$2.50
July 2026
News of the communities of the Paterson and Allyn River Valleys
Congratulations Pearl
15 year old Pearl Ropata from Torryburn was honoured to perform the New Zealand national anthem on Anzac Day at McDonald Jones Stadium. Chosen through the NSW Department of Education's 'Star Struck' program after RSL NSW sought a student with a connection to New Zealand & Māori culture, Pearl impressed with her audition & earned the opportunity. She delivered a confident & professional performance in front of a crowd of more than 21,000 people.
Pearl Ropata, 15 years old of Torryburn at McDonald Jones Stadium
Thurs 2 Jul
Sat 4 Jul
The Gresford News Community Diary
New date: Special Community Connections Meeting, Gresford Bowls Sport & Recreation Club, 6pm
CWA Special Public Event: Talk by Amorelle Dempster about her wide experiences in catering, CWA Hall, 2pm
Sun 5 Jul World Sacred Circle Dance Day, grounds of Gresford Community Gallery, 11am (NB new day for dancing from Aug)
Sun 5 Jul
Tues 7 Jul
Climate Choices Series Talk #1:Climate Facts, Consequences & Choices Ahead, James Theatre, Dungog, 2-4pm
Gresford School of Arts Committee meeting, main hall, 7pm
Wed 8 Jul Kids Workshop – Make your book – with Dawn Thompson, Gresford Community Gallery, 10-2
Wed 8 Jul Laughable Leigh Trivia Night, Gresford Bowls Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30pm
Sat 11 Jul
Sat 11 Jul
Gresford District Landcare Group Meeting, 9.30am – email Penny Kater for details pennykater@gmail.com
Gresford Book Club, CWA Hall, 2–4 – Open to general public
Sat 11 Jul Scorps Ball, Paterson School of Arts, 6pm, tickets via trybooking
Sun 12 Jul Winter exhibition opening, Gresford Community Gallery, 2-4pm
Tues 14 Jul
Gresford & District Community Group Meeting, 6.30pm
Wed 15 Jul Kids Workshop – Illustrate your story in your book – with Ric Woods, Gresford Community Gallery, 10-2
Fri 17 Jul Craft, CWA Hall
Fri 17 Jul Sketch Club – Still Life/Figurative, Gresford Community Gallery, 1pm, Contact Christine Pike 0428 271 819
None in July No En Plein Air Sketch Club in July, Contact Christine Pike 0428 271 819
Sun 19 Jul Kids Club, Gresford Community Gallery, 10-2
Sun 19 Jul Live music on the deck – T.N.R Band, Hotel Beatty, 1-5pm
Fri 24 Jul Defashion Dungog EOI due, email photo & description of wearable to pawscienchub@gmail.com
Sat & Sun 25 & 26 Jul Mystic Nomads, Gresford Bowls Sport & Recreation Club, 11-5pm
Sat 1 Aug Gresford Public School P&C – Inaugural Gresford Cup, Gresford Bowls Sport & Recreation Club, 1-6pm
Thurs 6 Aug Lexus 2026 Melbourne Cup, Gresford Bowls Sport & Recreation Club, 10am morning event, 6.30pm dinner
Sat 15 Aug 'Defashion Dungog', James Theatre, details www.pawsciencehub.com
Every Mon Fitness A GoGo with Donna! class, Gresford Community Gallery, 3.30pm
Every Wed Happy hour + Gift Voucher Raffles, Gresford Bowls Sport & Recreation Club, 4.30–6pm
Every Thurs Mass, St Helen's Catholic Church, East Gresford, 9.30am
Every Thur Happy hour, free pool & jukebox, Hotel Beatty, 5.30–7pm
Every Fri (school terms) Yoga with Donna Cavanough, Vacy School of Arts Hall, 9.30–11am & live zoom online Tues, Wed, Fri, 7.30am
Every Fri Twilight Bowls, Gresford Bowls Sport & Recreation Club, 5.30pm
Most Fri afternoons Friends of the Arboretum activities, times vary seasonally, contact Penny Kater for details 0488 371 589
Every Fri Cricket Club Raffles, Hotel Beatty
Sat-Sun
Gresford Community Gallery open, 12 Park St, East Gresford, 10-4 or by appt phone Robyn 0417 686 816
Sat Mass, St Helen's Catholic Church, East Gresford, 5.30pm (except 2nd Sat of month)
Every Sun Anglican Church services, dates & locations vary–see ad, St Paul’s Paterson, 8.30am • St Anne’s Gresford, 10.30am
Every Sun The Gresford Congregational Church welcomes you, 10.30am
Every Sun Social Bowls +, Gresford Bowls Sport & Recreation Club, from 4pm
1st Mon each month
Gresford District Community Group Meeting, 6.30pm, all welcome! (not Jan)
1st & 3rd Mon each month French conversation, CWA Hall, 10–11.30
1st Tues each month Circle Dancing, 4.30pm – to book in & check location phone Pip on 0493 388 889
1st Wed each month
Gresford Rural Fire Brigade, at the station, 7pm
2nd Wed each month Laughable Leigh Trivia Night, Gresford Bowls Sport & Recreation Club, 6.30pm
2nd Thurs each month Pool Comp with prizes at the Hotel Beatty 6.30pm
2nd Sat each month
Gresford District Landcare Group Meeting, 9.30am (not Jan), contact Penny Kater for details 0488 371 589
2nd Sat each month CWA Book Club, CWA Hall, 3pm
