The Gwydir News 31 August 2023

WARIALDA CAMPDRAFT A TESTAMENT TO ALL INVOLVED

The Warialda Campdraft Committee successfully hosted a wonderful event this past weekend - a credit to all who organised, volunteered, competed and supported the event.

Congratulations in particular to the committee on all volunteer efforts and for putting on a cracker of a weekend. Thank you to Allied Beef, McGregor Gourlay, Galmax Wire, Gwydir Meats, Roger Moore, Beef Trans, Northwest Petroleum, the Reardon Family, Pryde’s EasiFeed, Landrigan Preg Testing and Contracting for their generous sponsorship and support to make events like this possible.

A special thank you to Allied Beef and the Reardon Family for supplying the Campdraft with cattle for the weekend.

In this instance, paragraphs and superlatives don’t do the event justice. Instead, the photos, taken by Melanie Jenson will tell the story in a descriptive way only images can. Please find results and photos from the event as follows:

McGregor Gourlay & Galmax Wire Novice

1st Jim Southeron and Belle - 182

2nd Philippe Manchon and Rockin in Style - 180 = 3rd/4th:

Jon Templeton and Sweet Tallic Cat - 172

Norman Stagg and Branchvale Agile Kitten - 172 = 5th

Beau Colley and Yenrallik Louise - 170

Jono Phelps and Derowie Ambition - 170

Ben Rossiter and Lexie - 170

Thank you to judge Mark Bogan.

1st Aaron Hausfeld and SP Spinning Jewel Cat - 179

Jessie Britton and Stylish Jewel - 172 = 3rd/4th Victor Pennefather and Skeeta - 167

Adam Thurgood and Nonda Starbucks - 167

=5th Scott Brooker and CD - 166

Beau Colley and Fantail - 166

Aaron Hausfeld and Kingsfireld Just Louie - 166

Thank you to judge Rob Leach

Roger Moore Maiden

Leach and Timeless Rose - 179

Robert Leach and Be My Turpentine - 174

John Saunders and Conacres - 170

Humphries and Rosette - 169

Robert Leach and One Time Scarecrow - 167

Thank you to judge Steven Wells.

Allied Beef Open

Above: competitors in the McGregor Gourlay and Galmax Wire Novice

Right: competitors in the Roger Moore Maiden..

Photos: Melanie Jenson.

Above: competitors in the Allied Beef Open.

Photo: Melanie Jenson.

Northwest Petroleum Ladies

1st Rebecca Edwards and Hot Lil Hanna - 110

2nd Hannah Simpson and Destiny - 109

3rd Patti MacQueen and David - 108

4th Kirsty McArthur and Gucci - 86

5th Tayla Macey and Saunders Tracker - 85

Thank you to judge Steven O’Brien.

Landrigan Preg Testing and Contracting Junior

1st Blake Thompson and Drover - 88

2nd Olivia Tonkin and Jazzy Acres - 87

3rd Georgie Humphries and Terry - 81

4th Claire Barnett and Devine - 77

5th Alex Thompson and One More Chance - 75

Thank you to judge John Saunders.

Gwydir Meats Juvenile

1st Thomas Croll and Elusive Acres - 175

2nd Ruby Murphy and Wild West Liberty - 172

3rd Blayne O’Dempsey and Betty - 85

=4th/5th Myles Williams and Deisel - 81

Charlotte Smith and Williamsons Timepiece - 81

Thank you to judge John Saunders.

Above: competitors in the Northwest Petroleum Ladies.

Photo: Melanie Jenson.

Above: competitors in the Landrigan Preg Testing and Contracting Junior

Photo: Melanie Jenson.

Above: competitors in the Gwydir Meats Juvenile.

Photo: Melanie Jenson.

Solutions to country vet shortage

The state’s peak farm group has laid out a plan for government to resolve an acute shortage of large animal veterinarians in country NSW.

NSW Farmers has given evidence to the Inquiry into the Veterinary Workforce Shortage in New South Wales, highlighting the concerns of the agricultural sector and putting forward three solutions being used internationally.

