build an extra room. The capacity of the preschool will expand by 13 student places each day. ... The ability to cater to individual needs will be vital to providing a quality educational program for all ages and stages of our children’s development during their time at Bingara Preschool, said Gwydir Shire Council’s Social Services Manager, Suzy Webber. The addition of a new room will not just mean accommodation of more students but also that smaller groups of children will be able to participate in both general and specialised programs designed to cater to their needs and the different age groups attending, Staff will be able to allocate separate rest space for younger children or have a quieter space available for children with additional needs where previously all groups have been restricted when inside in one large space. Construction of the new addition, which will extend into the front yard of the grounds, will begin in early 2021. We are so excited that this is finally going to happen. As a small preschool it is difficult to fund large projects from community so this grant will go a long way with our service, said Ms Webber. Our whole community will benefit from this project. Everyone has a child, grandchild, niece, nephew or friend that has or does attend Bingara Preschool. This is such a special project for our community. The children of Bingara have their very first educational experience in our preschool and this funding will ensure that it will be exceptional, not only for the children but for the staff and all our extended preschool family, she said. Gwydir Shire Social Services Manager Suzy Webber, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall and Bingara Preschool Director Charmaine Reading.

17.01.2022 FILM CLUB IS BACK! The North West Theatre Company is delighted to be able to resume the Film Club at the end of this month and equally delighted to restart our season with a great film with a local flavour Backtrack Boys. Backtrack is the youth programme run by Australia Day 2019 Local Hero Bernie Shakeshaft in Armidale. It is a place for troubled kids to safely continue their education while learning trust, support for one another and to have faith in a world that has forg...Continue reading

17.01.2022 BRISBANE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN UPDATE In light of the lockdown announced in Greater Brisbane this morning (which will commence at 6pm tonight) anyone comi...ng into NSW from Brisbane will be required to follow the restrictions that have been implemented and remain in isolation until 6pm Monday night. This is retrospective and applies to anyone who has returned from Brisbane to NSW from 2 January 2021. The UK variant of COVID-19 that has been confirmed in a member of the community in Queensland is highly contagious and anyone who has been in the Greater Brisbane area must be on high alert and come forward for testing if you’re concerned or have ANY symptoms at all. You may leave your home or accommodation for ONLY essential reasons which include: Shopping for essentials, food and necessary supplies; Medical or healthcare needs, including compassionate requirements; Exercise with no more than one other person, unless all from the same household; Providing care or assistance to an immediate family member; Work, or volunteering, or study if it is not reasonably practicable to work or learn remotely; Child custody arrangements; Legal obligations; and Visit for end of life For more information, please continue to check the advice from NSW Health www.nsw.gov.au/Covid-19

16.01.2022 The Warialda District Chamber has a new executive after the Annual General Meeting was held last week. Tom Smith is the new President, with Amber Brown Vice President, Treasurer Amanda Hawkins and the Secretary Laura Cush. Former Chamber President Ted Stubbins paid tribute to the previous executive in his Presidents’ Report.... I conclude by again acknowledging the breadth and depth of the support given by the small group of people who have been members over recent years. Their commitment has been admirable and I hope it has all been worthwhile. We now hand on a Chamber which has always sought to act in the best interests of Warialda and district, Mr Stubbins said in his report. The executive also circulated a list of activities that the Chamber has been involved with over the years, which includes the Welcome Board on the Moree Road, the Moor Street Art project, the Gwydir Telephone directory, the What’s On Chalkboard and loyalty shopping promotions. Incoming President Tom Smith said that he believed that there were three simple ingredients to make Chamber work to support business, promote the community and work with Council. If we focus on these three fundamentals, I am confident that Warialda’s best days are ahead of us, Tom said. He said that under his leadership, he’s steer the Warialda District Chamber to provide continuous ongoing support for all businesses associated with Warialda, which includes businesses in town, out of town, home based business, online businesses and tradies. He mentioned that Chamber would especially target empty shops in town. Mr Smith also said that the Chamber would look at identifying a large specific community goals or project to make Warialda an even greater place to live and visit, such as an all-abilities splash park at the town pool. He also said that it was imperative to work with the Council. We don’t have to agree with them, but do have to work with them to make ongoing constructive representation to Council, he said. Mr Smith thanked Ted and Marilyn Stubbins, as well as Martin Bell and Ann Willis for their many years of service on the Chamber.