2nd Sun each month Mass, Sacred Heart, Summer Hill, 11.30am
3rd Tues each month Paterson Allyn Garden Group meet, 10am (not Jan or Feb), contact Chris Walker for details 0401 566 180
3rd Thurs each month Trivia Night at the Hotel Beatty 6.30pm
3rd Fri each month
CWA Craft Morning, CWA Hall, 9–12
3rd Sun each month Vacy & Surrounds Crop Swap, alongside Vacy General Store, 9.30am
3rd Sun each month 'Vacy beach' riverbank Landcare working bee, 2pm
3rd Sun each month
Entertainment at the Hotel Beatty
PUT YOUR EVENT IN THE COMMUNITY DIARY:
Contact Gresford News: email gresfordnews@iinet.net.au • Brian Doherty 0412 372 687 • Jane Richens 0425 339 856 has always been created by the community for the community. The content is provided by individuals and community organisations to keep the community informed about activities in the area. Your contributions are always welcome! Deadline for stories & ads 20th of the month. For text – Word format preferred. For pictures – .jpg format preferred (not in word).
THE GRESFORD NEWS
Gresford News: News of the communities of the Paterson & Allyn River Valleys, has been published by the Gresford & District Community Group since 2002. As a not-for-profit community association any profits go towards supporting community projects.
IT'S YOUR NEWS
The Gresford News has always been created by the community for the community. The content is provided by individuals and community organisations – Your contributions are always welcome!
IS YOUR NEWS BEING DELIVERED?
Gresford News is delivered to letterboxes on the main road north of Paterson and roadside in the Vacy and Gresford postal districts to the top of the Paterson and Allyn Rivers. PLEASE let us now if you do not recieve your NEWS – we will see if there is a problem we can fix.
Changed Date for Community Gathering
Hi Everyone. – Please note that the date for the Gresford Community Gathering has changed. The gathering originally scheduled for 25 June will now be held on Thursday 2 July to allow more community groups and volunteers to attend.
I'd like to invite you to join us for what should be a positive and worthwhile evening for our community. Gresford is already a fantastic community with strong volunteering, active community groups and many people who quietly do great things behind the scenes. This evening is about recognising that strength, welcoming new residents and looking at how we can continue to build on the great things already happening.
The idea is to bring together community groups, sporting clubs, schools, businesses and local residents for a relaxed and positive evening of conversation and connection. Please let me know if you are interested in talking about your group. Each organisation will have a few minutes to share what they do; upcoming events and activities; challenges they are facing; opportunities for people to get involved and ideas for the future
There will also be a special focus on opportunities for young people, with
Gresford Public School given additional time to discuss opportunities and challenges facing local families and students.
If you're new to the district, this will be a great opportunity to meet people, learn about local organisations and discover ways to become involved in community life. This is intended to be a positive and constructive conversation focused on ideas, opportunities and working together.
Event Details…
• Thursday 2 July
• Gresford Bowling Club
• Arrive from 6:00pm for a 6:30pm start
• Formal proceedings conclude by 8:00pm Included…
• Complimentary glass of Boydell's wine on arrival
• Finger food before and after the meeting
• Time afterwards to catch up, network and chat with local groups
Whether you've lived here for decades or have only recently arrived, we'd love to see you there. Come and meet the people who make things happen in our community. For more information, please contact: Jim Doyle 0407 307 800
Kind regards, Jim Doyle
Gresford Community Group
Gresford News Notices
New date for Special combined meeting: Community Connections Meeting, Thurs 2 July 6pm, Gresford Bowls Sport & Recreation Club
New meeting time: Gresford & District Community Group Meeting
1st Tues of the month – 14 Jul 6.30pm Hotel Beatty
Gresford Rural Fire Brigade
1st Wed of each month 7pm, station
(we're trialing a new time for a few months)
CWA Special Public Events
Sat 4 Jul 2pm • Talk by Amorelle Dempster about her experiences in catering. Sept • Tony Cavanough discusses Crime Fiction. Tea & chat follows events.