Dr Robyn Alders AO, a qualified vet and farmer from the Upper Lachlan region, told the inquiry the relative decline in veterinary and other frontline personnel associated with animal health, welfare and biosecurity in rural areas had been presided over by governments of all stripes, and needed a bipartisan approach to resolve.

“The shortage of veterinarians in rural areas is not unique to NSW, or even to other high-income nations for that matter, but it’s one we need to address,” Dr Alders said.

“Farmers know that healthy animals are productive animals and it’s in their best interests to care for their livestock, but there’s also a bigger picture.

“The importance of having efficient and sensitive animal disease surveillance has been highlighted recently in relation to the outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease and Lumpy Skin disease in Indonesia, and we know the key to rapid detection and response is the quality of the relationship between the animal owner or carer and government veterinary services.

“Put simply, trust between livestock producers and veterinarians is essential and must be maintained over time, but this means we need to ensure we have enough rural vets to do the work.”

Student loan waivers to incentivise new graduates to practice in underserved rural areas – such as had been implemented in the United States – was one of the ways put forward by NSW Farmers to help address the shortage. Another solution was to improve veterinary services in rural areas through greater partnership between the public and private sectors, in line with a recommendation from the World Organisation for Animal Health. Dr Alders also suggested adopting the Canadian approach of rolling out telehealth for veterinary medicine, offering grants to equip mobile veterinary clinics and contributing to travel costs associated with farm visits to share the costs of biosecurity risk management.

“Each of these approaches has its own advantages and disadvantages, but it makes sense to look at what has worked overseas and cherrypick the best solutions for Australia,” Dr Alders said.

“Given the dire shortage of veterinarians in some rural areas, we suggest the NSW Government consider extending the engagement of private veterinary services to cover key functions such as disease investigation and preventive medicine activities.

“We’ve already seen government vets overstretched because of repeated biosecurity incursions and natural disasters, which has left farmers without access to routine government veterinary services such as timely disease investigations, including postmortems and sample submissions.

Around the world governments are supporting a range of initiatives to ensure the availability of appropriate, affordable veterinary services to livestock producers, and we strongly encourage this Inquiry to do the same.”

Water users must be able to accurately measure and report before they harvest water from the floodplain

Water users in the Border Rivers and Gwydir Valley water sharing areas are reminded they can’t harvest flood water without a licence and compliant metering equipment.

The Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) said as of this month, water users intending to capture water moving across a floodplain are now required to have primary metering equipment installed by a qualified installer.

NRAR Director Education and Engagement Keeley Reynolds said the NSW Government’s reforms to control floodplain harvesting within legal limits became law in the Border Rivers and Gwydir valleys last year.

“However, if they choose to capture water from a floodplain without a licence or without compliant metering equipment, they may be subject to enforcement action by NRAR regardless of those barriers.

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensure all water taken in NSW is done in accordance with the rules for the benefit of all communities and the environment.

“We’ve been through challenging periods of above average rainfall in recent years, but conditions are now starting to swing back to dry.

“It’s the perfect time to act so that when it does rain again, water users are compliant and can lawfully capture water from the floodplain according to their licence and approval conditions.”

“Having a licence means people have the right to capture and store water as it flows across the floodplain, but it also means they have to measure and report their water take in accordance with the conditions of their linked water supply works approvals,” Ms Reynolds said. “That means installing compliant metering equipment,” she said. “Licence holders in these areas have had a year to comply with the new rules, but we understand there are some barriers, such as a shortage of qualified installers and difficulties getting equipment.

“We do expect water users to make every effort to comply by their deadline, but we will discuss any problems that they’ve faced and take them into consideration.

Ms Reynolds said NRAR is a firm but fair regulator.

“We will take people’s individual circumstances into account, but accurate measurement underpins effective and efficient management of the state’s water resources. The best way to achieve that level of accuracy is through installing telemetered metering equipment.” she said.

Secondary metering equipment such as a gauge board or an approved automated storage volume measurement device can now only be used in these valleys if the primary metering equipment is not operating properly. Water users will also need to notify WaterNSW.

Above: NRAR’S Director Education and Engageme nt Keeley Reynolds.

