Students get planting for Schools Tree Day
Community
FINAL CHANCE: Residents and community members have until Friday 1 August to submit feedback on the draft Local Housing Strategy.
Wagga Home School Parent Rebecca Wells, and Wagga Home School students. Last days to have your say on the
Local Wagga Wagga students are using their green thumbs to put more native plants into our environment in support of the 2025 Schools National Tree Day, and Wagga Wagga Home School students were keen to participate.
Every year Council offers local schools a selection of native seedlings to plant as part of the Schools National Tree Day celebrations, with the plants chosen to suit our native flora and fauna.
This year the annual event falls on Friday 25 July, with Council donating 2450 seedlings to 21 local schools and preschools to plant and care for.
Council’s Environmental Education Officer Christina Reid this week met up with students and parents from Wagga Wagga Home School at ErinEarth, who kindly offered their facility as a collection base for families to receive their seedlings from Council.
“The response we get from schools each year is always fantastic,” Ms Reid said.
Schools National Tree Day contributes towards our One Tree for Me initiative, which aims to get 65,000 seedlings planted in our local area by 2026.
“Not only do students gain environmental awareness through planting, but they get to watch the seedlings grow and experience continued education in a fun and hands-on way.”
Students from Wagga Wagga Home School were thrilled to be involved and even had a few words to say about how much they love planting trees.
“I love trees because they give us air, food and medicine and are homes for animals. They also look good!” - Josh, 9.
“When I plant trees, I imagine children from different cultures and past generations climbing trees along the creek, and because trees live for such a long time, I like to think about the generations to come that will enjoy these trees too.” - Eden, 11.
“I really love planting trees and watching them grow! They are awesome!” -
Rosalie, 7.
Another 1000 seedlings will be going into the ground as part of the annual National Tree Day event, which this year is being celebrated at 10am on Sunday 27 July 2025 near Wagga Model Aero
housing in
your needs? Have your say
“This year’s planting site has limited space available, so people must register before they attend. This will also help us know how many people to cater for with a free lunch sponsored by Council and provided by Thomas Bros Toyota on the day.”
For those interested in taking part in Wagga Wagga’s National Tree Day planting on Sunday, registrations for the free event can be made online.
For further information and to register, visit our Council website: wagga.nsw. gov.au/enviroevents
Engagement is well underway for two important Council documents, both of which highlight housing needs for our local community, including supply, affordability, diversity, and location.
Council staff have already been out and about promoting the draft Local Housing Strategy (LHS) and draft Interim Affordable Housing Paper (IAHP) to residents, with many in-person consultation opportunities still on offer.
Council’s Manager Strategic Planning Chris Berry is welcoming our community to chat to staff in person and hear about why you should give your feedback.
“For the past few weeks, we’ve been introducing people to the draft LHS and draft IAHP, and highlighting why they are so important,” Mr Berry said.
“Both documents provide a future vision for housing in Wagga Wagga, focusing on how Council can improve housing outcomes as our population grows over the next 15 years.
“We’re encouraging residents to check out the documents and let us know what you think. We would like to hear if your current housing needs are being met, and if not, whether the documents we’ve developed address those gaps.
“It’s crucial for our community to provide feedback so we can understand if the measures proposed in the two draft documents will address the community’s concerns.
“Our friendly Council staff will be available at our community drop-in sessions at the Civic Centre arcade, and we’ll also be heading out to Collingullie later this month for a village consultation session.”
Session times and locations are listed online via haveyoursay.wagga.nsw.gov. au/housingstrategy
“If you can’t make it in-person to one of these sessions, that’s okay! You can provide feedback online or chat to us over the phone.”
Submissions close Friday 1 August 2025.
The draft LHS and draft IAHP are proudly funded by the NSW Government in association with Wagga Wagga City Council, through the Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund (Round 1).
Council has prepared a draft Local Housing Strategy to address gaps in our housing supply, diversity and affordability. We’re exploring ways to improve housing outcomes in the area, with two important documents now on public exhibition.
Learn more
GRANTS ANNOUNCED: A new seasonal family-friendly event at Bidgee Strawberries and Cream is among the 49 events, projects, programs and initiatives to receive funding through Council’s 2025/26 Annual Grants Program. Image by Lean Timms Photography.
Annual Grants funding announced for 49 recipients
Council has supported 49 community led events, projects and programs through its 2025/26 Annual Grants Program.
At its Ordinary Meeting on Monday 21 July, Council endorsed allocating $234,610.57 in funding across 10 grant categories: Community Programs & Projects; Recreational & Community Facilities; Neighbourhood & Rural Villages; Rural Halls; Arts, Culture & Creative Industries; Local Heritage; Events; Environment; Youth Programs & Projects; and Small Business.
Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Dallas Tout said the program’s funding priorities continued to focus on areas within the Local Government Area that have high levels of social and community disadvantage.
“Many of our local community organisations, clubs, and businesses continue to feel the impacts of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis being experienced across the country,” Cr Tout said.
“This is reflected in the large number of applications received by Council for the 2025/26 program, with most of the funding categories oversubscribed.
“It highlights how important it is for Council to continue to provide support across the entire community, from our city and suburbs to our villages and rural areas.”
The successful applicants for 2025/26 covered a wide range of projects and initiatives, including a Mental Health and Wellbeing Expo and the provision of lights and seating at Oura Skate Park, to a project supporting food relief efforts in Wagga Wagga through increased access to food supplies for local agencies.
