Barmedman News Remembrance Day will be commemorated on Wednesday 11 November. There will be no formal service at Soldiers Memorial Park but anyone wishing to do so may visit the park at 11am and take a minute to reflect and remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and those who continue to do so. *** The Barmedman Craft and Coffee Shop has been designated as the local Tourist Information Point. Information on local points of interest and across the Bland Shire is available at the shop Tuesday to Saturday, 10am-4pm. Notice to harvest workers and truck drivers: if you would like homemade pies or sausage rolls, toasties, milkshakes or cold drinks on the run, ring the shop on 69009846 and they will be ready for you to pick up. *** A successful Community Forum was held last week with lots of discussion and ideas brought forward. Many thanks to the Councillors and council staff who attended and to those members of the community who took the time to attend. Coolamon News A powerful display of community spirit is now on show at Coolamon’s Up‑to‑Date Store, where the Coolamon RSL Sub-Branch has partnered with Coolamon Central School, Ganmain Public School, St Michael’s Coolamon, St Brendan’s Ganmain, Marrar Public School and Matong Public School to launch Draw to Remember 2026. The exhibition features artworks by local primary students reflecting their understanding of Remembrance Day. At a time when other jurisdictions have seen dissent, the sincerity and respect shown by Coolamon Shire’s young citizens stands out. Their work honours the solemn, apolitical nature of 11 November, recognising the immense human cost of war and conflict. The exhibition is a testament to the students’ maturity and the guidance of their families and educators. Community members are encouraged to visit the Up‑to‑Date Store and view this thoughtful collection. *** 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 within the confines of Peiper Park for the ceremony. *** Coolamon Shire Council is advertising several new employment opportunities, including roles in the Riverina Regional Library, Allawah Lodge, engineering, plant operations and workshop supervision. Positions range from library management and marketing to clinical care and civil engineering. Interested applicants can view full details and apply via the Coolamon Shire Council website at coolamon.nsw.gov.au/jobs. *** It’s November, and Christmas is just around the corner and with it comes the Coolamon Lions Club’s ‘Light Up Christmas’ Christmas lights event. The Lions have come to the party again with prize money for the best decorated residence or business house. The judging will take place progressively between 5 and 22 December and winners announced after that. This year, the registration process will be slightly different as entrants will be asked to provide their address so that it can be added to a map which it is hoped will assist locals and visitors find and enjoy the displays. More details will be available form the Lions Club on the event in the coming weeks. *** News from the Coolamon Shire Library this week includes: It’s in the Bag - Share the Dignity. Join us for our annual “It's in the Bag” - Share the Dignity's Christmas appeal - The bag will offer hope and dignity to a woman or girl spending Christmas in a domestic violence refuge or homelessness shelter. Fill a bag with items life’s essentials and a few luxury items as well. A new or in good condition backpack, handbag or tote bag is welcome. Coolamon Library will collect donations until the end of November. For further details phone the Library – 69272492 Baby Bounce. Baby Bounce will be held on Wednesday 25th November @ 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. Lego Club. Lego Club is held on Wednesday afternoons, from 4.00pm – 5.00pm. Then on Saturday mornings from 10.30am. All ages welcome. The aim of the Lego Club program is for children to have fun, learn to communicate with others and to develop problem-solving skills. 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. Storytime. The next Storytime will be held Friday 13th November theme – “Its Bear Time” at 10.30am. Children are most welcome to bring their toy bears - New families are welcome to join us. Book Deliveries. Our book delivery service is still available. Books will be delivered every Friday, phone the Library for further details – 69272492. 