'Climate Choices' Series Talk #1
Sun 5 July 2-4pm James Theatre
2 speakers + Q&A panel: Climate Facts, Consequences & Choices Ahead – Retired CSIRO atmospheric scientist Dr Dennys Angove & TV weatherman Graham Creed.
Creative activities at the Gresford Community Gallery
Kids holiday workshops
• Wed 8 July 10-12
Make your concertina book
• Wed 15 July 10-12
Illustrate your story in your book
Winter exhibition opening Sun 12 July, 2-4pm
• Sketch Club–Still Life/Figurative Thurs 16 July
• No Sketch Club–En PLEIN AIR this month
• Kids Club Sun 19 July 10-2pm
World Sacred Circle Dance Day Sun 5 Jul 11am
grounds of Gresford Community Gallery
Join dancers around the world celebrating World Sacred Circle Dance Day. Everyone is welcome to enjoy simple dances from around the world in a friendly atmosphere. Please note new monthly circle dancing date.
Scorps Ball Sat 11 Jul 6pm Paterson School of Arts
Gresford Public School P&C fundraiser – Inaugural Gresford Cup Sat 1 Aug, 1-6pm, Gresford Bowls Sport & Recreation Club
Great food, fashion, sweeps, prizes, fun
Defashion Dungog
Sat 15 Aug, James Theatre
Join the sustainable style celebration www.pawsciencehub.com
Gresford School of Arts
Need a venue for a function or event?
The Gresford School of Arts facility may be just what you need. The hire rates are very affordable. Many people have used the facilities for a child or adult’s birthday party; a dance, organisation’s meeting, seminar or workshop, or something else that is special.
Next committee meeting Tues 7 Jul 7pm in main hall. Everyone is invited to attend. Kel Merriman Secretary 0417 280 851
DAVE LAYZELL MP
Member
HOW I CAN HELP
Gloucester
Dungog
Singleton
Muswellbrook
Merriwa
Murrurundi
Gresford
East Gresford
Vacy
Paterson
Lorn
Bolwarra
upperhunter@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Authorised
Bowlo News
2026 Fours Winners
May 30th saw the playing of the 2026 Gresford Fours Final. Will Osmond’s side pitted against the gallant Danny Maudlen team was a game of two halves. Danny led 11 to 6 halfway through at which point Will gathered his thoughts to surge to a 16 to 12 victory. Commiserations to the losers and well played the winners. Pictured L-R Gresford Fours 2026 Winning Team: B Pratten, D Ross, P Hill and W Osmond
Peter Dreyer
Gresford Bowls Club Trivia Night
Congratulations to the Gresford RFS team who were the winners of the Gresford Bowls Club Trivia night in May. Well done!
The Gresford Bowling Club Trivia Night is held on the second Wednesday night each month at the club.
Pictured L-R are: Al Platt, Scott Warren, Chris Butler, Brenda Warren, and Peter Williams.
Cheers Liz Jones
Saturday 25th
Nomads 11.00-5.00 Sunday 26th July
Mystic Nomads 11.00-5.00 to book please phone or Message Lisa 0402 222 650 Thursday 6th August – Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour 2026 10.00 Morning event
6.30 Lexus Melbourne Cup Dinner $80.00 please see club Friday 14th August – AGM 7.30 Every Week at the Bowlo!!
WEDNESDAY SOCIAL BOWLS FROM 12.30 HAPPY HOUR WEDNESDAY 4.30 - 6.00
Second Wednesday of the month
The Laughable Leigh Trivia Night from 6.30 Wednesday Night – Meat Trays & IGA pack Raffles tickets on sale from 6.30
Friday Night – Meat Tray Raffles, 1 Fruit & Veg Tray Members Draw Sunday NightRaffles Tickets on sale 6.30 Drawn 7.00 Members Draw Members Draw - if not won goes up $25.00 on Sunday night, must be here to WIN!
Gresford Public School P&C – Inaugural Gresford Cup
The Gresford Public School P&C is excited to invite the community to the first-ever Gresford Cup, a unique fundraising event that promises an afternoon of entertainment, friendly competition, and community spirit.