14.01.2022 ****MISSING PERSON NOW FOUND**** MISSING PERSON - COPETON DAM Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man missing from the Copeton Dam area, in the NSW Northern Tablelands.... Michael Long, aged 20, was last seen by family members at a campsite in a holiday park at Copeton Dam, about 10pm yesterday (Thursday 7 January) He was reported missing to officers from New England Police District today (Friday 8 January 2021). Michael Long is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, about 175cm tall, of medium build, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a black hoodie and grey trackpants. Family and police hold serious concerns for his welfare and urge anyone who sees Michael to come forward. Anyone who sees Michael or knows of his whereabouts is urged to contact Inverell Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

14.01.2022 Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. We will remember them. Here’s some footage from this morning’s Remembrance Day service in Warialda.

13.01.2022 Warialda High’s Louisa Gilmour will have her HSC artwork hung in the prestigious ARTEXPRESS and perform in the acclaimed Encore which brings to the stage some of the HSC’s best music performers. To be chosen in one of these HSC showcases is an outstanding achievement, but to appear on the bill in two defies the odds. For Louisa, having her work exhibited in ARTEXPRESS is a dream come true.... There has been a lot of energy, time and love that has gone into the works. ARTEXPRESS has been a dream of mine for many years, Louisa said. I am so excited to present my work in a professional gallery space along with other works of such a high standard. Warialda High Principal, Shelly Way believes this is a fitting reward for Louisa’s dedication, diligence, resilience and sheer hard work. Her Music teacher, Robyn Conway commended Louisa’s boldness in choosing four performance pieces of diverse genre. That gave her the opportunity to showcase her technical skill, stylistic understanding and personal expression, Mrs Conway said. It enabled her to feature the capabilities of the alto saxophone and many of its expressive techniques. Ms Conway said that even though Louisa worked consistently throughout the year, she was still focussed on making improvements right up to the performance exam. Her regular practice regime and commitment to performing at her personal best level were major factors in her success, she added. ARTEXPRESS is currently scheduled to be on display at the New England Regional Art Museum from 9 April to 6 June. Louisa is the fourth Warialda High student to be featured in ARTEXPRESS.

13.01.2022 Here’s an opportunity to join the team at The Gwydir News!

11.01.2022 HOPES FOR FRESH FACES AT JUNIOR LEAGUE AGM The Warialda Junior League are hoping tonight’s meeting will be their third and final attempt to form an executive and committee for the 2021 season. All positions will be vacant and the previous executive are hoping that some fresh faces come on board to take the committee forward into the future.... There will be some changes to the 20201 Junior League, with the Group 19 changing their age categories and the age divisions will now be U7’s, U9’s, U11’s, U13’s, U15’s and U17’s. The Group is still deciding on League Tag divisions. Current President Allan Austin has said that they are happy to provide support to a new executive. If we don’t form a committee, we can’t run junior league. We need to deliver a committee to Group 19 by the 1st December deadline, he said. The Warialda Junior League AGM is on this Wed 25th Nov at 7pm at the Golf & Bowling Club.

09.01.2022 This is 6 year old Annabelle Todd from Gravesend Public School, the artist behind the artwork you’ll see on the side of the Cleanaway garbage trucks that service the Gwydir Shire. She won the Truck Art competition for her drawing depicting how you can keep your recycling clean. You can read all about the competition in today’s Gwydir News!

07.01.2022 CHAMBER EXECUTIVE HITS THE GROUND RUNNING The new executive of the Warialda District Chamber has hit the ground running with several initiatives already underway and planning for more to come. The Chamber has launched a new #hashtag to be used on social media, by businesses and community members alike, which is #warialdasworthit.... The hashtag can be used on Facebook, Instagram and other social media channels as a way of the community supporting and promoting Warialda and local businesess but also a way for shops and businesses to promote themselves. A Christmas promotion in main street businesses is also about to begin. The ‘Where’s Wally’ promotion will involve 7 shops in Warialda. Local children will be able to pick up a pack from Renrut or Spoilt and over the course of a week will have to find the ‘Where’s Wally’ pictures that will be hidden inside shops or on shop windows. Each day they’ll have to write down where Wally is on that day. The promotion begins on 1st December. It’s hoped that parents will begin some of their Christmas shopping in local shops when they take their children on the ‘Where’s Wally’ hunt. Meanwhile the Chamber also discussed one of the big issues facing working families in the district which is the lack of child care, predominantly for younger children. An issue that affects both Warialda and Bingara, the Chamber understands that improved child care would allow more mothers the opportunity to return to work. They will begin looking at ways that additional child care services might be provided in the area.

