Temora Shire played host to the NSW Minister for Local Government, Ron Hoenig last Friday, 3 July, talking with councillors and taking brief visits to many of the shires notable attractions. Starting with a visit to the Temora Shire Council works depot to visit some of the apprentices and trainees taking part in the The Fresh Start for Local Government Apprentices, Trainees and Cadets Program (The Fresh Start). The scheme provides councils, county councils and joint organisations with grants to directly employ apprentices, trainees, and cadets to roles which will counter existing skill shortages or meet community priorities. Launched in 2024, at a cost of $252.2 million, the program aims to fund 1,300 new council apprenticeships, traineeships and cadetships over 6 years. Since the announcement 1128 roles have commenced, with 65 per cent of positions being in regional and rural councils. The funding covers one hundred per cent of applicable award wages and on costs to address regional skill shortages and create jobs. For Temora Shire it has meant the recruitment of seven recruits consisting of four apprentices and three trainees. Temora Shire Mayor Rick Firman said that the council are deeply grateful, for the Fresh Start Program. “It's been a gamechanger for us and many across rural, remote and regional councils NSW,” Cr Firman said. “We're very grateful, we've got seven, seven of those that are involved in the Fresh Start Program, and we can't say thank you enough to the Office of Local Government for funding these placements.” Mr Hoenig said that as he travels throughout the state and meeting a number of the trainees and cadets, that he is struck by the fact that many of them are in trades and skills and vocations that are exclusively local government. “It's not somebody that's just going to get four years training in a particular trade and then leave again,” Mr Hoenig said. “They're actually committed to their employers. “We want to get back to those days where local government is a vocation, whereby people can have a career in local government. “One of the things that's really important is, and this is where I'm trying to change the culture of local government, is that it is a vocation, local government. “It is different from other levels of government or the private sector, and anybody who gets into the vocation, irrespective of what level, they have every option and career open to them. “General Manager is a career in which they started off as council apprentices.” Mr Hoenig would like to see more services bought back in house at local governments with less focus on contracting services to outside private contractors, particularly in regional and rural areas. His itinerary also included visits to the Temora Rural Museum, Temora Railway Museum, attending a round table with councillors at the shire council chambers as well as spending some time at Ariah Park before attending the Temora Black and White Debutante of the Year Ball where he was one of the judges. Reflecting on his visit to the shire, Mr Hoenig said he was impressed by Temora and he was made to feel very welcome. “I went through the museums today and I was just so impressed with what people are doing, incredibly impressed. “One of the things that I've said today is that we as a government in NSW, we need to be promoting what is in some of these rural and regional communities. “People go on holidays overseas, they go to museums, they'll go to the Powerhouse Museum or the Australian Museum but there are incredible things that you find here in Temora. “I must say that I really value the hospitality that I've faced today and the wonderful people of the communities that I've been able to spend time with.” Cr Firman said that the minister called him on Sunday night to once again thank the council and the people of the Temora Shire for their warmth, positivity and vibrance of the shire. “What was really lovely is that he and his wife are planning a visit back as private citizens, so they can actually spend more time at the museums, the Rural Museum, the Railway Museum, the Aviation Museum and other various places,” Cr Firman added. “So, I thought that was a compliment for Temora Shire.”