Above: Gwydir Wetlands and Floodplains Moree. Credit: Daryl Albertson.

Free tutoring offer for Gwydir Shire students

Following a successful Gwydir/Willoughby Youth Exchange, one of the city students contacted our Mayor, John Coulton, generously offering online tutoring support through a volunteer organisation that she runs.

Rebecca Ju, co-founded ‘Youth 4 Difference’ after realising that most of the people she found herself volunteering with were in the older age bracket.

Rebecca told Mr Coulton through an email that ‘Youth 4 Difference’ is “a youth led non-for-profit based in Sydney that aims to get young people involved in giving back to their communities. So far, we’ve got around 50 kids in Year 10-12 and done many events such as bushcare, beach cleanups, and volunteering at events like the Ocean Lover’s Festival”.

“A lot of the kids here are really academically talented and would be happy to give up their time to do something like this (tutoring). I also think it would be really nice just to have a way for city kids to chat to country kids about their lives and school on a regular basis and vice versa”.

Check out the website at https://youth4difference.org/

McGregor Gourlay backs Upper Horton Sports Club

What a little promo night can do for a local rural sports club!

Bingara’s Warren Anderson, Leonie Southwell and Matt Falconer from Virbac were thrilled to present a big cheque to the Upper Horton Sports Club from proceeds from McGregor Gourlay’s Cydectin Platinum Cattle Drench Promo night held back in May.

McGregor Gourlay are only 15 x 7L bottles away from reaching the next level of sponsorship, for a further $3000 to go to the club.

A massive thank you to all those that have supported the club by purchasing Cydectin Platinum and to Virbac for their valued sponsorship that helps support this important local community.

Above: Warren Anderson, Leonie Southwell and Matt Falconer present Upper Horton Sports Club with a cheque for $6000 Image source: Facebook

Speaker takes Parliament to Regional NSW

This week, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Honourable Milton Dick MP is in Regional New South Wales as part of the Parliament in Schools program.

Students will learn about federation, democracy and the Australian Parliament, as well as hear first-hand from the Speaker and their local member on what a typical day looks like in their electorate and when they are in Canberra for sitting weeks.

With the Member for Parkes, the Hon Mark Coulton MP, the Speaker visited Bullarah Public School and Rowena Public School on Wednesday 30 August.

On Thursday 31 August, they will visit Gravesend Public School, Pallamallawa Public School and Croppa Creek Public School.

About the Parliament in Schools program

Launched last year, the Parliament in Schools program is a bi-partisan initiative to make civics education accessible to students regardless of their location. In collaboration with local federal members, the Speaker is visiting schools across Australia to bring parliament to them.

The program is an extension to well-established PEO onsite, digital and outreach education programs available to schools across Australia.

It also complements the existing PEO online and print resources that are curriculum-aligned, for Australian teachers and students.

Above: Speaker of the House of Representatives, Milton Dick MP with Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton with teachers and students at Bullarah Public School.

50 YEARS OF AGQUIP

I was at the very first AgQuip when it began, so it was quite surreal to be in Gunnedah for the 50th anniversary of this amazing event, which has grown enormously over the years. This is a huge exhibition of farm equipment, heavy machinery, new products and services, designed to highlight new technology and ideas.

It was great to meet some constituents while manning the all-important barbeque with my State colleague, NSW Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson MP.

While we’re on different sides of Parliament, it was also good to welcome visiting colleagues from the Labor Party too to show them the innovation coming out of this part of the country.

SISTAS IN TRADE

I visited Sistas in Trade last week at Western College Dubbo who have been busy gaining accreditations to go into what are typically male-dominated occupations.

I was able to introduce myself and my role as their Federal Member of Parliament, and we discussed what they’ve recently been learning and their goals for the future.

It’s great to see more women breaking down the barriers and learning a trade - I wish them all the best!

70 YEARS OF MEALS ON WHEELS

In Parliament recently I was able to record a short video with my colleague Steve Georganas MP acknowledging 70 years of the work of Meals on Wheels in Australia. This organisation has coordinated the delivery of thousands of nutritious meals, wellness checks and support to so many people over this time and does fabulous work not just in the Parkes electorate but nationally.

