Community and District News

Ardlethan Show Society Stage One Upgrade Ardlethan Showground saw the first of many upgrades and refurbishments to its surrounding grounds and buildings, courtesy of grants from GrainCorp and the Ardlethan Tin Mines and finished just in time for our Annual Show in September. It was all hands-on deck, with volunteers keen to lend a hand to expediate the process and yes, our very own quiet achiever, Chris Smith was on hand to carry out the excavations and Leeton lad, Liam Pudney completed the concrete works to a very high standard. These works are part of Stage One of an intended complete overhaul of our showground precinct, so the committee will be keeping an eye out for further funding opportunities as they come to hand. Hopefully the area surrounding the Kelpie’s Bar will be fully refurbished by next year’s show. Ariah Park News Congratulations to Hayley and Zac Griffin on the safe arrival of the baby daughter Cora. *** Happy 21st birthday to Riley and Harrison Judd. The boys celebrated with family and friends in Wagga Wagga on Saturday. There were quite a few Ariah Park people who travelled over to Wagga to help the boys celebrate their special birthday. *** It was a very busy weekend for fundraising with a Breast Cancer Fundraising night held at the new home of Dianna and Terry Edis. There had been many hours put in to have the house ready for the function. The funds raised will help assist several local ladies who have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. Congratulations to the organisers. *** Birthday wishes to Brendan and Paul Haddrill for this week. *** Happy anniversary to two couples with Renae and Micheal Denyer and Chris and Samii Cowan both celebrating their anniversaries this week. *** Congratulation to Georgia McCormack who played in the NSW Regional League State Cup team for Riverina and were silver medallist’s. The girls won all but two games over the weekend only losing to the eventual champions. Georgia was named in the Merit team which is the top 12 players in the tournament. Amazing effort coming off the back of Representing Wollongong Uni in the Opens Netball team at Uni nationals in Perth. *** The Northern Jets held their presentation night on Friday night at the Ariah Park Hall. Football First Grade Best and Fairest: Chris Ryall Runner Up Best & Fairest: Jack Harper Most Consistent: Harry Collis Most Courageous: Ben Grinter Most Improved: Seth Marinkovic Most Determined: Tom Frost Reserve Grade Best and Fairest: Riley Webb Runner Up Best and Fairest: Hamish Gaynor Coaches Award: Ryan Furner and Ben Dennis Best Utility: Lachlan Buerckner Most Determined: Luke Pellow Under 18’s Best and Fairest: Henry Prentice Runner Up Best and Fairest: Hamish McClintock and Ashton Harris Coaches Award: Liam Gaynor Most Consistent: Luke Dennis Most Determined: Zach Gaynor Best in Finals: Cooper Herden, Zahn Norris and Ashton Harris Netball A Grade Best and Fairest: Gabby Fairman Runner Up Best and Fairest: Maddie Marks Most Determined: Grace O'Brien Coaches Award: Adelaide Gaynor A Reserve Best and Fairest: Lana King Runner Up Best and Fairest: Issy Gaynor Coaches Award: Zarlia Norris Most Consistent: Nic Fraser B Grade Best and Fairest: Soph Noack Runner Up Best and Fairest: Elyse Henry Coaches Award: Sophie Ryan Most Determined: Tilly Matthews C Grade Best and Fairest: Nevaeh Webb Runner Up Best and Fairest: Laura Mannes Most Consistent: Bec Dean Coaches Award: Georgia Maxwell Under 17’s Best and Fairest: Summer Batterham Runner Up Best and Fairest: Grace O'Brien Spirt of Netball: Isobel Fairman Players Player: Adelaide Gaynor Best in Finals: Summer Batterham Football Ironman: Max Harper Jack Harper Josh Bell Cooper Herden Harry Collis Jack Fisher Hayden Walsh Jayden Mclean Ben Dennis Henry Prentice Zach Gaynor Luke Dennis Riley Foster Liam McClintock Netball Ironwoman: Adelaide Gaynor Summer Batterham Hannah Maxwell Isobel Fairman Bec Dean Georgia Maxwell Paige Hanrahan Holly Walker Bella Fairman Clare Meehan Lana King Montana Crouch Gabs Fairman Ruby Prentice Club Person of the Year: James King President Matt Dart thanked Debbie Worland, Kylie O’Shea, Col and Lyn Litchfield, Shirley and Brian Bell for everything they did for the club. Barmedman News Another busy week coming up for the Barmedman community with Mornings, Memories and Melodies on Monday 19th at the Craft and Coffee Shop commencing at 10.30 am and the Community Centre Annual General Meeting on Thursday 22nd at the Community Hall commencing at 7pm. If you are interested in your community come along to the meeting and offer your support for the future use of the community owned hall. *** The Bowling Club now has a renovated children’s area with books, colouring items and other activities to keep your children safe and occupied while you catch up with friends or enjoy an evening of fun at the very successful Trivia Night last Saturday. *** Windrowing and haymaking machinery has commenced moving around the area on both main and secondary roads. Be patient, the operators will move to let you pass when it is safe to do so. Coolamon News Mayors and general managers from Bland, Coolamon, Cootamundra‑Gundagai, Junee, Cowra, Weddin, Hilltops, Narrandera and Temora Shires gathered yesterday for the 9th Cootamundra Electorate Mayoral Summit, hosted by local State MP Steph Cooke. The forum focused on regional priorities ahead of the NSW State Election in March 2027 and featured contributions from Shadow Minister for Regional Health Sarah Mitchell MLC and Shadow Minister for Agriculture Brendan Moylan. The Leader of the Nationals, Gurmesh Singh, and Shadow Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Paul Toole, also addressed the summit via video link. Coolamon Shire mayor, Cr David McCann, said the summit provided valuable insight into the opposition’s policy agenda. “It was an extremely constructive forum,” Cr McCann said. “We heard clear commitments aimed at strengthening services and infrastructure across regional NSW.” A major announcement was the Coalition’s pledge that construction of a new Multi‑Purpose Service (MPS) Hospital at Coolamon would be its number one health priority if elected. Cr McCann welcomed the commitment, noting Steph Cooke’s long‑standing advocacy. “Steph has been a tireless supporter of this project for many years,” he said. “Her work has significantly bolstered Council’s efforts to secure a modern hospital for the Coolamon community.” The summit also canvassed policies aimed at addressing the widening gap between metropolitan and regional NSW. “It’s clear the Nationals have been actively developing policy during their time in opposition,” Cr