The event will be held at the Gresford Bowling Club on Saturday, 1 August, from 1:00pm to 6:00pm, and is proudly being delivered in partnership with Race Nights Australia.
Guests will enjoy an exciting afternoon of pre-recorded horse races, with all attendees receiving "betting money" to place wagers throughout the event. While the betting is purely for fun, there will be real prizes on offer, including an award for the day's most successful punter.
Tickets are $60 per person and include entry to the event, a delicious grazing table, and a complimentary glass of champagne, generously donated by the Gresford Bowling Club. Tickets are limited, so early booking is encouraged.
In addition to the racing action, there will be plenty of entertainment throughout the afternoon, including: Raffles, Silent auction, Live music, Fashions on the Field Games and other entertainment As an added bonus for the community, the excitement will
continue the following week when a genuine Melbourne Cup trophy visits Gresford on 6 August. This is a rare opportunity for local residents to view one of Australia's most iconic sporting trophies up close and experience a piece of Australian racing history right here in our community.
Funds raised from the Gresford Cup will directly support the salary of the school's STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering,
Gresford Landcare
Gresford Landcare met at The Arboretum in Gresford for its June meeting. We were fortunate enough to have a beautiful, sunny morning for the meeting, and as usual, enjoyed tea and coffee and sweet treats beforehand, provided by the members.
Karen Bolden and Ben Sharp from the Family Farm Hunter Pty Ltd addressed the meeting, providing an insight into their co-operative style of ownership of
Arts and Mathematics) teacher. STEAM education plays a vital role in preparing students for the future by encouraging critical thinking, creativity, problemsolving, innovation, collaboration, and digital literacy. Through hands-on learning experiences, students develop skills that are increasingly important in a rapidly changing world and future workforce.
The Gresford Public School P&C is committed to ensuring our students continue to benefit from high-quality STEAM programs, and community support through events such as the Gresford Cup helps make this possible.
We look forward to seeing the community come together for what promises to be a fantastic afternoon of fun, fundraising, and friendly competition. To purchase tickets, simply scan the attached QR code.
agricultural land at Salisbury, brought about by people who wanted to know where their food came from and how it was produced. Broadly, it joined 150 like minded people who could not necessarily afford to go it alone. Karen detailed some of their trials and tribulations since their inception approximately 3 years ago.
Ben then spoke about the group's beef production enterprise and the regenerative
and sustainable practices used in running their business as well their aspirations for the future.
We all enjoyed a really interesting meeting which provided an insight into a less usual way of achieving what so many of us want, to be involved in our food production.
The next meeting will be on Saturday 11th July, 2026.
Two Science Hub events are coming up. Join us on Sunday 5 July for the first 'Climate Choices' talk, featuring retired CSIRO atmospheric scientist Dr Dennys Angove and weather expert Graham Creed. Explore the science of climate change, future choices and practical planning, followed by a Q&A and afternoon tea.
Then, save the date for 'Defashion Dungog' on Saturday 15 August—a vibrant celebration of sustainable fashion with a catwalk, live entertainment and an after-party. Everyone is invited to wear their favourite sustainable outfit and enjoy an inspiring, intergenerational evening of creativity, music and fun. Better still, create your own upcycled or eco-friendly wearable and submit an expression of interest by 24 July. Details about submitting your wearable or info about the events are on the website - www. pawscienchub.com. Both events are free and at the James Theatre in Dungog.
4 x Events coming up
Local artist Jane Richens is celebrating an exciting month, with work featured in two major Maitland exhibitions showcasing local vegetation.
At 'call & response' (3 July–2 August) at Brough House, Jane presents new work created during her 2026 Artist-in-Residence at the National Trust house. The exhibition features a life-sized garment woven from locally harvested rainforest fibres, sculptural botanical forms and large textile maps that reimagine Maitland's vanished rainforest ecosystems.
She is also one of the selected artists in 'Upriver Downriver' (11 July–11 October) at Maitland Regional Art Gallery. One of her works, 'Biodiversity Brush Stroke', combines contemporary fibre techniques with ecological research to explore the patterns of native vegetation, land clearing and regeneration in our landscape.
At the 2024 event locals Tess Hartigan wore Teigha Bevan's 'Octopus' dress.
