Community and District News

Ardlethan News AGM Ardlethan Bowling and Recreation Club is set to conduct its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 5 November. You must be a pre-existing financial member of the club to attend. Come along and be part of the discussion for the future of the club from 7pm. Note: The bistro will be closed. Ariah Park News Sunday started out sunny for bowls but soon turned to a wet day for bowls. It was a full green of 42 bowlers who braved the elements but the elements winning in the end. Only got one game in before the rain set in. Winners were Leeton Soldiers Club, runner up Ariah Park third Ariah Park and fourth Ariah Park. Local knowledge must have been the contributing factor unlucky fourteenth was Wagga RSL. *** The last ever Ariah Park B&S ball is all set and ready to go at the weekend. Patrons usually start arriving Friday and get the pole position. *** The Ariah Park Memorial Swimming Pool opens on Monday. The Ariah Park swimming clubs also start training on Monday and Tuesday with the first club night on the Thursday. WATER AEROBICS A registration day for water aerobics classes will take place at the Ariah Park Pool today (Thursday 29 October) at 5.30pm. If you think you might like to attend any of the classes, you must attend registration day to complete a health questionnaire. Maggie has recently completed her aqua aerobics training and is excited to bring these classes to the community. Class times are still to be decided, depending on the level of interest. The organisers are looking at options which include a morning class on the weekend or an evening class during the week. All ages are welcome with a gold coin donation for each class. Whether you’re keen to get moving, improve your fitness or simply enjoy being active in the water, these classes are ideal. Barmedman News VOLUNTEERS Friendly, local volunteers from across the Riverina, including Temora, are needed to join the federally funded Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS). If you are a patient, compassionate person looking to give back, you can make a huge difference in the life of an elderly senior. The role involves simply providing friendship and conversation to chat and share stories, or enjoy a cuppa with seniors in their homes or aged care facilities once a fortnight. To volunteer or apply, contact Natalie Roberts on 0403 190 823 or email Natalie.Roberts@chcs.com.au CROP COMP Last week’s Barmedman Crop Competition has been hailed as a huge success. Congratulations go to Alex and Lisa Goesch of Bull Plain Farming for winning the Wheat competition with a paddock of Sceptre estimated 6.4 tonnes per hectare. Congratulations also go to Peter and Emma Stephens for winning the Canola competition with a paddock with an estimated yield of 2.8 tonnes per hectare. The Encouragement award went to James Lawrence with a crop of Sceptre. Thanks go to the sponsors, Ag & General Consulting GrainCorp and BASF Chemicals and to the entrants and judges. CHEQUE PRESENTATION The Barmedman Community Centre Committee recently received a cheque for $10,000 from Evolution Mining’s Cowal Gold Operation. An Evolution Mining representative said it was great to hear about the improvements already made to this important community hub, as well as the exciting projects planned for the future. The Community Centre plays a vital role in bringing people together, and it’s clear that the committee’s passion and dedication help to create a welcoming space for the whole community to enjoy. Cowal supports the upgrades through the Cowal Partnership Program and looks forward to seeing the continued positive impact the centre has on the Barmedman community. COMMUNITY FORUM Bland Shire Council is inviting the Barmedman Community to a community forum today (Thursday 29 October) from 6.30pm at the Barmedman Hall. These forums are an opportunity for the community to provide feedback, express concerns and have face-to-face communication with councillors and senior council staff around issues that impact them. Further information about the Community Forums is available by contacting the council on 6972 2266 or emailing council@blandshire.nsw.gov.au A big thankyou to the few wonderful volunteers who turned up for the Barmedman Mineral Pool working bee last week, without your support the pool would not exist. Great news for all of those in the community who enjoy this wonderful facility, the pump is operating and filling the pool has commenced. As those who visit the pool regularly will be aware it takes a number of weeks for the pool to be completely full but there will be water in the area from now. The pool is maintained by volunteers so please respect the park area and amenities and enjoy your time at the pool. *** For those in the community who are not aware, the local defibrillator is situated on the veranda of the Police Station. *** The Mobile Regional Library will be visiting Barmedman on Monday 2nd November from 9.15-10.15 The library is for everyone in the community whether borrowing a book or magazine or using the Free Wi-Fi so come along and support this great addition in our community. *** A very successful Community Centre meeting was held at the Community Hall last week with a number of issues discussed. It is wonderful to see so many younger community members becoming involved putting a positive future on the local community. *** A number of Moore families travelled to Forbes recently to attend the wonderful surprise 75th birthday celebrations for Jan Sutherland nee Fuller. Organised by her husband Maurice, the party was attended by their sons from Coraki and Bathurst, Jan’s brother from Sydney and friends from Wyalong and surrounding districts. *** Another enjoyable Mornings Memories and Melodies morning tea was held at the Craft and Coffee Shop last week. As well as a delicious morning tea, the brain was stretched with trivia and the riddles brought forth lots of laughter. The last morning tea for this year will be held on Monday 16th November with all seniors welcome. Coolamon News Public Schools in Coolamon, Ganmain, Marrar and Matong are the winners from this year’s Up2Date Art Exhibition with each school to receive a donation of $4500 as their share of the proceeds from the very successful event held as part of the Yield Festival. For the past five years, the Up2Date Art Committee has been able to distribute proceeds from the event to support local schools fund vital projects and initiatives. *** Coolamon’s long and proud association with the wool industry has been further enriched with the recognition of local woolgrower and classer Patrick O’Brien, who has been awarded the prestigious 50 Year Classing Stencil by the Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX). The honour marks half a century of professional commitment to the preparation and classing of Australian wool — a milestone celebrated across the district and beyond. Pat’s achievement was highlighted nationally after his story and photograph appeared in the World of Wool photo gallery in Beyond the Bale, Australian