Coolamon News Coolamon Shire Council hosted the NSW Minister for Local Government, Ron Hoenig, during a visit that included local member Steph Cooke. The Minister met with Riverina Eastern Regional Organisation of Councils representatives for discussions on regional priorities, including infrastructure pressures and service delivery challenges faced by rural councils. He later toured key Coolamon facilities with Council leaders, viewing Allawah Lodge, the Early Childhood Centre and the Up‑to‑Date Store Cultural Precinct. The visit highlighted the Shire’s broad community services and strong local pride. Council officials said the Minister left with a clear appreciation of Coolamon’s innovation, commitment and community spirit. *** AusAlert, Australia’s new national warning system, delivers rapid, location‑based emergency alerts to most mobile phones during crises. Designed to improve consistency and community safety, it will undergo a nationwide test on 26 July 2026 at 2:00pm AEST, when a message will be sent simultaneously across all states and territories. Officials stress the alert is only a trial and no action is required, but encourage the public to stay aware and provide feedback to help refine the system ahead of full implementation. At the time of the test, a single Critical AusAlert test will be sent to every mobile device in Australia. Everyone with a compatible phone or other device in Australia can expect to receive the alert. *** Police have issued a warning to rural landholders following a meeting of the Coolamon Community Safety Precinct Committee, citing emerging crime trends affecting regional NSW. Officers noted that criminals are increasingly seeking to lease vacant or abandoned farmhouses, exploiting isolated properties to conceal illegal activity — a pattern consistent with broader rural crime risks identified across NSW, where trespassing and break‑and‑enter offences remain prevalent. Police urged landowners to use licensed real estate agents when leasing unused dwellings to ensure proper verification and protection. They also reported offenders are hiding vehicles on remote roads and using them to travel between towns to commit crimes, echoing concerns that criminals take advantage of isolated locations. Residents are encouraged to report any unattended vehicles spotted on back roads in the Coolamon Shire. *** Coolamon’s service organisations marked significant milestones this week, celebrating leadership, community spirit and notable contributions to the Shire. The Rotary Club of Coolamon hosted its 55th Changeover Dinner, attracting a strong turnout of members, visiting Rotarians and local residents. Outgoing President Mary Potts was praised for a highly successful year in which the Club contributed more than $25,000 to worthy causes. Incoming President Leslie Weston and her Board were welcomed, while Chris and Joanne Berry of the Coolamon Fire Museum received the Rotary Pride in Workmanship Award for their dedication to preserving local history. A donation to Allawah Lodge was also formally presented and gratefully acknowledged. The Coolamon Lions Club celebrated its 47th Annual Changeover Dinner, joined by Lions from Temora, Junee, Cootamundra, Young and South Wagga, along with representatives from community organisations. Incoming President Mark Uhr and the new Board were officially inducted, with the Club highlighting its extensive support for local initiatives and the success of its Return & Earn program. A vote of thanks recognised the strong community backing for the Lions’ ongoing work. *** News from the Coolamon Shire Library this week includes: Storytime 2026. The next Storytime will be held this Friday 31st July at 10.30am theme – “Lions”- Everyone is most welcome. Please note Storytime will not be held over the school holidays Naidoc Week. The Library will celebrate NAIDOC Week with a variety of activities and workshops. A three-week exhibition featuring artwork by local artist Rob Clark will be on display in the UTDS from 3 July to 26 July. Activities will also include a Yarning Stick workshop for youth, a dot painting workshop for primary-aged children, and a two-hour candle-making workshop for adults. For more information, phone the Library on 6927 2492. Youth and Primary School Holiday Program. Our Youth and Primary School Holiday Program offers plenty of fun activities for children to enjoy during the holidays. Activities include a Street Slamin’ dance workshop, Lego Fun day, scarf making, Food I Am, and a movie bus trip. Phone the Library today on 6927 2492 to book and secure your child’s place. Lego Club. Lego Club will be held each Wednesday from 4.00pm – 5.00pm. Then on Saturdays, at 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. The Coolamon Library is on Facebook! News, pictures, events and opportunities are regularly uploaded – join us now! From Our Past From Our Past returns to the pages of the Coolamon–Ganmain Farmers Review, casting an eye back to the events that shaped district life during this week in 1926. A century ago, the township’s enthusiastic embrace of electric lighting was making headlines, even as residents pressed for a more reliable water supply through a public meeting. Heavy rains had also left their mark, with