Community and District News

Ariah Park News Birthday wishes to Merrill Rollins. *** The pool was a hive of activity with a working bee over the weekend to get the pool ready for the 2026/27 season. Each year a dedicated band of volunteers gather to empty the old water and clean the pools and mow the lawns. A big thank you to all who came along to lend a hand. *** Harvest is underway so it is a good reminder to be aware of trucks turning and large machinery on the roads. *** Warmer weather brings out the snakes making it important to keep grass at low levels as well as for fire danger. Barmedman News The Barmedman Community Centre annual general meeting is being held tonight Thursday 22 October, 7pm at the community hall. The hall is owned and maintained by the community for the community so come along and become part of a progressive committee promoting the hall as a great facility for functions and meetings. New ideas are always welcome. The Community Centre Christmas Carnival will be held in December with help and ideas welcome. Evolution Mining Cowal Gold Operations have made a $10,000 grant to the Barmedman Community Centre through their Cowal Partnership Program for upgrades to the centre. Cowal is proud to support these upgrades and look forward to hearing of the future plans the committee have in mind for the community hub. *** Congratulations to local couple Hamish Sandow and Jess Sincock who exchanged marriage vows at the Sandow family farm last Friday. *** A reminder that the Barmedman Bland Shire Community Forum is being held on Thursday 29 October at the community hall commencing at 6.30pm. Everyone is welcome to attend the forum to voice their concerns or ideas for the betterment of the community. *** Unfortunately, due to the increasing cost of gas and water the Barmedman Mineral Pool has had to increase the cost of hot showers to $2.00. *** The local AgShows Dryland Crop Competition incorporating a local canola competition along with wheat, was judged on Tuesday 13 October. Winners of the wheat category was Alex and Lisa Goesch with a paddock of Sceptre estimated to go 6.4t/ha. Peter and Emma Stephens won the canola section with a crop of 44Y94 estimated to yield 2.8t/ha. The encouragement award went to James Lawrence with a paddock of Sceptre. Thank you to all who took the time to enter the competition, to sponsors GrainCorp, BASF Chemicals and Ag and General Consulting and the judges on what was a very successful day. Coolamon News The Coolamon community is mourning the passing of Ray Wall, a highly respected former member of the Coolamon RSL Sub-Branch, Navy Veteran, and much‑loved resident, who has died in Tasmania following a courageous battle with cancer. Mr Wall served his nation with pride in the Royal Australian Navy during the Vietnam War, and in later years became a valued and active member of the Coolamon RSL Sub-Branch. He was widely admired for his commitment to supporting fellow veterans and for his dedication to preserving and honouring local military history. Beyond his military service, Ray made a significant contribution to the region through his professional role as a Health Service Manager with the Greater Southern Area Health Service. He was also deeply involved in community organisations, including the Coolamon Rotary Club, where he worked tirelessly on fundraising efforts for local medical equipment and supported numerous regional initiatives. Ray will be sadly missed by his many friends in Coolamon and by all who knew him. The Coolamon RSL Sub-Branch extends its deepest sympathy to Ray’s partner, Eric, and to his family and friends at this difficult time. Funeral arrangements will be advised once confirmed. *** Coolamon Shire Council’s October meeting opened with a minute’s silence for Mr Jomar Guevarra, a respected Allawah Lodge staff member whose passing deeply saddened the community. Council noted the final audit results for Allawah Lodge and Allawah Community Care, with minor non‑conformances already being addressed as part of the registration renewal process. A strong result was recorded in the 2025–26 financial audit, which delivered an unmodified opinion and confirmed Council’s sound financial management, including a $4.3 million operating surplus and more than $7 million invested in infrastructure. Council endorsed a submission opposing the NSW Grants Commission’s proposed redistribution of Federal Assistance Grants, citing unacceptable funding reductions for Coolamon Shire. Council also commenced renewal processes for Alcohol‑Free Zones in Coolamon and Ganmain, progressed funding applications for the Canola Way–McNabb’s Intersection