December 2021 Newsletter

Dr Joe McGirr MP INDEPENDENT MEMBER FOR WAGGA WAGGA

Edition #7 LOCAL LEGENDS

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December 2021

Dr Joe McGirr MP INDEPENDENT MEMBER FOR WAGGA WAGGA

Entries from Dr Joe’s 2021 Christmas card competition

WHAT’S INSIDE:

A celebration of four local community groups | Project Updates | Community Diary | Christmas Gingerbread Biscuits Recipe | Kids colouring-in competition

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Dr Joe McGirr MP

INTRODUCTION

INDEPENDENT MEMBER

FOR WAGGA WAGGA Once again, it has been a year of challenges, but our communities have faced them with determination and resilience.

We thought we had left lockdowns behind in 2020, but the spread of the COVID-19 delta variant saw many communities, including our own, facing stay-at-home orders. This impacted everyone, from families to businesses, across the electorate.

Despite the challenges of COVID-19, I have been heartened to see many people continuing to give back to our community and striving to be kind to one another.

We have seen this same sense of community continuing to be shown in the Snowy Valleys, where the recovery efforts after the devastating bushfires of 2020 are progressing.

I think we can look forward to 2022 with optimism as we continue to strengthen our community ties and move forward.

GET IN TOUCH

VISIT 64 Baylis Street, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 PHONE (02) 6921 1622 EMAIL waggawagga@parliament.nsw.gov.au WEBSITE www.joemcgirr.com.au Edition #7 LOCAL LEGENDS December 2021

Dr Joe McGirr MP INDEPENDENT MEMBER FOR WAGGA WAGGA

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I would like to acknowledge the Wiradjuri people who are the Traditional Owners of this land. I would also like to pay respect to Elders past and present and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

READ MORE Lockhart Lions .........................................................4 Giving back to the community of Lockhart

Defence Shed Wagga Wagga ..................................5 Supporting veterans to meet and learn new skills

Wagga Aboriginal Women’s Group .........................6 Bringing together local Aboriginal women of all ages

Tumut Can Assist .....................................................7 Helping people affected by cancer and their families

Project Updates .......................................................8 Community Diary .....................................................9 A word from Dr Joe McGirr ....................................10 Christmas lift-out .....................................................12

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Dr Joe McGirr MP

LOCKHART LIONS CLUB INDEPENDENT MEMBER

FOR WAGGA WAGGA The dedicated members of the Lockhart Lions Club have not let the challenges of COVID-19 stop their efforts to help their community.

Despite lockdowns and restrictions, the club’s community newspaper, The Verandah Post, is still being published, keeping the community up-to-date on Lockhart happenings.

Members, aided by dedicated volunteers, have also been able to continue their recycling enterprise, accepting paper, cardboard, glass bottles, aluminium cans, scrap aluminium and batteries.

This is helping to ensure the Lockhart community has a better quality of life and healthier environment.

If that wasn’t enough to keep them busy, club members sell the iconic Lions Christmas cakes, collect donated eyeglasses for a Lions International project and support the Lions Mobility Project by gathering used stamps.

Club members have thrown their support behind many local current and past projects and events, including Meals on Wheels, Festival of Sport, Urana Hospital and MPS, drought and flood relief, the Lockhart branch of the Country Education Foundation, Little Athletics, the Spirit of the Land festival, the Lockhart Show Society and shade sails for Lockhart parks.

Edition #7 LOCAL LEGENDS December 2021

Dr Joe McGirr MP INDEPENDENT MEMBER FOR WAGGA WAGGA

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DEFENCE SHED WAGGA WAGGA Six services – army, navy, air force, police, fire brigade and ambulance – are at the heart of everything done at Defence Shed Wagga Wagga.

Based on the highly successful Men’s Shed model, Defence Shed Wagga Wagga is open to current and past members of these services, along with their families and supporters.

President Jason Frost says it is crucial to provide support services and social connections, networking, education, pathway employment and advocacy to improve the health and wellbeing for members and their families.

The Defence Shed also helps fill the gaps by offering a community workshop space where members can learn useful skills for hobbies and employment, including welding, small machining and 3D printing.

