1876 - 2024 Reporting 148 years of local news, views, & local ownership
AND WESTERN DISTRICTS ADVERTISER
Ph: 0448 231 180 or 0490 734 650
email: molongex@bigpond.net.au www.molongexpress.com.au
THURSDAY 29 February 2024
$2.00 inc gst
Welcome-Luna lunch to celebrate 45 Years It's been a hard road for Kay and Phillip Yuen, the owners of one of Molong's oldest businesses in Bank Street. But no complaints from this lovely Hong-Kong-born couple who over the past 45 years have seen it all in Molong. Most recently, they worked through the November 2022 flood, and now street works in Bank Street - and somehow keep opening their doors over long hours to provide food to residents, visitors and tourists. Let's celebrate Chinese New Year, and the couple's 45 years of residency and business in Bank Street, with Kay and Phillip
of the Wing Hang on Sunday, 3 March @ 12 noon with a special smorgasbord of delicious foods. Organised by the Molong Express to celebrate and to help this couple who have never given up on Molong. Let's show we care. for them. Please join us - $35 per person - bring your partner, your friends, neighbours, family, work colleagues for this special community thank you event to show our support to the couple who never, ever give up and ask for nothing in return! Phone Rozzi 0490 734 650 or molongex@bigpond.net.au or Kay at Wing Hang on (02) 6366 8614
Steady growth brings tourism rewards
Molong is not being left behind in attracting visitors and tourists to town. With a steady growth in various events our town has become a key attraction for tourists in the Central West region. What we are doing is slow, steady growth - and in keeping with the attractions, businesses and accommodation available. We're working with what we are and what we have to offer. That's smart! Sustainability is the word in tourism and Molong is providing a good example of how a small town with limited resources can provide, attract, grow and live within our means (so to speak). Our tourism growth is in fact 'sustainable' in the long-term. That's smart! For example, the Molong Village Markets, supported by Molong Advancement Group and Cabonne Council, attracts up to 3,000 people at each of the three key events each year. Held on the long weekends of Easter, winter, spring/summer, up to 200 keen stall holders set up at the rec grounds for each event. Not forgetting the Molong Christmas Shopping night -again supported by MAG and Cabonne Council - an event that attracts over 1,000 people to bolster local businesses and economy. This was just one of more than 20 Christmas events held across Cabonne last year. Successfully! Each year the fast growing Central West Disc Golf volunteers run a number of key competitions at the showgrounds. This year, the organisers have attracted an International competition in Molong. Wow! The NSW Sheepdog Worker's Incorporated will be back in Molong in March. An important annual event on the NSW working dog championship events attracting entrants and spectators from - well, everywhere. Not forgetting the annual Molong Show that continues to grow, the popularity of the Showground Caravan Park and, when it is operating, the Molong Caravan Park. Then there's the Banjo Paterson Festival events such as Molong Poetry Brawl and Woolshed Muster, supported by MAG/Cabonne Counci. The upgrade and growth of the Molong Historical Museum events including Through the Lens photographic exhibition, ancestry research etc. Another huge success. The Molong Campdraft is another. But wait ... there's more! Individual shops and businesses attract their own clientele from near and far. The business economy may not be growing right
now, but it is stable. One quiet achiever is the Vinnies store in Bank Street - add the Yarn Market, the Molong Motel, the Freemasons and Telegraph Hotels, the RSL Club, local B&B's; local sporting competitions with soccer, footy, hockey (before flood); golf; bowls; croquet; and the list goes on. All successful in attracting visitors/ tourists. 'Steady as she goes' approach to tourism working with what we have - not aiming to hold something that is unsustainable for the town (e.g. limited accommodation); and the growing nightmare of absent landlords leaving their Bank Street buildings visually 'broken'; the visually unappealing and unusable Molong Caravan Park/Camping Grounds; the continuing loss of accommodation at the Freemasons Hotel (15 rooms?); the long-time closure of the Molong Railway Station is now holding Molong back. Whilst this town and community has achieved a strong and sustainable base to grow from - the need to get moving on the 'detractors' list is now urgent. We simply can't afford to carry this year in - year out - negative burden any longer. Readers can probably identify more 'detractors' around town. The good news is that all can be fixed to add to the sustainables list. The Express congratulates MAG, GrowMolong, Cabonne Council, the many entertainment venues, sporting clubs, local shops and busines owners, volunteers, and all who have been steadily helping to 'grow Molong' tourism sector with a sustainable 'steady as she grows' approach. People Power at its best!
(Above) Molong Christmas Shopping Night (Right ) Banjo Paterson, Molong Poetry Brawl and Molong Museum Banjo Woolshed History Muster Molong Village Markets - held three times a year
CampDrafting
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