Jane Richens' garment work in native hibiscus fibre progress
Special Craft Morning – this month’s craft morning featured a special guest, Lyn Cummings, who is a handicraft expert. The gathering attracted a few new people and was a cheerful and convivial event, with shared interests and lots of chat and laughter. The next Craft Morning will be on the 17th July and we welcome anyone interested in a delicious morning tea, individual craft, a friendly chat and a door prize. Members $3 and non-members $5. There is a basket of craft works in the Twin Rivers café, for the public to peruse and purchase for the benefit of CWA fundraising if they wish.
Public Events – our next public event will be a talk by Amorelle Dempster on 8th August at 2pm, when Amorelle will share some of her experiences cooking in many different situations. Come and hear a local treasure speak. This will be combined with a thank-you to our Show Volunteers. The talk will be followed by afternoon tea with a request for a $5 donation, except for the volunteers, who have well and truly paid their dues.
The next event will be a revisit by Tony Cavanough in September, who will talk about Crime Fiction at 2pm on 12th September, with afternoon tea to follow.
Country of Study – for the CWA this year is Fiji. Our International Officer, Mittie Osborn, treated us to a presentation on the history and culture of Fiji, and included a personal perspective. Our Treasurer,
Craft Morning special guest Lyn Cummings.
Sharon Dwyer, who has family connections, recounted some entertaining anecdotes and experiences of a Fijian wedding. We will finish our focus on Fiji with a lunch on our September meeting day.
Book Club – the Booker prize-winner for 2025, Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq, was well-received by club members as it shed much light on the plight of women in the Muslim community of Southern India. Mushtaq based her stories on events in her own life, and in the lives of women she dealt with as a lawyer. Apart from specialised vocabulary, the stories are written in a straightforward way and are quite humorous at times, in the midst of serious issues. As an interesting counterpoint, Arundhati Roy’s biography of her own life and her mother’s is our next choice – Mother Mary Comes to Me – on the 11th July at 3pm.
New members to Book Club are always welcome – male or female. It is generally held at 3pm on the second Saturday of the month in the CWA Hall. Book Club is run in association with the CWA as a cultural activity, and membership of the Branch is not required.
CWA Library – members of the public are very welcome to use the library in addition to the street library. The best times to visit are when the hall is in use with Book Club (3-4pm on the second Saturday of the month), and during the Craft Mornings (9-12 am on the third Friday of the month). Please ring Glenda Smith (0400 108 079 or 4938 9456) for information on other times the hall may be open, as usage can differ.
French Conversation – takes place on the first and third Mondays of the month from 10 – 11:30 am, but there will be no meetings in July. Please ring Glenda Smith (numbers above) if you are interested, as sometimes there are changes to our planned meeting times. Our new topic is Regional Specialties.
What’s (Not) On the Shelves?
by Glenda Smith
Mother Mary Comes to Me Arundhati Roy
While this book is not available at the CWA Library, it is in Maitland Library, and probably Dungog. It is a milestone of a book, by the Booker-winning author of The God of Small Things, which is partially based on family experiences. Mary Roy was a powerhouse educator and progressive, in a country that needed both when Arundhati Roy was growing up. However, her mother was much kinder to her students and even strangers than she was to her own children. She challenged the inheritance system for women in the courts and won, and built her own expanding school from scratch, which were both extraordinary achievements in a country where women had the odds stacked against them.
Woven through this memoir about her mother are strands of Roy’s own experiences in dealing with the difficult family dynamic and making her own way in the world. For a woman of relative privilege, she had to fight poverty and disadvantage to survive. From this account comes the story of her writing career, which was preceded by acting and script-writing. Roy writes in a very honest and unpretentious way, and can be very funny. She explores two powerful personalities – her own and her mother’s. She also gives an overview of twentieth century Indian social history from an inside perspective. This is a memorable and very worthwhile book.
CULTURE VULTURE
Gresford Community Gallery Updates:
The Gallery will be holding its WINTER EXHIBITION opening celebration on Sunday 12th JULY 2- 4pm. All welcome.
The exhibition will be officially opened by Brigette Uren, Program Director Arts Health Infrastructure.
The show will feature new vibrant works by our artists and will feature new artists who have joined the gallery.
Please drop by to view an exciting collection of contemporary and traditional Hunter Valley artists’ work. The exhibition includes a great variety of quality art and craft, featuring painting, drawing, sculptures, ceramics, photography, fibre art, glass work, jewellery and Stained Glass/lead light work. 12 Park Street East Gresford. Gallery hours - Weekends 10am-4pm.
STILL LIFE
THURSDAY 16th JULY 2026 held at gallery 12 Park St. East Gresford. (next to Arboretum and park).