upgrade, endorsed the 2026–27 swimming pool season arrangements, approved a dual‑occupancy development in Logan Street, and noted the introduction of the NSW Statewide Community Participation Plan. *** The Coolamon RSL Sub-Branch advises that Remembrance Day will be commemorated at the Cenotaph, Cowabbie Street commencing at 10.40am. A short service of remembrance will be held. Those intending to come to the service are urged to bring a chair and are asked to note that Cowabbie Street will not be closed for this event and are asked to remain withing the confines of Peiper Park for the ceremony. *** Coolamon’s Andrea Hilton claimed the 2026 NSW Women’s Sandgreen Championship at Coolamon Sport & Rec Club, topping a strong field from across the state. The two‑day Golf NSW event showcased excellent sportsmanship and community spirit. The Club thanked visiting players, Golf NSW officials, and the volunteers who prepared the course so well. *** Coolamon RSL Sub-Branch has collaborated with local schools to commemorate Remembrance Day through Art. “Draw to Remember” is a Remembrance Day art project, combining commemoration and education, “Draw to Remember” allows students to learn from local veterans about the significance of Remembrance Day and express their learnings or personal connections to Australian military history through creative art. This project is an opportunity for students to connect with veterans & family history. Students have been asked to create an A4 artwork in any medium – Drawing, paint, Texta, crayon, collage to create an image that represents Remembrance Day 11th November and its history. The artworks will be displayed in the Up To Date Store Coolamon from Saturday 1st November to Sunday 14th November 2026 for School & Community viewing. “Draw to Remember” is not a competition, but rather it is a way to connect the youth of our community with its history. *** Do you know someone in our community who deserves to be nominated for the Coolamon Shire’s Australia Day Awards? Every year around October, Coolamon Shire Council puts the call out for nomination for the awards of Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Shane Till Sportsman of the Year, Young Sportsman of the Year and Community Event of the Year. Now is the time to start thinking about people you know and who among them is worthy of a nomination. Over the years, nominees have come from a diverse cross section of our community, so your nomination is important. Details of how to nominate will be provided by Council in the near future, but that should not stop you from putting some notes on paper in readiness for the official nomination period. *** News from the Coolamon Shire Library this week includes: Grandparents Day. Grandparents Day celebrates the special role grandparents play in our lives. The Library will host a fun-filled morning of activities on Friday, 23 October at 10.30am, including a Storytime session , outdoor games, puzzles and craft. Grandparents will also receive a special goodies pack to take home. Children’s Week. The Library will celebrate Children’s Week from Monday, 26 October to Friday, 30 October. A “Hand of Friendship” display tree will be placed in the Library to celebrate children in our community. Children are invited to colour in a handprint, which will then be added to the display. Baby Bounce. Baby Bounce will be held on Wednesday 28th October at 10.30am. Baby Bounce is a 30-minute early literacy program designed to help very young children to explore language. Older siblings are most welcome – morning tea will be provided. Storytime. Our next Storytime will be held 16th October theme – “trains” at 10.30am. New families are most welcome to come along and join in the fun. Book Deliveries. The Library book delivery service is still available. Books will be delivered every Friday, phone the Library for further details – 69272492. Lego Club. Lego Club will commence again this Wednesday -4.00pm – 5.00pm and then Saturday morning – 10.30am – 11.30am. Everyone is most welcome, Community Recycling Station. The Library has a recycling station for your household wastes. Items that can be dropped into the Library are Fluoro Globes, Mobile Phones and accessories, Smoke detectors and Household batteries. The Coolamon Library is on Facebook. News, pictures, events and opportunities are regularly uploaded – join us now. Coolamon - From Our Past From Our Past this week turns again to the Coolamon–Ganmain Farmers Review, where everyday life in 1926 is revealed through lively, character‑filled stories of local people and events. We meet “Ginger,” the long‑serving police horse farewelled