Wellington & District Leader, No: 122

Covering news and views from within the Wellington, Euchareena, Geurie, Goolma, Gollan, Mumbil, Stuart Town Wongarbon and Yeoval districts.

Established August, 2021

No. 122

Inside:

Demerger mess - P3

THURSDAY, February 22, 2024

$2

Wellington Boot Carnival April - Fri 12 & Sun 14 Inc GST

Book a tent for your own party

ISSN 2653-2026

Kindy Kids - Mumbil, Stuart Town - P4

Hold supermarkets to account - P7

Dag Drag Sheep Dash - Vintage Fair WELLINGTON PLAYS host to the 31st Rotary Vintage Fair and Swap Meet on Saturday and Sunday, March 2 and 3.

The first fixture timed for the first Sunday of March was in 1994 organised by a band of keen collectors of everything “vintage” plus, antique, veteran and everything in between who pulled together to start a permanent event for Wellington and the result was instant success with the inaugural fair and swap meet attracting several thousand people on the Sunday.

The first committee was headed by Bob Setter, a keen collector and a past president of the Wellington Soldiers Memorial Club. He also was a keen supporter of the restoration of Wellington Council’s former workhorse, the Fowler Steam Engine.

With him as secretary was Barb Preston while Jenny Lay was Treasurer.

Committee members included Mike and Pam Hayes, Doug and Sue Morley, John Preston, Ron Stubberfield, Graham Neville, Don Graham, Peter Sheridan, J Maybin, Malcolm Gough, John Finn, Wilf Darney, Norman Melhuish, Howard Lay, Roy Spicer, Joan Setter, Col Birchall and Ken Roughan.

Together with many other helpers, the two-day formula (which still works today) took place and was a rip-roaring success.

That committee, with not too many changes, ran the annual Vintage Fair and Swap Meet for many years and through to 2016 when members felt they were getting a bit “long-in-the-tooth” and handed the event over to Wellington Rotary Club who have They’re not Merino wethers, but you can get the idea. For the first time in Wellington on the Saturday afternoon of the carried on the tradition with great success.

Vintage Fair and Swap Meet (Saturday, March 2 and Sunday, March 3), Four sheep races will be conducted on the race Like every year, the event starts with the mammoth course with first race starting at 4pm.

Photo, courtesy of National Forest Adventure Farm.

groups who join the parade, and all the emergency service vehicles, old and new.

The parade begins from in front of the public school and then winds its way along Percy and Lee Streets, turning around at Gisborne and returning through the main street.

It’s a parade with a difference because in Wellington, we see all the parade - twice, and that’s quite unique - a double vision.

Participating vehicles then head out with their respective clubs for a Tractor Trek throughout local districts, and also a car Observation Rally.

If you have a registered vehicle, tractor, motorcycle, whatever, you may like to join in the fun of the parade, then check the rules on the Wellington Vintage Fair website.

Sheep races Vintage Fair street parade from 10am on Saturday morning attracting hundreds of vehicles of all shapes and sizes - vintage, veteran and later model tractors, bike, cars and vehicles, stationary engines, plus many

Keeping the momentum rolling, this year a spectacular treat is installed for family fun-loving enthusiasts, punters included, with the inaugural running of the Dag Drag Sheep Dash - sheep races at the showground/racecourse on Saturday afternoon.

First race starts at 4pm, but a lot happens before, so people need to get there early, at least from about 3pm.

The six Merino wethers in each of four races will be auctioned beforehand with eventual prizemoney distributed to the three placings in each race.

As well a sweep will be held on each race and a percentage of the total prize pool will be donated to a charity (to be announced in due course).

Organiser, Tony Inder, said he took a leaf out of Geurie Picnic Race Club’s book.

Their Picnic races were cancelled by NSW Racing last year, so the committee conducted a successful sheep racing event.

Entry to the showground is $10 adults and $5 children while children under 5 years are free.

The good thing though, the ticket gives free entry to the Vintage Fair and Swap Meet on Sunday.

and dancing from 7pm.

Vintage Fair and Swap Meet Gates open to the public from 8am Sunday morning to explore a world of vintage treasures among the hoards of swappers, markets and vehicle and machinery displays.

Don’t miss the show and shine competition and the wide variety of food stalls, horse and carriage rides, children’s activities and a lot,lot more.

Cuban Dancers Saturday evening at the Wellington Soldiers Memorial Club the fun continues with Cuban Dancers entertain with latin music

Wellington Vintage Fair and Swap Meet Saturday March 2

Sunday March 3

STREET PARADE 10am * Tractor Trek * Car Rally

GATES OPEN 8am * Blade shearing * Show & Shine * Food * Flying Doctor * Vintage & Veteran Bikes, Tractors, Cars, Trucks * Markets * Swappers * and Much, Much MORE

Dag Drag SHEEP RACES - SHOWGROUND 3pm Join Cuban Dancing, Music - Soldiers Club 7pm

Mayoral Column High School to Cultural Centre ON 8 July 1917, Dubbo High School was officially opened as the first secondary school in the west of the state.

