Junior Jivers bringing community of all ages together

Victor Hugo is credited with the saying “Music expresses that which cannot be put into words.”

How many of us know a young person who is utterly frustrated by their lack of communicative skills which then leads to a meltdown worthy of a Golden Globe award? What do we do to alleviate the tantrum? How many of us turn to music, movement and community? Fortunately, there’s a new group in Warialda which offers 0 to 5 year olds the opportunity to express themselves musically.

Once the Cimarosti family of Warialda had settled into life in town, Louise felt there was an opening for a communty group that would offer its members the opportunity to come together on a weekly basis in a fun, musical and immersive experience. Drawing on her experience with a similar group on the NSW coast, Louise facilitates the newly formed Warialda Junior Jivers on a weekly basis, run at the Anglican Church Hall on Wednesday mornings during school term time.

Junior Jivers is a music and movement program which aims to Provide a fun, educational and enjoyable experience for the underfives and their carers. Each term is underpinned by a theme, with the singing, dancing, craft and play structured around that theme. Term One’s theme was “when I grow up”, and term two is focusing on “our bodies”. Last term, the group were visited by the crew at Fire and Rescue Warialda, and this term they had a visit from some healthcare professionals.

The group is run entirely by volunteers from the Warialda Anglican Church, and is open to anyone who cares for an child under the age of five. There is no requirement to have any level of musical training - just a desire to be involved and have a go. If you’d like to come along, simply turn up to the Wanglican Church at 9.30am on a Wednesday with $2 to Right: Junior Jivers and their carers enjoy a visit from the crew at Fire and Rescue NSW Warialda.

Australia’s leading koala conservation organisation sets up base in Gwydir Shire: Warialda at the heart of the mission to save iconic animal

The Australian Koala Foundation (AKF) is excited to officially call the Gwydir Shire home after moving its Save the Koala Shop and warehouse from Brisbane to Warialda.

The decision reflects the Gwydir Shire’s key role in protecting the koala, with AKF last year choosing theregion as the nation’s first Koala Kiss Site due to its rare secure habitat that can be connected.

The Save the Koala Shop, now located at 23 Stephen St, Warialda, offers a range of koala-themed merchandise including clothing, gifts and souvenirs.

All proceeds go towards supporting AKF’s tireless conservation efforts and research.

“We are delighted to set up the Save the Koala Shop in Warialda, where we hosted a landmark workshop to discuss saving the koala in February,” AKF chair Deborah Tabart OAM said.

“It was clear during the workshop that Warialda is a welcoming community willing to do what’s best for the koala and the environment at large.

“We selected the beautiful Gwydir Shire as our first Koala Kiss Site because it possesses prime landscape that is ‘kissing’ and can be joined. It’s the initial step in fulfilling the overarching Koala Kiss Project.”

With small groups of koalas currently doing well in the Gwydir Shire, the region should host healthy populations of the endangered native animal in 50 years if people act now to reduce threats.

AKF is thus overseeing the implementation of a first-of-its-kind Human Plan of Management, which involves relying on the community to be environmental stewards.

Through the Koala Kiss Project, AKF ultimately aims to create a 2,543km conservation corridor from Cairns to Melbourne by linking fragmented habitat like that of the Gwydir Shire.

“It was crucial for AKF to establish a base in Warialda to ensure the success of our Human Plan of Management and the Koala Kiss Project,” Ms Tabart added.

“The best way for AKF to succeed is to be hands-on and immersed in the community.

“We encourage anyone visiting the Gwydir Shire to stop into the Save The Koala Shop and support our mission to safeguard the beloved koala.

“The support we’ve received from locals has been brilliant and we look forward to furthering thoserelationships as we work together to save the koala.”

To find out more about AKF’s new vision for the koala visit savethekoala.com/our-work/kiss