Hosted by artist Christine Pike. Inspiration from Australian artist TRACEY SCHRAMM
Beginners guide to sketching starts at 12 noon – 1pm. Regular drawing 1-4pm. Please bring your own art equipment. Afternoon tea provided. Cost: $10
Hosted by Christine Pike. Enquiries: Ph: 0428 271 819 Christine Pike.
SKETCH CLUB – NO JULY PLEIN AIR
No Plein Air for July but will double up for August. Enquiries: gallerygresfordcommunity@gmail.com Ph: 0428 271 819 Christine Pike.
KIDS ART CLUB
Free Art Sunday for children at Gresford Community Gallery on the third Sunday of the month between 10am and 2pm.
Hosted by artist Dawn Thompson. Enquiries: Dawn 0428 924 800
During these hours children of primary school age accompanied by an adult will be able to use the art equipment supplied to create their own art. Our friendly Gallery helpers will be on hand to assist.
Two Holiday Workshops for Primary School aged Children: In Workshop 1 Learn how to make a concertina book with covers with Dawn Thompson. Fun and easy to make, this
book will be used in Workshop 2 when Ric Woods will teach you to illustrate and draw your own story.
Make your book - Wednesday 8th July 10am to noon
Illustrate your story in your bookWednesday 15th July 10am to noon
Art supplies provided, please bring your own drinks and snacks.
Primary aged children need to be accompanied by an adult.
Book your place soon, numbers limited. Phone Dawn 0428924800.
Face Book and Instagram
The Gallery has Face Book and Instagram pages which will give regular news / updates of the Gallery’s forthcoming exhibitions, workshops and features on the artists. Please Like and follow our pages.
Artists and craft people interested to exhibit in our gallery, please email gallery for information.
If you would love to join our team as a volunteer, meet artists and learn about their art practices and enjoy the world of art, please contact us! ENQUIRIES: gallerygresfordcommunity@gmail.com
Coordinator Ph/text 0457 846 806
Robyn Werkhoven
FEATURED GALLERY ARTIST
– JANELLE GOLDMAN
Janelle Goldman is a Hunter Valley artist and has been painting for over fifteen years. Janelle took lessons with the artist Dorothy Compton in Cessnock and now enjoys working on her own in her studio. Mostly working with acrylic paints, Janelle takes inspiration from the valley and the surrounding areas to the coast. Janelle has been exhibiting in many exhibitions in the Hunter Valley and Sydney including; Maitland Society of Artists, Dungog Art Society,
Gallery.
OTHER NEWS
The film / doco 'Eric and Robyn and the Mythical Beasts' by film producers Nicky Elliott, Pete Delahunty and Tom Zubrycki will be screened at Roseville Cinemas, Sydney on Sunday 19th July at 2pm. Eric and Robyn Werkhoven have lived in East Gresford since 1990, it is a documentary film on the life and love story of two passionate artists, joined in every
way, who delight in the absurdities of everyday life. The film is the winner of Best Documentary and Best Artist Feature Film at the Mannheim Art and Film Festival Germany.
Their next art exhibition – opening Saturday 7th November 2026 at CStudios Gallery, Newcastle – mark it on your calendar…. All welcome.
Contact with Art News for Culture Vulture or enquiries about Gresford Community Gallery: Robyn Werkhoven Ph: 0417 686 816
Email: werkhovenr@bigpond.com
Laguna School Exhibition
Hunters Hill Sydney Exhibition, C Studio Gallery Newcastle and Gresford Community
New Community Group Established for the Paterson Valley
A new community advocacy group, the Paterson Valley Landholders Association (PVLA), was recently established to help amplify the voices of landholders, local residents, and community groups on issues affecting the Paterson Valley.
The Association, formed as an independent, community-based advocacy group, held its inaugural meeting at the Beatty Hotel in Gresford on June 1st. It plans to focus on local community priorities, engage key decision-makers, and advocate for outcomes that benefit the wider community.
PVLA Convenor, Ross Beaney, said the idea arose from a growing belief among many locals that rural communities struggle to have their voices heard when important decisions are being made in distant capitals.
"The Paterson Valley is home to amazing people in a resilient community, but too often rural areas find themselves competing for attention and resources against much larger population centres," Mr Beaney said.
"The PVLA has been established to help bring people together around common issues and ensure our Valley has clear, well-organised, and constructive advocacy
when engaging with council, governments, agencies, elected representatives, and other stakeholders."