Working with a range of training organisations, the Defence Shed offers access to accredited courses where members can create and collaborate, gain valuable skills which may benefit employment or help to hone their skills for a much-loved pastime.

“The lockdowns and restrictions have presented challenges, but we have worked hard to make sure our members stay connected to the Defence Shed Wagga Wagga community,” Mr Frost said.

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Dr Joe McGirr MP

WAGGA ABORIGINAL WOMEN’S GROUP INDEPENDENT MEMBER

FORtogether WAGGA WAGGA Bringing local Aboriginal women of all ages is the aim of the Wagga Aboriginal Women’s Group.

Coming together for regular gatherings and cultural experiences, members have created a supportive network to focus on wellbeing, community and cultural connections.

The group focuses on learning and sharing cultural knowledge with elder guidance, empowering one another, inspiring younger generations and giving back to the community.

Rosie Powell, proud Wiradjuri woman and the group’s founder and current president, says “in our community we are so lucky to have such strong, smart, dedicated and beautiful Aboriginal women.

I believe by coming together we can accomplish amazing things”.

So successful has the women’s group proved to be that there is now also a group for Wagga’s Aboriginal girls, who were able to stay connected, and build on their creative skills, during the restrictions.

While COVID-19 has had an impact on the group this year, the group is looking forward to continuing and expanding their cultural activities in 2022.

“In Aboriginal communities, family, culture and empowering each other is really important. That’s what we’re all about,” Ms Powell said.

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Dr Joe McGirr MP INDEPENDENT MEMBER FOR WAGGA WAGGA

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TUMUT CAN ASSIST Since 1984, Can Assist Tumut has been supporting people affected by cancer and their families.

This group of volunteers supports people from Tumut, Adelong, Talbingo, Batlow and Brungle as they undergo vital cancer treatments.

The Tumut volunteers are part of a network of more than 50 branches across NSW who help country people with the costs of travel and accommodation that come from having to head to cancer treatment well away from home.

For many of the Can Assist Tumut members, the commitment to the group is highly personal. They have seen the impacts cancer can have, whether it is on them, a loved one or to someone in their community, says member Debbie Robinson.

“Many of the members also decided to join after seeing the help that was offered to a loved one by Can Assist. We are here to help, always in strict confidence,” she said.

While the COVID-19 pandemic might have curtailed some of their fundraising activities and made it more difficult to hold meetings, the volunteers have remained committed to helping people right there in their local community.

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Dr Joe McGirr MP

PROJECT UPDATES

INDEPENDENT MEMBER

FORextraordinary WAGGA WAGGA year 2021 has been for What an the Wagga Wagga electorate.

This year we have seen the opening of Wagga Wagga Base Hospital’s health services hub. Work is now under way on the six-storey car park. There will be more than 900 spaces across the hospital campus. I advocated strongly to ensure the whole $30 million originally promised for the project was spent at the Wagga Wagga Base Hospital.

Renewal in the Snowy Valleys is continuing after the 2020 bushfires. I was pleased to see the allocation of funding to the region in the wake of the bushfires. Projects to benefit include an emergency evacuation and multipurpose centre, improvements to community pools, improvements to local businesses and works on local tourism facilities.

I continue to advocate for those impacted by TransGrid’s EnergyConnect and HumeLink projects. For more than a year, I have been calling on TransGrid to improve the way it dealt with landowners and the wider community.

Criticism of TransGrid in a report from its own landowner and community advocate, came as no surprise to me.

Edition #7 LOCAL LEGENDS December 2021

I was extremely disappointed at the decision not to demerge Snowy Valleys Council after the Boundaries Commission voted 3-1 in favour of it. I have repeatedly called for the demerger, citing the deep opposition to the amalgamation from parts of the community.

It was good to see Charles Sturt University responding to my concerns about governance and regional representation.

I was pleased to hear two regional NSW residents have been appointed to the university’s council and an independent chair of their audit and risk committee. I will continue pushing for a Wagga Wagga representative to be appointed.

Stage one of the Riverina Conservatorium of Music project is under way and is due to be completed next year.

