LOCAL GOVERNMENT WEEK This year, Local Government Week (LGW) will take place from 3 to 9 August, with Coolamon Shire Council set to conduct several events during this period. The schedule for this year’s program includes: Wednesday 5 August: School leaders visit to the Council Chambers Thursday 6 August: Volunteers thank you lunch at the Up-To-Date Store and Storytime on the Road (Ardlethan, Marrar and Ganmain schools) Friday 7 August: Storytime with the Mayor at the Up-To-Date Store Tuesday 11 August: Council’s Meet and Greet at the library (this event will take place outside LGW due to staff availability). NAIDOC ART Coolamon Shire Council was successful in receiving funding for its NAIDOC WEEK program, which was funded by the National Indigenous Australians Agency. As part of the recent NAIDOC Week celebrations, local artist Rob Clark has his exhibition, Country Connections, on display in the Up-To-Date store. Rob has 18 pieces of art on display, including the Mural he created for the Matong Community Hall, which was unveiled on Australia Day in 2024. The exhibition will be on display until Sunday 26 July. YIELD FESTIVAL Entries are now open for this year’s Capture Coolamon Shire Photographic competition and will close on 29 July. Planning for the exhibition and opening night of the Yield Festival from 28 August to 4 October is underway. The Yield Festival is a celebration of creativity in the shire, showcasing a vibrant program of events, workshops, performances, and experiences that spotlight the makers, thinkers and creators within the community. The key highlights will be three main exhibitions: • Capture Coolamon Shire Photographic Exhibition • Up2Date Art Show • Stories of Glass and Metal - Andrew Whitehead and Daphane Grant Local artists are encouraged to host events or activities throughout the month, with all contributions to be included in a coordinated marketing campaign distributed across the region. The festival aims to attract more visitors to the shire and celebrate local artists and creatives. Opening night will be on Friday 28 August from 6pm at the Coolamon Up-to-Date Store Precinct. SHOP LOCAL Coolamon Shire’s Shop Local campaign has returned for July, August and September, encouraging residents and visitors to support local businesses and spend locally. Throughout the campaign, shoppers who make purchases at local businesses will have the opportunity to enter monthly prize draws. Each prize pack will include a selection of local products and vouchers sourced from businesses across the shire. The success of the campaign also relies heavily on business participation and promotion, with local businesses encouraged to actively promote the campaign through in-store displays and social media channels.