07.01.2022 Today is INTERNATIONAL DOG DAY! We’d love to see a pic of your 4-legged best friend! Post in the comments below (or email us at [email protected]) and we’ll choose a pic to feature in next week’s newspaper!... Make sure to tell us the name of your furry mate!

06.01.2022 The Gwydir News email address is: [email protected] Please ensure you update your contact details as other old email addresses (such as those from the Bingara Advocate and Warialda Standard) will soon become inactive.

05.01.2022 Thank you to Scot Crispin for the video footage of the progress being made at the Bingara Splash Program Pool and the New 25 Metre Pool. Further updates to come!

05.01.2022 Residents in the north of the Gwydir Shire are once again being faced with disruptive border controls due to the COVID pandemic, with many now unable to apply for ‘border resident’ exemptions, despite Goondiwindi being their closest town and centre for sport and medical. The current restrictions are based on postcode and those who live at North Star (postcode 2408) are not considered border residents. Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall is following the matter up wit...h the Queensland Premier and is hoping that changes will be made to allow those residents to access services in Goondiwindi. The Queensland Government website is also causing confusion amongst those NSW residents who do live in border postcodes as it states that those residents will not be able to travel outside the border zone areas in either Queensland or NSW. However Mr Marshall said that the QLD Government has no authority to say that NSW residents aren’t able to travel further afield within NSW. The new restrictions are much stricter than the previous border control measures and do not allow entry to Queensland for compassionate or medical reasons unless they quarantine in QLD for fourteen days. The new QLD border restrictions come into force from tomorrow.

04.01.2022 Such is the case when reporting on COVID-19 regulations and restrictions they can change in the blink of an eye. In today’s Gwydir News we have reported on the impact the Queensland border closures have had on locals. In the time after our deadline yesterday and now, the QLD border restrictions relating to those NSW boarders in QLD schools has been changed. This is fantastic news for locals with kids in QLD schools and a great result for families. Approval has been given ...for boarding school students to return home to areas where there are no active cases of COVID-19 and to return to school after school holidays without the need to quarantine. Grab a copy of today’s Gwydir News to read about the impact the QLD border restrictions has had on locals.

03.01.2022 Bingara RSL Sub-branch would like to thank those that supported them this week by purchasing poppy merchandise. All proceeds now stay within the area, with a portion used to continue advocacy for current and returned servicemen & women. Lest we forget.

03.01.2022 Hazard reduction burns will be undertaken in the bushland surrounding Warialda this week by the Rural Fire Service. The work is expected to be completed between the 15-18th September. Several areas will be included in the burns, including North-East Warialda, bushland in the vicinity of Mosquito Creek Road and around Nicholson Oval, scrub behind the Cross Street/Market Street area, and near Redbank Road/Gwydir Highway area.

03.01.2022 North West Theatre Company celebrates successful opening night. It’s a special moment for the cast of a play, when you hear a gasp from the audience as they realise the special twist in the story and all is revealed, said Rick Hutton. Rick is the Director of the North West Theatre company production of Shadows. The play opened at the Roxy last Saturday night and was performed again as a matinee on Sunday. About eighty people attended the two performances with audiences ...restricted to sixty per show. Visitors from across the North West, the New England and beyond attended and all spoke of the very enjoyable play and the delicious meal that followed. The meal was provided by Bingara Lion’s Club. Shadows is on again this coming Saturday night and Sunday matinee. It is a lovely play with a very significant storyline BUT with a twist at the end. See if you can work out the plot before ‘all is revealed’. Bookings can be made through the Bingara Visitor Information Centre or online through the Roxy Bingara site.