McCann said. “The proof will be in the delivery, but the intent is encouraging.” As Shadow Minister for Water, Steph Cooke presented the NSW Nationals’ proposed Royalties for Regional Water Fund — a $5 billion, 10‑year plan to upgrade ageing water and sewerage infrastructure, improve water security and address a regional backlog estimated at $5 billion. The plan proposes a legislated funding model backed by mining royalties, with strong local input through a Town Water Advisory Group. Cr McCann described the proposal as “innovative and impressive.” “Doing things the way they’ve always been done is no longer an option. This plan has the potential to be a genuine game changer for rural and remote communities across NSW. It would deliver safe, secure water for generations to come," he said. *** 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 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 and 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 11 November and its history. The artworks will be displayed in the Up To Date Store Coolamon from Saturday 1 November to Sunday 14 November for School and 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 @ 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 returns to the Coolamon–Ganmain Farmers Review, where the everyday workings of the district unfold through a mix of civic progress, community enterprise and rural optimism. The council’s push to extend the electric light scheme — noting that “about 150 consumers had their premises connected with electric light” — sits alongside the bustle of St Andrew’s bazaar, the laughter of the Caledonian Society’s Burns night, and the determined preparations for a strong cricket season. Reports of excellent crop prospects, the steady hum of new wireless aerials, and the ongoing shearing round out a picture of a community both industrious and forward‑looking, even as frustrations such as the setback over a new post office remind us that advocacy was as necessary then as now. Together these glimpses reveal a district energetic, hopeful and tightly knit, much like the one we know today. *** ‘…At the last council meeting, the president, in his minute, stated that about 150 consumers had their premises connected with electric light. This meant that practically the whole of the town within easy reach of the council’s mains had taken advantage of the scheme. As a considerable sum out of the amount borrowed lo Install the scheme still remained in hand he recommended that steps be taken to further extend the scheme. It had been decided earlier that the council would only carry the wires 200 feet from Its mains. Most of the places now available to be connected were farther from the mains than the distance mentioned. He recommended that the committee be empowered to expend up to £200 on further extensions, that applications from persons desirous of availing themselves of the scheme should be called for, such application to close within a reasonable time, and that, so far as practicable preference be given to those applications which had already been received by the council, but which could not be completed with whilst the 200 feet limit stood. All applications would be dealt with on their respective merits, and when applicants were prepared to assist the council by bearing part of the cost of extension work, in supplying ,material, or providing labor, the council should endeavour to make satisfactory arrangements as it was desired to make the system available to the greatest number possible. The President's recommendation was adopted. *** The St. Andrew's Church of England bazaar, which was held last Thursday and Friday, was a huge success. All the stalls were very busy, and the hoop-la proved a popular corner, while the palais was a wonderful draw for the young folk. The gross takings were a little over £100. *** The Coolamon Caledonian Society held a Burns night recently; but the bad roads and cold weather kept many away. Those present had a most enjoyable time, and “Scotty” McClure, with his witty sayings and songs kept everybody laughing. *** Cricket is going to boom in Coolamon this year, more so than ever. An association is being formed in the south-west towns, and Coolamon men are practising very hard, and mean to do all possible to head the list at the end of the season. *** The district crops look exceptionally well, and a bumper year is assured. The majority of farmers are confident that they will average eight and nine bags, and the majority say that they will be stripping most of their crop. There is sure to be heavy wheat deliveries at the silos this year. Last week many farmers were very uneasy about the weather. Some smart falls of hail went through the district, and in parts some damage was done. The majority of farmers have however, insured their crops against hail. Hay cutting has started in parts of the district. *** Wireless is booming in Coolamon. Every day one sees new aerials going up. Conditions have been very good the last week, but previous to that they were very bad. *** Local wireless operators should remember that every time they create a howling valve in their sets, the groans and shrieks and whistles will be repeated in every other working set for miles around. *** At the monthly meeting of the Coolamon Progress Association the members received somewhat of a surprise in a letter from the Postmaster General’s Department. The association has for some years been advocating a new post office for Coolamon, and, up till recently, has received every encouragement, the Department even purchasing a block of land, conveniently situated in the main street. The letter referred to, was a reply to a letter written by the association secretary, and stated that no promise had ever been made to the association that Coolamon would have a new post office, that there were many other important works to be gone on with, that the present office at Coolamon was quite suitable for the working of the office; that the Department was having the office renovated, and would welcome any suggestions made in connection therewith. The association was very disappointed, and has left the matter in the hands of Mr. W. A. Thompson and Mr. Lance Pyke, the secretary, to further urge the erection of a new post office, which is badly needed. *** Shearing is still in full swing, and wool continues to arrive daily at the railway station. Cowabbie, Mr. Cox (Marrar) and Mr. Owen Furner have cut out. *** Mr. J.H. Schofield, local station master, after a twelve months’ delay, has received permission to have electricity installed at the station masters residence…’

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