The Association will focus on issues that deliver clear community benefit, including matters significant to local landholders, residents, and other community groups in the area. Interestingly, PVLA is not a political organisation, a social club, or a forum for special-interest groups. The Association's purpose is to advocate for initiatives that strengthen the community as a whole and deliver practical, tangible outcomes for the district.
PO Box 36 Branxton NSW 2335 Office: 0427 383 388 Email: Admin@HunterSL com au HUNTERSL COM AU
Connecting People, Property &
Livestock
At Hunter Stock & Land, we are proud to support our clients with a full suite of professional services across property and livestock Our experienced team is committed to delivering practical advice, strong market knowledge, and dependable results
Our services include:
Rural & Residential Property Sales – Expert guidance to help you buy or sell with confidence
Weekly Prime Sales at HRLX Singleton – Every Wednesday, providing a trusted and consistent marketplace
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Livestock Management – Tailored support designed to enhance productivity and performance
�� Feature Weaner Sale – 27 March at HRLX Singleton
Our first feature weaner sale of the season will be held on Thursday, 27 March
Contact the Hunter Stock & Land team for bookings and enquiries
With hands-on service and a genuine understanding of rural industries, Hunter Stock & Land looks forward to supporting you throughout the 2026 season
The PVLA’s Steering Group comprises respected members of the local community who will meet quarterly to consider advocacy priorities.
"We are interested in practical local solutions for the Paterson, not politics," said Mr Tim Capp, inaugural Chair of the PVLA’s Steering Group.
"Our aim is to support initiatives that make the Valley a better place to live, work, farm, and, ultimately, for people to call home. We will do this by amplifying local voices on issues that our Steering Group believes can benefit the entire community."
The group is a not-for-profit, volunteer-run organisation, and is encouraging interested locals to join to demonstrate the depth of community support. Membership is free for those in Ward C of the Dungog Local Government Area.
Local landholders and community members interested in learning more about the Association are encouraged to join the Paterson Valley Landholders Association Facebook Group and participate in future community discussions, or email expressions of interest to convenor.pvla@protonmail.com.
PATERSON ALLYN GARDEN GROUP
Well, the disappointment of missing our last meeting was tempered by the huge amount of good that the rain brought to the area, with so many dams now full after the long dry.
What better way to get together again than on an absolutely gorgeous day, with our visit to Mandy & Rod’s property at Mount Olive, to take in the splendour of their magnificent gardens. We have been extremely blessed, as a group, to be invited to so many beautiful gardens over the years & we are incredibly grateful to all those prepared to allow us to visit.
They say - ‘a picture tells a thousand words’ but I think that one word – Idyllic, would trump a bucket load of pictures of this stunning property.
After Jillian opened the meeting & Rod gave us a run-down of the gardens & how, since our last visit 4 years ago, the gardens survived the droughts & floods. While it is primarily due to Mandy & Rod’s hard work, they do have some help from Barb & Angela, keeping everything in ‘tip top’ presentation mode.
We were especially fortunate to have Horticulturist, Andrew Price on hand to
explain the shared vision for the property & provide an insight into the process for deciding on the ongoing design & functional requirements of the extensive gardens. Andrew previously spent a number of years helping Justin Hemmes getting his property, The Hermitage, into shape.
After giving us an overall view of the work that has been, & continues to be undertaken, he led a tour of the gardens, conducting a bit of an interactive workshop on plans for ongoing changes & developments in the future. He explained that his design process includes gaining input from all those involved & then scrutinising all aspects of those ideas to
identify what purpose the design is trying to achieve.
Mandy & Rod have been on their 101 acre property for 20 years & when they first moved in they continued to work with the previous owner in developing the garden. He had a simple design concept & whatever plants he was able to get cheaply, he would plant & whatever survived could stay. This has provided an interesting mix of trees & plants across all areas, with the incredible microclimate contained within the valley location, helping to promote the healthy variety of trees, fruit & floral plantings that exist in their Garden of Eden.
Scattered around the gardens is a vast array of statuary, complimenting the abundant natural elements along with plenty of opportunities to find a pleasant spot to sit & take in the views, including an excellent gazebo that recently hosted a wedding. With so many ‘resting’ options, it must be very difficult to get any work done. Our next meeting will be held on the Tuesday 21st July with further details to be advised, prior to the date. Don’t forget to check out the website for any other information – pagardengroup.org
Horticulturist Andrew Price at the PAGG event
Dungog Shire Council News
Highlights from Dungog Shire Council’s Ordinary Council Meeting on Wed 17 June
PROPOSED NAMING OF THE PLAYING FIELD AT VACY SPORTSGROUND
Council endorsed the commencement of formal community consultation on a proposal to name the principal playing field at Vacy Sportsground to Keith & Lesley Miles Oval.