By June 2001, the last school assembly was held at the school.

On 18 September 2001, Council resolved to accept the offer from the Department of Education to purchase the building and land for $250,000 to develop a cultural centre.

The vote progressed with a small majority with seven votes to five and Councillor Richard Mutton was so dissatisfied he later moved a motion of no confidence in Mayor Allan Smith (despite the fact that the purchase was resolved by a majority of Councillors).

This process had originally started on 6 December 1999 when the newly formed

Cultural Centre Working Party first met.

One of the objectives of the committee was to find a home for a “Dubbo Museum and/or Dubbo Regional Gallery and other associated community cultural and recreational needs.”

The stage was set for the master planning process to begin but before any physical activity could start, the site had a temporary stint as the administration building for Council after a fire at the main building on 15 April 2003.

By the time I was first elected to Council on 27 March 2004, plans had started to progress for what would become known as the Western Plains Cultural Centre. I remember looking at various plans and mock-ups of different designs as we progressed through the various

design phases.

The final price was $8.2 million to transform the former school into a gallery, museum and community arts space. Her Excellency Professor The Honourable Dame Marie Bashir AD, CVO officially cut the ribbon on 10 February 2007 to signify a significant cultural shift in Dubbo.

Fast forward to today and the WPCC is an important piece of infrastructure.

The National Gallery of Australia Touring Exhibition - Ceremony: 4th Indigenous Art Triennial is currently on display.

At the opening I learned that only one location in NSW has been chosen to display this touring exhibition.

A testament to the quality of our display space. It is no surprise to learn that the

annual Archibald Prize finalists have been displayed at the WPCC on six separate occasions.

I recently attended the AGM of both the University of the Third Age and the Dubbo Eisteddfod. The original vision for the WPCC was to have a space for community organisations and it is pleasing to see these two, and more, take advantage of the space.

I also attended two recent workshops in the auditorium where the space can be set up with 80 seats in a theatre style or 30 seats in a round table space.

With the café and the green space and variety of rooms, it is no wonder that we see up to 14,000 visitors per month through the doors.

Mathew Dickerson

Deputy Mayoral Column Happenings in council for our region STILL EARLY days, but there are some significant prospects at Bodangora Airstrip – some interesting happenings are in the wings!

AMSL Aero, who have been using the facility over the past year or so, are resuming testing their vertical take-off prototypes.

This will now include the use of hydrogen fuel cells. Council has also been connected to a business that designs vertiports. This is so Council can consider what might be the needs of a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) facility at our Regional Airports.

This is very relevant given the recent public announcement by AirLink that they are forward ordering 10 Vertiia eVTOL aircraft.

Plus, the NSW Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer recently referred a hi-tech aero corporation to Council. That really puts Wellington in the minds of companies developing aerial technology. Council is pitching

Wellington as the outdoor lab and that seems to be gaining traction.

Staying with matters aerial - another good news story is the potential for a major upgrade to the Dubbo Regional Airport. Council has commissioned a Business Case pushing for the extension and major upgrading of the runway. This would enable the RFS’ Large Air Tanker (LAT) that has been based at the airfield in recent years on a temporary basis, to continue to operate and with increased capacity. This is considered very important for the RFS to provide high level firefighting capability throughout the State.

A purpose-built, permanent LAT facility would also enable the RFS-owned 737, which is currently too heavy for Dubbo Regional Airport, to operate from our region.

Access to 737’s generally, would stimulate significant expansion of the domestic tourism market. Again, lots of ducks still to line

up, but the project does closely align with multiple Federal and NSW State government strategies and priorities, so here’s hoping! *** It was a lively monthly Council meeting last week, with a wide variety of issues discussed. Those of relevance to our area included: * the potential for a boundary adjustment to join North Yeoval with the rest of their village in the Cabonne Shire. This involves discussions with affected residents and Cabonne Council. At this stage of the process, there appears all-round support for the idea. * Staff are to present a report to Council regarding the options for improving the toilet facilities in Cameron Park. Present facilities are inadequate but working out how to remedy the situation is no easy task. The report will be a good first step. * Staff are also to present a report to the next

Council meeting reviewing the management of the three Aquatic Centres by Belgravia Leisure. Examining if the terms of the privatisation contract have been met and the implications of same will be a focus. While there have been undoubted significant problems with the transition, identifying the problems and working with Belgravia to ensure they don’t reoccur may be a reasonable option. * The Voluntary Planning Agreement for the Spicers Creek Windfarm was endorsed by Council. Under this agreement, the community will receive about $30 million over the life of the project. There is some opposition to the Agreement in its present form, but in my opinion, there is sufficient flexibility in the Agreement to ensure the expenditure of those funds, when they eventually come, will be effectively based.