the condition of local roads becoming a matter of lively discussion across the shire. *** ‘… At the Shire council meeting on Tuesday last, the Shire president, Councillor W. A. Thompson reported that there were 139 consumers of electricity for lighting connected with the councils mains and in addition, there were 39 consumers of power. The revenue for the six months ending June 30th last from private consumers had amounted to £590/18/ which he (Cr. Thompson) considered wonderful, especially taking into consideration that the scheme had been working for only a little more than 12 months. In addition to the revenue from private consumers, £80 was due from the Coolamon local rate for street lighting, making a total revenue for the six months of £671. Cr. Thompson said he considered everything connected with the scheme was very satisfactory indeed. The scheme had in every way exceeded their most confident anticipations. Cr. Le Lievre asked if it would be possible to have the mains extended. One person who had approached him had told him that two poles were required to extend the mains to his property and if the council would supply one, he would supply the other. The president said he thought the council would be able to meet the request if the application were formally made. *** For the past several months the Ganmain Chamber of Commerce has been agitating for a water supply from the Murrumbidgee River to serve the towns of Marrar, Coolamon, Ganmain, and Matong. In response to representations from the chamber, the Coolamon Shire Council will call a public meeting at Coolamon, and Parliamentary members for the Murrumbidgee electorate are being invited to attend. In reply to the council's invitation, the Minister for Public Works (Mr. Flannery) has intimated that he will not be able to attend. In view of the importance of the matter, the council had again written Mr. Flannery, asking him to reconsider his decision, and informing him he may set a date to suit his convenience. *** Owing to rain the roads are In a wretched condition. Last night at 5 o'clock a party of five carloads left Coolamon to attend the Masonic ball at Junee. The party arrived at Junee-a distance of 25 miles-shortly after midnight, having been bogged at several places. Men, in evening dress, were forced to get out almost up to their knees in mud to try to get the cars out. *** At the Quarter Sessions before Judge Beeby, William Lithgow pleaded guilty to a charge of fraudulently misappropriating the sum of £66/2/ from the funds of the Coolamon Coursing Club also to the charge of uttering a check at the Commercial Bank, Coolamon with a forged endorsement. His Honour sentence Lithgow to 12 months hard labour but suspended the sentence on accused entering into a bond for the total amount involved and paying £20 immediately and £4 per month. *** Thursdays down pool last week made unexpected an unwelcome difficulties for some of our Knights of the Wheel. Mr Tom Stevenson of Marrar, with his wife and child, spent the night uncomfortably in their car on the road between Marrar and Berry Jerry. Mr. J Campbell, butcher in his new Hupmobile, found his petrol tank exhausted some miles out of Wagga, with more rain impending. He's new to the game and he's to be excused for being stingy with the “juice”. He was overtaken on the road to Coolamon by Mr Eddie Furner, who, like the wise virgins, had no oil to spare, but kindly returned to Wagga to buy from those who sell. On the way he had a blow out and changed to the spare wheel. With the return to the stranded ones came more misfortune, for another blowout happened with nothing for it this time but a roadside repair. This and other things consume time and the bedraggled folk got home in the small hours of the morning. *** Mrs. P. D. Lucas, of Coolamon, was taken seriously ill on Thursday night, Dr. Buchanan diagnosing the trouble as appendicitis. She was brought to Wagga in the height of the storm, and as she was in excruciating pain the journey, with the road largely under water, was a terrible one. Dr. Buchanan accompanied her and an operation was performed immediately on arrival in Wagga. The operation was successful and Mrs. Lucas is now progressing very satisfactorily in Welwyn Private Hospital…’ Barmedman News Take Note: The Mobile Regional Library has changed their day to visit Barmedman and the time of their visit. The next visit will be on MONDAY 13 July, from 9.15am until 10.15am. The library visits are free to all residents and as well as lending books, provides free Wi-Fi and computer access. The van is situated in front of the Barmedman Public School and all residents are encouraged to use this wonderful facility. *** A reminder to book your hair cut and or pedicure by ringing Amy on 0408939343 before Tuesday 14 July. *** If you have been following the Socceroos you may have seen a connection to Barmedman. Bradley Howe, son of former Barmedman girl, June Howe nee Henman has lived in Seattle for twenty five years and owned the Kangaroo and Kiwi Pub for twenty three years. Bradley was interviewed on Good Morning Australia, with Sally Bryant ABC Riverina, the Sydney Morning Herald just to name a few. Among the hundreds of visitors to the pub, there was even one from Quandialla.
