Building stronger communities

Cobar Shire is to benefit from more than $1.29 million invested into key community projects under Round Five of the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund.

NSW Nationals Upper House MP Sam Farraway recently visited Cobar with NSW Nationals Candidate for Barwon Annette Turner OAM to announce the funding.

Mr Farraway said the announcement would cover the costs of upgrades to Ward Oval and the revitalisation of Euabalong Hall.

“I am thrilled to announce that $1,292,808 will be provided to Cobar under the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund to cover the costs of upgrades to Ward Oval and the Euabalong Hall,” he said.

“As part of the Ward Oval Masterplan, this funding will see six lighting towers constructed to illuminate the fields with new energyefficient lighting which will enhance the night life of the facilities and cut down energy costs.

Cobar High School has welcomed two new staff and three other familiar faces to their school staff this year. Brittany Daymond, originally from Sydney, has previously taught in casual roles at Mudgee, Dubbo and Trangie and, at Cobar High, will teach Stage 4 Numeracy, Year 11 Work Studies and act as a relief teacher; Yvonne Ferguson from Nowra is relieving Ms Barber in the School Counselling Role; a former Student Learning Support Officer at the school since 2021, Tia Turner is now qualified as a conditional teacher, and will teach PDHPE and English; local and former Cobar High student who graduated in 2018, Jasey Bruce, has returned to the school as an administration officer; and Todd Fugar, a past student and teacher, is back in Cobar after teaching at Tweed River High School for the past nine years. Mr Fugar will be working in Learning Support and PDHPE. ▪ Photo contributed

“Sports play a crucial role in the growth and development of our youth, and I am proud to see funding from the Stronger Country Communities Fund also going to the Cobar Little Athletics which will see new discus nets and shotput circles as well as synthetic grass around the long jump pit installed.”

Mr Farraway also announced funding for the Euabalong community hall.

“As one of the area’s only event spaces, this funding will be used to address safety issues and to make the hall a safe, appealing and functional space for local residents, the broader district and tourists.

“The revitalisation of the oval and hall will provide spaces for the community to come together, foster new relationships and create memories that will last a lifetime.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said in the past five years the Stronger Country Communities Fund had delivered more than 2,000 grassroots projects, benefitting every Local Government Area in regional NSW.

“We all know how important it is for communities to have great places to come together to build social connections and boost their wellbeing through sport or community events,” Mr Toole said.

“It’s the little things that make a big difference to the way we all work, live, play and do business.”

Death of country pubs and clubs

The introduction of a Cashless Gaming Card is expected to be ‘the death’ of country pubs and clubs.

That’s the view of Cobar Services Club secretary/manager Linda Carter who raised her concerns about the NSW Government’s proposed Cashless Gaming Card legislation with State Member for Barwon, Roy Butler when he visited Cobar last week.

“I told him it would be the death of small clubs in his electorate,” Mrs Carter said.

“The revenue we take out of poker machines is part of our cash flow, and without it, we won’t survive.

“There’s very little information about how it will work, what the rules are, how you increase or decrease your limit, and who does the application for the card [the club or the gambler themselves],” she said.

Mr Butler said the aim of the cashless gaming card is a way of dealing with problem gambling and money laundering.

“However, the government has only just passed the scheme by cabinet and the Premier has only just announced his plans - which includes a specific fund to help regional clubs implement the cashless technology (in the form of no-interest loans),” Mr Butler said.

“I agree that something definitely needs to be done about problem gambling and money laundering, but we will need to look carefully at the details, assess the merits of the scheme and consult with the communities in Barwon to see what the impact would be on those communities, and the venues that have to implement it.

“Then we can see where we go from there.

“I have heard concerns from many small clubs out in the bush, where they don’t have the same amount of patrons, employees or gambling revenue coming through as big metropolitan clubs, about whether this reform is affordable for them to implement (even with the availability of no-interest loans).

“Many are already struggling under increased insurance premiums and the need to meet other requirements of Liquor and Gaming laws, such as putting on extra security staff at live music events, although the government is also offering one-off grants to fund alternative revenue streams to pokies.

“The cashless gaming card will also only treat one symptom of the problem, but not the root causes, it will not do anything to stop people turning to the multitude of other forms of gambling available,” Mr Butler said.

He said it’s imperative that the scheme does not adversely affect other community members, and clubs and pubs.

Man charged with attempt to pervert course of justice

A 70 year old Cobar man has recently been charged by police with attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The man was charged by police in relation to an alleged incident that occurred in Nyngan last October.

He is expected to appear at the Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney in September to answer the charge.