after 15 years; hear of determined police work along the Murrumbidgee; and watch the School of Arts come alive with spirited debate on everything from water supply to world affairs. The pages also capture moments of hardship, from illness and injury to the passing of long‑standing residents, alongside glimpses of progress as new farming methods emerge. Together, these vignettes paint a portrait of a community energetic, opinionated, and deeply connected — qualities that continue to shape Coolamon today. *** ‘…An old identity of Coolamon in the person of “Ginger”, the police horse, left Coolamon last Sunday week. After a residence of 15 years in the Coolamon police paddock he has gone to greener and we hope, more succulent pastures, in the police paddock at Wagga. He has been succeeded by a younger, more awkward and more stolid horse (so they say who have to ride him). The Coolamon patrol is regarded too small for the provision of a motor cycle. *** At the Coolamon Police Court on Saturday last, before Messrs. A.W. Stinson and M.L. Kingdon, J’s.P., Ernest James Drinkwater, of Currawarna, was charged with having in his possession, the carcase of an opossum and the skins of four opossums. He pleaded guilty, and was fined £1 for each skin, £5 in all, and £2/8/ car expenses, or the alternative of one month’s hard labor. The fine was paid. Mr. Stinson pointed out that it was a serious offence, and unfortunately a lot of it was being done. The arrest was due to an all-night vigil on the banks of the Murrumbidgee by Sergt. Pye and Const. Gunther. *** A meeting was held in the School of Arts on Monday evening, presided over by Rev. J. Macandrew, when it was decided to form a School of Arts Literary and Debating Society. On the motion of Mr. Howes, seconded by Mr. Anderson, Mr. W. A. Thompson was elected president. Rev. Macandrew and Dr. Buchanan were elected vice-presidents, and Mr. M. L. Kingdon secretary and treasurer. It was decided that the annual subscription should be 2/6. The meeting then devoted itself to impromptu speeches, and proceeded quite placidly discussing such questions as discussed such questions as “Cobham’s Flight,” “A local water supply,” “The Government’s housing scheme,” and “The British Coal Strike.” The final question was “That the Australian Tariff is too high,” and upon which all appeared to feel deeply, stirred the meeting to its depths, especially when one speaker tried to show that America was able to dictate the terms of peace only as a result of its high tariff. Replying to those points it was shown that Foch agreed to the Armistice when he did because of the inefficiency of the American troops and the inferiority of their equipment. Strong dissent was made to the statement that protection was an inverted pyramid resting on the primary industries. Then the chairman though it time to close the meeting. Next week’s meeting will be held on Thursday night. *** Mr. Helwig, who comes from Victoria, and has purchased a farm at Coolamon, is known as the 'horse-less farmer.' Doesn't have a horse on his farm, and has a motor car, lorry and tractor. *** Mrs. Edith Wilson, an old identity of Coolamon, whose death in the Narrandera hospital was briefly reported in a recent issue, was 66 years of age. She was born at Gundagai, and at an early age went to Narrandera, where she resided for 30 years, coming to Coolamon 21 years ago. Her health become so indifferent about 12 months ago that she entered the Narrandera Hospital, but improved sufficiently to be able to leave the institution. Shortly afterwards, however, she contracted influenza, and had to go again into hospital, where her condition gradually became worse, the end supervening after two weeks of suffering. The cause of death was heart trouble. The deceased is survived by seven daughters and two sons, of whom Mrs. J. Murchison and Mr. G. Wilson reside in Coolamon. One son, Corporal Watts, was killed at the war. *** Mr. J, R. Brown, of Methul, last week contracted a painful complaint, which caused his face to become inflamed and swollen to such an extent that he could hardly see. The trouble was described by Dr. Buchanan as pollen fever-a poisoning of the skin surface by pollen and dust-a sort of external hay fever. Mr Brown is now much better. *** Mr. Dave McDonald, off! Wallaroobie, who lost his arm at the war, has been having a bad time with his remaining hand, which was also wounded. Decaying bone set up suppuration, and it was feared a finger would have to be amputated. Dr. Buchanan has been treating the trouble, and it is probable the finger will now be saved…’

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