Wool Innovation’s industry magazine. AWEX describes wool classing as the critical first step in the wool supply chain, ensuring Australia’s clip maintains its global reputation for quality and consistency. Registered wool classers like O’Brien play a vital role in upholding the industry’s Code of Practice, supporting growers, brokers and processors through their expertise and professionalism. *** 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. *** Did you know that the Australian Fire Rating System has been simplified? The new fire rating system is designed to provide communities with easy to understand advise for each of the categories. Please take a few moments to familiarise yourself with the new rating system. The simplified system now has four categories: Moderate (Green – Plan and Prepare), High (Yellow – Be ready to act), Extreme (Orange – Take action now to protect your life and property) Red (Catastrophic – For your survival, leave bush fire risk areas). As part of the process, roadside warning signs will be changed to reflect the new system, so it is important everyone understands what is meant by the new terms. *** 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: 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 News - From our Past From Our Past this week again opens a window onto life in 1926 through the pages of the Coolamon–Ganmain Farmers Review, where everyday events reveal the character of a busy rural district. The stories range from farm accidents and the hardships faced by returned soldiers to agricultural advice on wheat leaf blight and growing concern over the spread of skeleton weed. They capture moments of civic expectation — such as calls for long‑promised footpath improvements — alongside the small dramas of daily life, from runaway horses to wayward motorcars. Together, these glimpses portray a community confronting challenges with resilience, practicality and good humour, qualities that continue to define Coolamon today. *** ‘…Mr. Patrick Agnew, 40, sharefarmer with Mr John Maloney, met with a serious accident on Tuesday. He was oiling his binder in the field without taking the precaution of putting it out of gear. The horses started and Agnew tried to get clear but was knocked under by the rake. His leg was severely lacerated and smashed near the ankle. The horses stopped after going only three yards. Agnew was removed to Wagga for treatment in a private hospital. *** James Conroy, 51, a returned soldier, was found dead not far from Methel School. 17 miles from Coolamon. He had been attacked by haemorrhage, and laid down, after tying his horse and buggy to a fence. An inquest was held on Wednesday, and a number of returned soldiers attended the funeral in the Coolamon cemetery. Deceased had been in the Randwick Hospital in October. He had served in the 58th Battalion. He is survived by a sister, Mrs. M. Curdy, of Geelong, Victoria. *** The wheat leaf blight disease (Septoria tritici), reports Mr. G. C. Bartlett, agricultural instructor, has made its appearance in the. Coolamon district to some extent, resulting from recent cool, wet conditions, which favored its development. This is particularly so in the heavier crops that were seeded at 90lb, or there abouts per acre, and in some crops of rank growth on heavy soils. Consequently, a good deal of dead leaf is to be expected in the chaff from some of these particularly heavy crops. This has caused some concern, and, as a similar attack had been reported from another part of the State two years ago, as a bad attack of "take all," this was investigated and the farmers re-assured. It is a seasonal fungus disease, which develops mostly under cool, moist conditions. The disease is almost universally present throughout the wheat areas but usually is found only during the winter months on the lower leaves. The advent of warmer weather towards the end of September usually checks its further development. It has not done damage to any serious extent in the Coolamon district, although it has spoilt the appearance of some crops that would have made beautiful samples of chaff. Where crops are harvested for grain, it is expected that burning the stubble will do much to destroy the leaf blight spores and thus minimise; risk of infection in subsequent crops. It is noticed that some. varieties are more susceptible to the disease than others, and, where the disease is giving trouble, a change of variety with lighter sowings, on well worked fallow, is recommended. The disease can be readily identified by the presence of the small black pinhead spots, which develop on the dead areas of the leaves, and in some cases also on the straw and glumes, or chaff. In cases of severe infection, the leaves may be completely killed, the straw is weakened and inclined to lodge, and the grain is very pinched. Some of the Coolamon crops on the heavy soils are much thinner than was expected. This was mostly due to the ground setting after the heavy winter rains and waterlogged conditions inhibiting stooling. A harrowing when the crop is about 6in. high might alleviate this to some extent. *** The spread, of the skeleton weed, whose roots penetrate to a depth of 8ft., is frightening the farmers, as its long substance is difficult to kill. It is the worst wheat weed pest in the State, and at Coolamon experiments have been begun in the hope of turning the weed into a real skeleton. *** The Shire Council promised to asphalt the footpath on the western side of Coolamon on the advent of summer. Summer is right with us, and it is high time the promise was redeemed. Pedestrians have worn out quite a quantity of shoe leather tramping over the rough pebbles and the gutter, consequently, is favorite. *** Mr. Herb Boyton was waiting in a sulky at the railway crossing early this morning, when his horse was startled by the railway engine and bolted. Mr. Boyton was thrown out and apparently suffered from slight concussion. He was taken to Nurse King’s private hospital. *** A motor car was left standing in Cowabbie Street on Tuesday and ran backwards, badly denting the garden fence. The car too was dented. Temora News HALLOWEEN Temora United Soccer Club is getting ready for some Halloween fun with a disco tomorrow (Friday) at the Railway Hotel from 6.30pm. There will be a $5 entry fee. Dress to impress in your best Halloween costume to win a prize in the following categories: Best Dressed Boy, Girl, Family and Adult. Platters and drinks will be provided for the children. Players, families, friends and the wider community are welcome to join the fun. DEMENTIA A free community information session providing valuable insights into dementia awareness and understanding will take place on Thursday 5 November. The session is suitable for all community members, including carers, friends and family of those experiencing dementia. The event will take place at the Temora Community Centre from 10am to 11am. Tea and coffee will be provided. To RSVP to this event contact the Temora Community Centre on 02 6978 0500.

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