02.01.2022 If you’re confused about the current QLD border restrictions, you’re not the only one. Residents in the Gwydir Shire who may need to travel to Queensland for medical care have been left wondering if they will face a mandatory 14-day quarantine if they choose to attend their appointment. The Queensland Government considers the whole of NSW as a COVID hotspot. Residents in the north of the Gwydir Shire, especially around North Star are angered that they have not been included ...in the ‘border zone’, especially when many of them use Goondiwindi as their closest major town and centre for school, sport and medical. The current restrictions are based on postcode and those who live at North Star (postcode 2408) are not considered border residents. Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall is following the matter up with the Queensland Premier and is hoping that changes will be made to allow those residents to access services in Goondiwindi. I can absolutely understand the Queensland Premier wanting to protect her State and its citizens, but NSW is not Victoria and our region’s communities, which border her state, have no active COVID-19 cases - and haven’t for 3 months now! While my primary request is that consideration be given to including North Star in the Queensland/NSW Border Postcode zone, I am also seeking the ‘border zone’ be reconsidered along Local Government Area boundaries rather than postcodes specifically to include the Moree Plains, Gwydir, Inverell and Tenterfield local government areas. For those who are have difficulties with the new ‘hard border’ with schooling, work or a medical appointment, please drop me a line to [email protected] so I can put them before the Queensland Government. The Queensland Government website is also causing confusion amongst those NSW residents who do live in border postcodes as it states that those residents will not be able to travel outside the border zone areas in either Queensland or NSW. However Mr Marshall said that the QLD Government has no authority to say that NSW residents aren’t able to travel further afield within NSW. The Queensland Health website also states that you can only enter Queensland from a hotspot if you travel by air. You cannot travel by road through a hotspot. The only people allowed to enter Queensland by road are: truck drivers, workers related to the transport of freight and logistics, people performing essential activities and border zone residents.

01.01.2022 Gwydir Shire Council Toy Libraries held a Commemorative Birth Certificate Ceremonies on the Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th August, 2020. After a false star in March when the ceremony was postponed due to COVID, the event was held over two days to ensure social distancing was a priority during this time. Deputy Mayor Catherine Egan was available each day to present the certificates to the families. To welcome them to the Shire each pack included a gift from Gwydir Shire Council for each baby, a certificate as a commemorative recognition of being born whilst living in the Gwydir Shire and information on the Toy Library service, with a bonus free six months membership for that family.

01.01.2022 Essential Energy will soon begin vegetation management in Warialda and the surrounding area to ensure the ongoing safety and reliability of the local electricity network. The vegetation program will be undertaken by Essential Energy’s qualified contractors in compliance with the Australian Standard AS 4373 ‘Pruning of Amenity Trees’ where possible. Occasionally, however, their practices can vary to accommodate the physical location and regrowth pattern of particular vegetatio...n, or to comply with the Electrical Safety Rules and legislation such as the Electricity Supply Act 1995 (NSW). Contractors will also comply with the Essential Energy operational protocols which have been developed to ensure employee, contractor and community safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, including complying with all social distancing requirements. Operations Manager Northern Tablelands, Mark Summers, said the vegetation program was about striking a balance between preserving the town’s trees and ensuring power safety and reliability for the community. A safe and reliable electricity network is a priority for Essential Energy and the management of vegetation in and around powerlines plays a crucial role in safeguarding power supplies, Mark said. While Essential Energy is committed to protecting the local environment and the safety of the community, Mark emphasised that trees and overhead powerlines could be a dangerous combination. Trees coming into contact with overhead powerlines pose serious hazards to people, wildlife and the surrounding environment, with potential for bushfires, damage to property, injury and unplanned power outages, Mark said. Our comprehensive vegetation management program ensures minimum safety clearances are maintained between trees and overhead powerlines and helps to minimise the trimming required in the future, while also securing a more reliable power supply. Essential Energy uses directional pruning techniques that remove branches growing towards a powerline and encourage re-growth away from the power network. While this can affect visual amenity, these techniques are considered best practice throughout the arboriculture industry and are used by most power companies in Australia. Residents can download Essential Energy’s Tree Planting Guide at essentialenergy.com.au/trees for helpful tips on appropriate species for planting near powerlines or contact 13 23 91 for more information. Weather permitting, the vegetation program will commence this week.