It is great to see the redevelopment of the Tumut Hospital coming to its completion, as planning continues for the new ambulance station.

Dr Joe McGirr MP INDEPENDENT MEMBER FOR WAGGA WAGGA

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COMMUNITY DIARY Two highlights from the past six months were the Wagga Wagga Seniors Forum and launch of the Batlow United Community Chamber.

The Wagga Wagga Seniors Forum in June was a booked-out event.

Thank you to the 54 people who attended and provided valuable feedback on a broad range of topics.

In August, I had the pleasure of launching the Batlow United Community Chamber alongside Kristy McBain, Member for Eden-Monaro, and Resilience NSW. It’s great to see the community of Batlow banding together and moving forward on the recovery pathway.

Ann Taylor receiving NSW Government Community Service Award (May 2021)

Some other highlights have been: • May - October 2021: Meet the MP events and Pop-Up Offices at North Wagga, Tumut, Batlow and Lockhart • May 2021: Presenting Ann Taylor a NSW Government Community Service Award. Ann has made an incredible contribution to The Rock community, volunteering across many groups in The Rock for over 50 years • May 2021: BBQ at Multicultural Council of Wagga Wagga • October 2021: Hosting a Net Zero Emissions Webinar • November 2021: Hosting a Business Breakfast with the Wagga Wagga Business Chamber

BBQ at Multicultural Centre (May 2021)

Upcoming community engagement events visit joemcgirr.com.au/your-say Edition #7 LOCAL LEGENDS December 2021

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Dr Joe McGirr MP

SIGN OFF

INDEPENDENT MEMBER FOR WAGGA WAGGA

From my family to yours, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

HOLIDAY HOURS: My office will close at 5pm on Thursday, 23 December 2021, and reopen at 9am on Monday, 10 January 2022.

Please find overleaf a recipe for you to enjoy over the festive season.

This is one of Kerin’s Christmas specialties and a favourite in our house.

AUTHORISED BY JOE MCGIRR MP, INDEPENDENT, 64 Baylis Street, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650. PRINTED BY CHAMBERS WHYTE DESIGN AND PRINT, 5 Rabaul Place, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 using parliamentary entitlements November 2021.

Edition #7 LOCAL LEGENDS December 2021

This newsletter is printed on Revive Laser and is 100% Recycled, and Certified Carbon Neutral by the Department of Environment under the National Carbon Offset Standard (NCOS).

Made in Australia by an ISO 14001 certified mill.

No chlorine bleaching occurs in the recycling process.

Dr Joe McGirr MP INDEPENDENT MEMBER FOR WAGGA WAGGA

CHRISTMAS GINGERBREAD BISCUITS Ingredients Biscuits 80g butter 50g brown sugar 1 egg 120g treacle 120g golden syrup 2 tsps Ginger powder 1/2 tsp salt 3 tsps baking powder 1 heaped tsp mixed spice

Icing 1 egg white 1/2 tsp lemon juice 160g icing sugar

Prep: 45 mins Cook: 5 mins

Fan forced: 160°C Conventional: 180°C

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Makes: Approx.16 biscuits

By Kerin Fielding Adapted from “Food That Really Schmecks”, by Edna Staebler. 1968.

Methods Biscuits 1. Cream butter and brown sugar 2. Add one egg and then cream again 3. Sift dry ingredients together and add to the creamed mixture alternately with the treacle and golden syrup and mix until a smooth dough is formed 4. Roll flat to thickness depending on preference and cut to shapes 5. Put in oven at 160°C (fan forced) or 180°C (conventional) for approximately 5 minutes till slightly browned Icing 1. Beat egg white till foamy 2. Add icing sugar and lemon juice alternately 3. Beat till thick consistency The icing can be used for designs by being piped on or spread over the biscuits.

Edition #7 LOCAL LEGENDS December 2021

Dr Joe McGirr MP

COLOURING IN COMPETITION

Name Age Phone Please drop in your entry to my office at 64 Baylis Street Wagga Wagga or email to waggawagga@parliament.nsw.gov.au by Monday 13 December.

Edition #7 LOCAL LEGENDS December 2021

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INDEPENDENT MEMBER FOR WAGGA WAGGA