I am a Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Meals on Wheels with Steve Georganas MP and have been a long-time supporter of the work this organisation does, as I know it makes a huge difference for people in so many of our communities.

Volunteers are the backbone of this country and with Meals on Wheels it’s more than a meal, so well done to everyone.

NATIONAL MERINO SHEEP SHOW AND RAM SALE

In Dubbo last week I took the opportunity to drop in to the prestigious National Merino Sheep Show and Ram Sale, which is a huge event showcasing some of the best in the industry.

Many schools from across the Parkes electorate and much further afield had brought their best whethers in to compete, including students from Cobar and Warialda High Schools.

It’s fantastic to see students having the chance to compete in big national events such as this, and to see this calibre of event being held in the Parkes electorate.

Below: Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton talks to constituents at the National Merino Sheep Show and Ram Sale in Dubbo.

The End of Winter

Winner: Best Performance Sydney Theatre Awards

Siren Theatre Co and the award-winning team behind Good With Maps are collaborating again on Noëlle Janaczewska’s next masterpiece - The End of Winter.

Will climate change erase winter leaving it to exist only in fairy tales, paintings, and historical accounts? In hot, bushfire-prone Australia our winters are becoming warmer and shorter. The End of Winter is about loss and resilience. It’s about the places one can search for cold weather places that can be reached via public transport and the imagination.

This is a new work for the stage that speaks to our current climate crisis. Written in the wake of the devastation of the 2019 bush fires it asks: What’s happening to winter?

Noëlle Janaczewska is a multi-award-winning Australian writer whose plays, radio scripts, libretti, fiction, and essays have been performed, broadcast and published throughout Australia and overseas.

From Kate Gaul: “Noëlle’s unfailing ability to ignite universal emotions and laughter in all of us while gloriously revealing her own exquisite uniqueness is one of this piece’s great joys. This is a feminist work, which explores shifting identities - writer, child, carer, lover, explorer.”

The themes and ideas contained within The End of Winter lean into the most significant issue of our time – the changing climate and the loss of seasons.

Telling and sharing stories, from the scientific to the personal, is one the most important tools we have to survive climate change. It’s easy to get into a typical conversation about the weather. It’s harder to talk about how changing weather patterns relate to climate change - especially when climate and weather can often get confused. In Australia, we’ve experienced it all: extreme heat, devastating droughts, raging bushfires, floods and cyclones. But these extreme weather events are getting worse as the world heats up.

Bookings via https://www.trybooking.com/CKRAU

Annual Bingara Jockey Club race meeting

The annual Bingara Jockey Club Cup race meeting was held on Saturday, 26th August with perfect weather and a good crowd in attendance. It was a busy weekend for Bingara with the junior league finals being held at the Gwydir Oval on the Saturday and both the Bullets and Missiles playing in Grand Finals in Armidale on the Sunday.

This was the first time in many years that the Bingara Jockey Club has had a 6-race program, drawing good fields in all races with horses coming from a vast area. The Bingara IGA Bingara Cup was won by “Camerlengo” who is trained by Sally Taylor of Coffs Harbour and is owned by Mrs J F Kelly. The other 5 winning trainers came from Tamworth (2), Scone (2) and Armidale (1) with the more closely based trainers being unlucky on the day.

The various categories of Fashions of the Field were won by Lacey Cosh and Jagger Wall (Miss Junior Racing & Master Junior Racing), Maddy Larkins and Charlie Swaine (Miss Juvenile Racing & Master Juvenile Racing), Britt O’Rourke and Soren Stobbart (Miss Racing & Mr. Trendy), Georgia Standerwick and Robert Carey (Lady of Racing & Gentleman of Racing) with Mel and Nick Pagett from Bundarra taking out the Best Dressed Couple award. The best headwear prize was won by Karen Hewson with the lucky ticket draw being won by Tegan Smith of Bingara.

Above: Winner of the McGregor Gourlay - Meat on Maitland Maiden Plate, Leopardess. trained by Cody Morgan, jockey Matthew Palmer.