The proposal recognises the significant contribution made by the late Keith and Lesley Miles to the Vacy community. Over many years, Keith and Lesley dedicated countless hours of volunteer service to local sporting organisations, community activities and the ongoing development and improvement of the Vacy Sportsground.
The community are asked to provide their feedback on the following proposed naming options, including:
1. Keith & Lesley Miles Oval (Preferred)
2. Keith and Lesley Miles Memorial Oval
3. K & L Miles Oval
4. Keith & Lesley Miles Sporting Oval
5. Miles Family Oval
The preferred option is Keith & Lesley Miles Oval as it clearly recognises both
individuals while maintaining a strong connection to the sporting purpose of the facility.
To maintain the established identity of the facility, the proposal relates to the naming of the playing field only, with the broader facility retaining the name Vacy Sportsground.
The proposal will be placed on public exhibition for 28 days, with Council particularly interested in hearing from sporting clubs, user groups, community organisations and the broader community.
Following the completion of the consultation process, a further report will be presented to Council summarising submissions for further consideration.
COMMUNITY GRANTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE TERMS OF REFERENCE AND COMMUNITY SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM 2026
Council adopted the 2026 Community Small Grants Program, which will provide financial assistance to eligible community groups and organisations delivering projects, events and initiatives that contribute to community wellbeing,
participation and resilience throughout Dungog Shire.
The Community Grants Advisory Committee will assess applications and make recommendations to Council regarding the allocation of grant funding.
ACCESS AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE - EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
Council endorsed advertising an Expressions of Interest campaign to appoint community and organisation representatives to an Access and Inclusion Committee. The Committee has been established to support the development of Council’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan and will provide advice, lived experience and community input to help identify accessibility priorities and opportunities for greater inclusion across the Shire.
Expressions of Interest will be sought from people with disability, carers, advocates, service providers and community representatives, with recommended appointments to be reported back to Council following the application process.
Thank you all who gave so generously to our Margie’s Hug and Rug appeal. The response from the Paterson, Vacy, Gresford and surrounding areas plus Gunnedah, has been amazing. The rugs, beanies, gloves and socks have been greatly received by so many folk, who are doing it tough this winter. We will continue receiving rugs etc during July and August. Non perishable food items are always welcome and greatly received.
• Gresford Men’s Breakfast is on Saturday 11 July at the Twin Rivers Cafe commencing at 8.15 am. Come along and bring a friend. Good food and good company.
• Bible study continues on Thursdays at 9.30am. Due to some changing circumstances the venue occasionally changes, so please contact Rev Mary on 0418 611 778 or Beverley on 4938 5223. For where we are meeting. We welcome all people who are interested in learning more about God’s words.
• If anyone needs assistance please contact Rev. Mary on 0418 611 778 or Beverley on 4938 5223. Service times for July: 5, 12, 19 & 26
St.Paul’s Paterson 8.30am & St.Anne’s Gresford 10.30am.
Stay safe & warm & look after each other. Blessings Beverley.
Gresford
Congregational Church
30 Durham Rd Gresford
Services Each Sunday 10.30am ALL WELCOME
Catholic Parish of Gresford
Mass at St. Helen's, East Gresford
Saturday – 5:30 pm (except 2nd Sat. of month)
Thursday – 9.30am
Mass at Sacred Heart, Summer Hill
Sunday – 11:30 am (2nd Sunday of month)
All enquiries to Fr. Andrew Doohan, Parish Priest, on 4992 1477 or dungog.parish@mn.catholic.org.au
Gresford News July Crossword
July 2026 crossword answers
Crossword kindly provided by Russel Jessop.
Gresford Meat Co., a newly established butcher shop in East Gresford, is proud to bring premium, locally sourced meats to the community. Under new local ownership, the store is committed to delivering the finest locally grown beef and a variety of quality meats and produce. The owners of Gresford Meat Co. have deep roots in the Gresford area, and strong ties within the
Mon-Fri: 8am-5:30pm Saturday: 8am-1pm
community. Their Angus beef is sourced from local producer Glenroy Cattle Co., ensuring that customers receive the freshest and most flavorful meats available. Visit Gresford Meat Co. today to experience the best in local butchery and support a business that truly values its community connections.