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 the rhythms of district life in 1926 unfold through vivid scenes of industry, expectation and community spirit. The accounts range from the excitement of Melbourne Cup day, when crowds gathered around six wireless sets in Cowabbie Street to follow the race blow‑by‑blow, to the steady work of local government as councillors debated kerbing and guttering across key streets. They capture the legal disputes that shaped rural commerce, such as Walter McDonald’s claim over a failed land sale, alongside signs of agricultural progress, from record numbers of headers delivered to the promise of exceptional hay and wheat crops. Taken together, these glimpses reveal a district bustling with activity, ambition and resilience, qualities that continue to define Coolamon today. *** ‘…Australia’s annual homage to the horse was more general than usual this year. It is a curious commentary on our national character that we should be so concerned about the ability of horses to gallop two miles carrying jockeys of varying weights. The withdrawal of injured horses before the race was described in metropolitan newspapers with such headlines as “A Bombshell” and “A Sensation.” And yet most of the thousands of spectators saw only fleeting glimpses of the galloping horses. A better view was obtained in Coolamon where a description of the race was broadcast from the course, which enabled every listener-in to visualise with the aid of a little imagination nearly everything that happened—the crowds, the cinematograph operators, the horses, and the jockeys’ colours, the twisting and the turning of the horses at the barrier, and putting the worst offender, Valasian, on the outside. Then the start, the 15 lengths lead of the pace-maker, with Pantheon gradually overtaking him, the field thundering after. In the description of the race which at intervals gave the position of all the well-known horses, the winner was mentioned only twice—the second time “under pressure”—and in the end he seemed to come from nowhere, the pronouncer’s “Rampion! Rampion! No, Pantheon!” giving place to a more subdued—“Spearfelt, Naos, Pantheon,” so indecisively that Naos, Pantheon,” so indecisively that many lingered round the wireless sets thinking the race had not ended. In Coolamon six wireless sets were operating, and each was surrounded by quite a large crowd—numbering in all several hundreds. Each side of Cowabbie-street was lined with motor cars, and the town looked very busy. From remarks and personal expressions we gather that Spearfelt’s win, in Coolamon, at any rate, was very popular. *** At the Shire Council meeting last week the Shire President, Cr. Thompson, said that as the Coolamon Local Fund was well in credit, he would like to see some kerbing and guttering done. The streets were: Wade Street, from Cowabbie Street south side to Methul Street; 5 ½ chains. Loughnan Street, from Iverach’s corner to “Review” office (north side); 5 ½ chains. Loughnan Street from Bank of New South Wales corner to Mirrool Street (south side); 5 ½ chains. Cowabbie Street from Iverach Street, north, 3 ½ chains. The total estimated cost was £308, and the council’s half share £154. He moved that the work be done as and when it became possible during the next year. The President asked for a seconder, Cr. Le Lievre under the circumstances he would second the motion, although he would have liked it better had the motion not included so much. But seeing the work would be spread over a fairly lengthy period he would agree to it. The motion was put and carried. *** A case of considerable interest to commission agents and vendors was heard before Mr. Justice Street in the Civil Court, at Wagga, recently, Walter James McDonald, grazier, of Coolamon, sued Arthur Edward Lucas, agent, of Wagga, for £373, representing his loss in respect of the sale of a property of 806 acres. The evidence showed that McDonald put his property in the hands of Lucas for sale. Lucas introduced a buyer named Ronald Leslie Birrell. Birrell could not. pay the deposit of £200 on the property until his own property was settled, he having sold out to another man. A contract was drawn up, and McDonald asked for a guarantee that Birrell would carry out the contract. Lucas signed the guarantee on the back of the contract. Later, Birrell failed to carry out the contract, because the man who bought his property could not pay. McDonald then sold the property, making a loss on the re-sale. The jury returned a verdict for £97 in favor of McDonald. *** Forty-three headers have been taken delivery of in Coolamon this season. This is probably a Riveria, if not a State, record. *** Some of the best hay crops this district has ever produced will be harvested this year, if the weather holds. Many wheat crops will go three tons and even more, and the district hay average should be about two tons. Three ton crops have been sold in the Coolamon District for £3 per ton in the stook-which more than equals the return from a 11 bag crop harvested for grain…’