Photo bradleyphotos.com.au

Above: Winner of the Imperial Hotel - JA McGregor Benchmark 50 Handicap, Nicator, trained by Stephen Jones , jockey Zac Wadick. Photo bradleyphotos.com.au

Above: Winner of the Northwest Petroleum Bingara Service Station - Edwards Rural Contract, Ima Powerball, trained by Tracy Bell, jockey Ms Kasie Stanley Photo bradleyphotos.com.au

Gwydir SPORTS

Above: Winner of the Campbell’s Fuel Inverell Maiden Handicap, Stanawi, trained by Zach Hatch, joceky Matthew Palmer.

Photo bradleyphotos.com.au

Above: Winner of the Imperial Hotel - JA McGregor Benchmark 50 Handicap, Nicator, trained by Stephen Jones , jockey Zac Wadick. Photo bradleyphotos.com.au

Above: Junior Fashions of the Field contestants.

Photo supplied.

Above: Punters and other attendees at the Bingara Jockey Club Race Day.

Photo: Facebook

Below: Students from Armidale took advantage of Alan Bilsborough’s bus service on the day.

Photo: Tiffany Galvin

WHAT’S ON!

Do you have an upcoming event, meeting or save the date you would like to list? Inclusion is free and available for all non-profit organisations and community events. AGM notices welcome. Please note all details are accurate at the time of publication, however may be subject to change. Email: editor@thegwydirnews.com.au

SEPTEMBER 2023

1st Legacy Appeal Week Street Stall, Bingara. Located next to Meat on Maitland and front of IGA. Saleable cooked donations welcome.

2nd Warialda Rural Fire Brigade Geat Ready Weekend. Warialda Station, Hall Street, 10am-12 noon. Call Carl 0417 718 090.

6th Warialda Neighbourhood Watch, Warialda CHSP, 36 Hope Street Warialda, 10am.

9th Myall Creek Hall 100 year celebration. Morning tea 10.30am, lunch 1pm. RSVP 25 August. Phone / text 0427 453 083.

9th Warialda two person ambrose open medley, Warialda Golf Course, shotgun start at 10am. Contact 6729 1192.

9th Jarred Taylor Live, Gravesend Recreation Ground, 6pm. BBQ and food van. BYO drinks. Free.

9th Warialda Anglican presents Annual Women’s Dinner, 6.30pm for 7pm start. Anglican Parish Hall, free. RSVP 6729 1501 by Wednesday 6 September.

9th NWTC present It’s My Party and I’ll Die if I Want to. 7.30pm, The Roxy Theatre. $25/$20. Tickets: 6724 0066 or roxybingara.com.au

10th NWTC present It’s My Party and I’ll Die if I Want to. 2pm, The Roxy Theatre. $25/$20. Tickets: 6724 0066 or roxybingara.com.au

10th Ceramic Break Sculpture Park exhibition opening. 12 noon - 5pm. Gold coin donation. Call 6729 4147.

13th Indian Myna Bird Control Workshop, Bingara Showground, 1pm-4.30pm. Call 6724 2052.

15-17th Warialda Off-Road 200. Mt Monomeeth. 0428 851 452 or warialdamotorsportsclub@outlook.com

16th Weaving and Waabii workshop at Ceramic Break Sculpture Park, 10am-2pm. $105.00 per person. Bookings: kerry@cbreaksculpturepark.com.au

16th NWTC present It’s My Party and I’ll Die if I Want to. 7.30pm, The Roxy Theatre. $25/$20. Tickets: 6724 0066 or roxybingara.com.au

17th NWTC present It’s My Party and I’ll Die if I Want to. 2pm, The Roxy Theatre. $25/$20. Tickets: 6724 0066 or roxybingara.com.au

17th Art in Ag Markets, North Star Hall. Enquiries: 0427 919 900 or 0427 763 161

19th The Business of Biodiversity, Glenavon, Gravesend, 9am - 3pm. Call 6724 2052 for details.

19th Warialda Historical Society Meeting, Warialda Museum, Plunkett Street, 5pm.