The Annual Grants Program is part of Council’s commitment to developing a vibrant, growing and sustainable community in line with the visions of the Wagga Wagga 2050 – Community Strategic Plan
STRUCTURE: Gallery Curator Drew Halyday and artist Gregory Carosi inside Carosi’s installation House of Cards
Wagga Wagga Art Gallery launches mid-winter exhibition program
The community is invited to attend the mid-winter exhibition launch at the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery this Saturday 26 July.
The four exhibitions are a continuation of the Gallery’s 50 year celebrations, including local artists Arthur Wicks and Gregori Carosi, a commissioned exhibition from the archive of Megalo Print Studio and Clarice Beckett paintings from the National Gallery of Australia.
Wagga Wagga-based artist Gregory Carosi’s House of Cards is a largescale installation which reflects a built environment and invites the viewer to become the figure in an uncertain and precarious 21st century landscape.
House of Cards explores how we move through built and natural environments in response to the physical and emotional atmospheres they create.
Arthur Wicks has been a resident of Wagga Wagga for over 50 years and is a formidable contemporary artist, practicing across several mediums.
Arthur Wicks - Paintings 1967 – 1974 presents large abstract paintings from Wicks’s personal archive, produced on the eve of the founding of Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, 50 years ago.
Canberra vs the Government: Prints from the archive of Megalo Print Studio has been curated by renowned printmaker and founding director Alison Alder.
The Megalo Print Studio in Canberra was founded in 1980. This exhibition draws on the Studio’s archive and demonstrates that Canberra is more than its political structures, and is a place where artists were brought together through the medium of printmaking.
Clarice Beckett: Paintings from the National Collection presents works by one of the most original artists of early 20th century Australia.
Sensitive to the effects of colour, light and atmosphere, Beckett painted the life and scenery of her coastal home in south-east Naarm/Melbourne.
The launch of the four exhibitions will be held at the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery on Saturday 26 July from 4pm.
To RSVP visit waggaartgallery.com. au/whats-on
CEREMONIAL SPECTACLE: To mark the 85th anniversary of the establishment of RAAF Base Wagga, a Freedom of Entry to the City of Wagga Wagga ceremony will be held in October. The base last exercised its Freedom of Entry in 2015. Image courtesy Department of Defence.
Support for RAAF Base Wagga Freedom of Entry to the City parade
Council will provide financial and inkind support for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Wagga’s Freedom of Entry to the City parade, scheduled for Saturday 18 October 2025.
The event marks both the 85th anniversary of the establishment of RAAF Base Wagga, and 64 years since it was originally granted Freedom of Entry to the City.
Council endorsed providing the support at its Ordinary Meeting on Monday 21 July, which will include providing Traffic Management and a Mayoral Reception.
Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Dallas Tout said Council welcomed the opportunity to support the request for the ceremonial privilege.
“RAAF Base Wagga has been an integral part of our community since its establishment here in 1940,” Cr Tout said.
“The Freedom of Entry to the City ceremony acknowledges the contribution, outstanding service, and commitment of the Air Force to our city over the past 85 years.
“The ceremony will be a chance for the Wagga Wagga community to say ‘thank you’, while enjoying a wonderful military spectacle.”
RAAF Base Wagga last exercised its Freedom of Entry to the City on 1 August 2015 during its 75th anniversary celebrations.
This year’s parade will be held on 18 October and will coincide with Council’s FUSION BOTANICAL multicultural festival.
“It presents a unique opportunity to showcase Wagga Wagga as a vibrant, inclusive, and welcoming community,” Cr Tout said.
The mayor has extended an invitation for a delegation from our Sister City, the City of Leavenworth, to attend the Freedom of Entry event and Mayoral Reception, as well as the FUSION BOTANICAL festival.
Miss Misty’s Ready to Melt Your Heart!
Sweet and sassy Misty is a 2-year-old grey tabby who loves a chat and isn’t shy about showing affection.
With her cheeky, charming personality and perpetual love of pats, Misty’s ready to find her forever lap to curl up on.
The adoption fee for Misty (ImpC25/0249) is $301 and includes microchipping, lifetime registration, ID tag and desexing, plus all appropriate tests (including for FIV/FeLV), treatments and vaccinations.
JUNE, 2PM – 4PM Bolton Park Stadium, Morgan St. Something to Crow About SUN 27 JUL, 1PM – 4PM Thirsty Crow Brewery Co., 153 Fitzmaurice St. RACE HUB Australia – Wagga 10K SUN 27 JUL, 7AM – 10AM Riverside: Wagga Beach, Johnston St.
National Tree Day Wagga Wagga
SUN 27 JUL, 10AM – 12.30PM Wagga Wagga Model Aero Club, Olympic Highway. Native Candle Making Workshop SUN 27 JUL, 2PM – 4PM Little Black Duck Studio, Uranquinty.
Hans Young Fun and 21 SUN 27 JUL, 3PM – 5PM Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre, Burns Way.
Smuggler Compass: Caribbean (Port 5) SUN 27 JUL, 5PM – 10PM Bar Olivette, 24 Fitzmaurice St. Riverina Producers Market THU 31 JUL, 1PM – 6.30PM Hammond Hall, Wagga Wagga Showground, 27 Bourke St.
Art and Books –Public Lectures with Dr Sam Bowker THU 31 JUL, 5.30PM – 6.30PM CSU Riverina Playhouse, 8 Cross St. Infusion Games Trivia and Karaoke
THU 31 JUL, 8:30PM The Victoria Hotel, 55 Baylis St. Book Launch – Chok: Uzbek Architecture in Needlepoint FRI 1 AUG, 5.30PM – 7.30PM The Station Creative Workspace, 54-58 Johnston St. Scan or head to visitwagga.com for more events in Wagga Wagga + Surrounds.