19th Gwydir Shire Council Public Meeting regarding propsed demolition of Bingara strectures, The Roxy, 6pm.

21st The End of Winter, The Roxy Theatre, Bingara, 7pm. Bookings via Trybooking.com, $25

23-24th Upper Horton Ladies of the Valley Ladies’ Horsemanship Weekend.

24th Warialda Neighbourhood Watch Community Event. Warialda Apex Park, 10am - 2pm.

25-29th Bingara Veterans Week of Golf. Welcome drinks from 4.30pm 24 September. Contact Judy 0428 241 415 or Tim 0427 291 672.

OCTOBER 2023

3-5th Holistic Grazing with Brian Wehlburg, The Living Classroom. Bookings: https://tinyurl.com/562t628p

4th Warialda Neighbourhood Watch, Warialda CHSP, 36 Hope Street Warialda, 10am.

11th Aladdin and his Magic Smartwatch, 10.30am, Warialda Memorial Hall. Bookings: TryBooking.com

14th Warialda Community Fund and Westpac Helicopter Masquerade Ball, 7pm-12am, Warialda Town Hall.

17th Warialda Historical Society Meeting, Warialda Museum, Plunkett Street, 5pm.

19th Warialda Disability Inclusion Advisory Committe Meeting, 11am, Warialda Council Chambers.

19th Warialda Golf and Bowling Club AGM, 6.30pm.

21st Warialda Honey Festival, Warialda Recreation Ground. Details TBA.

29th Potluck Community Dinner, Warialda Anglican Church Hall 6pm. All welcome.

WHAT’S ON!

Do you have an upcoming event, meeting or save the date you would like to list? Inclusion is free and available for all non-profit organisations and community events. AGM notices welcome. Please note all details are accurate at the time of publication, however may be subject to change.

NOVEMBER 2023

1st Warialda Neighbourhood Watch, Warialda CHSP, 36 Hope Street Warialda, 10am.

11th Warialda Hospital Auxiliary Market Night, Warialda Golf and Bowling Club.

DECEMBER 2023

1st Warialda Christmas tree lighting and Carinda House Christmas Matkets, from 5.30pm. Tree lighting at 8.15pm.

6th Warialda Neighbourhood Watch, Warialda CHSP, 36 Hope Street Warialda, 10am.

8th Warialda Christmas Carnival, Details TBA

9th Bingara Special Events Christmas Festival, 6pm. Boom Crash Opera

10th Bingara Carols by Candlelight, Bingara MPS, 6pm

16th Warialda Rail Christmas Carnival, Warialda Recreation Ground 5pm

29th New Years Eve Music Muster, Bingara Showgrounds. Bookings: https://tinyurl.com/yn86apsf

Church Notices

ANGLICAN CHURCH

Bingara: Worship at St John’s Anglican Parish, Bingara – Sunday 9:30am

Warialda: Warialda Anglican Church, Warialda - Every Sunday - 9:30am

Coolatai: First Sunday each month3:00pm

Minister Steve Cimarosti, can be contacted on 6729 1501

CATHOLIC CHURCH

PARISHES WEEKEND MASS SCHEDULES

Warialda: Saturday – 6:00pm, 4th weekend – 10:00am

Delungra: Sundays – 10:00am, 4th weekend – 6:00pm

Bingara: Every Sunday – 8:00am

WEEKDAY MASSES

Warialda: 1st and 3rd weeks, Mass 9:00am

Bingara: 2nd and 4th weeks, Rosary 9:30am/Mass 10:00am

Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, Thanksgiving and Family Mass: By appointment 02 6729 1116.

UNITING CHURCH

Inverell Uniting Church’s services are live streamed at 9:00am on the Inverell Uniting Church Family private Facebook Group. These services are also recorded for later viewing – please search and join.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Bingara: Scots Presbyterian Church is open for worship at 10:00am every Sunday. Sunday School to be held each week.

Warialda: St Stephen’s Presbyterian Church has weekly worship services each Sunday at 10:00am. All welcome. Enquiries 6721 0511.

“All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.”

Isaiah 40:6