Richard Ivey

Letter to the Editor Family car tax to hit hip Dear Editor, I WOULD like to thank the Australia Day Committee for selecting me for the Wellington Senior Citizen Award.

It is a great honour. However, I would like to acknowledge and thank every member of every committee I have ever worked on, without them my award would not have been possible.

It is truly a wonderful experience to volunteer.

You get to meet and work with so many amazing, talented and innovative people.

Wellington has a great community with lots of organisations doing great work and all needing volunteers, so let's keep our community strong.

Thank you, Carolyn White

Obituaries of our loved ones are welcomed for publication in the Wellington & District Leader

pockets of regional families

AT A time when families and small businesses are already struggling, Labor’s proposed Vehicle Efficiency Standard will add thousands of dollars to the cars that regional Australians love to drive – SUVs, utes and 4WDs, according to Federal member for Parkes, Mark Coulton.

Under the proposed new standard, Labor will place penalties on new petrol and diesel vehicles over a certain emissions limit to sub-

sidise electric vehicles and make them relatively more affordable.

“While it might be good for those who live in the city, this policy will particularly hit us in regional Australia.

Many people in my electorate – like farmers and tradies rely on utes and 4WDs to do their jobs, while others simply can’t afford the cost of an EV let alone the impracticality in the bush where we drive large

Contact: mark@wdleader.news 2 Thursday, February 22, 2024 WELLINGTON & DISTRICT LEADER

distances, often hundreds of kilometres from a charging station,” Mr Coulton said.

“This is yet another example of a Labor Government that is out of touch with the needs of regional Australia.”

Level crossings upgrades RAILWAY crossings in the region are on track to receive upgrades through the Regional Level Crossing Upgrade Fund (RLCUF).

The proposed list includes the Overshot Road, Euchareena; Beni Street, Wongarbon; Maryvale Road, Maryvale; Warne Street, Wellington; Archer Road, Mullion Creek and Mendooran Road, Brocklehurst.

These upgrades include the installation of retro-reflective boom gates, and audible warning devices, updated signage.

In Memory of Beryl O’Brien Covering news and views particularly from within the Wellington region, which now runs from Euchareena to Elong Elong and includes Wongarbon, the Wellington Ward of Dubbo Regional Council.

Wellington & District Leader is independently published locally by Sharon Wilson trading as Wellington District Leader, 14 Nancarrow Lane, Wellington, NSW, 2820, and printed by Gilgandra Newspapers, another independent.

Editor: Mark Griggs 0456 940 999 email: mark@wdleader.news Journalist: Teagan Usher 0401 088 367 email: teag_mc@hotmail.com Advertising Manager Sharon Wilson 0407 935 998 email: sharon@wdleader.news Community input and feedback is welcomed.

Story leads, prepared articles and photographs can be forwarded to the publisher.

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‘One step forward, two back’ Paper price rise on costly demerger mess Reprint of story by Luke Costin, AAP UNWINDING fiercely opposed council mergers have been made virtually impossible by a decision to dump the full cost on local communities, councils say.

The 2016-era forced mergers controversially married 44 local governments with their neighbours while plans to go further were stopped by court challenges.

The then-coalition government’s bulldozer approach has since been studied as an example of how not to tackle hard policy.

While opposed to mergers in opposition and conceding now they were a failed and expensive experiment, the NSW Labor government recently introduced a bill to parliament ensuring it would not foot the bill for demergers.

It comes after Sydney’s Inner West Council estimated a 10-year plan to revert to Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville councils would cost between $178 million and $190 million.

Labor’s plans were disappointing and made de-amalgamations “virtually impossible”, the peak body for NSW councils said.

“Our communities did not want these amalgamations which were foisted on them, yet now they are being expected to pay to return to the former status quo,” Local Government NSW president Darriea Turley said.

“This is sleight of hand by the new state government which knows that councils do not have the tens of millions of dollars required to de-amalgamate.”

The mergers were an expensive mess that its creator - the NSW government - should

be cleaning up, Greens local government spokeswoman Amanda Cohn said.

“Instead, this proposed legislation takes councils one step forward legally but two steps back because of the financial burden it poses for them to fund their own de-amalgamation,” she said.

Among the 2.1 million people affected by mergers, ratepayers in the former Dubbo and Wellington council areas overwhelmingly opposed amalgamation in 2016.

But the mayor of the successor council said demerger would be “incredibly expensive”.

“I didn’t agree at the time but I’d be loathe to put that cost on the community,” Dubbo Regional Council mayor and Regional Cities NSW chair Mathew Dickerson told AAP. He said there remained an argument for tidying up boundaries across the state, however, citing Dubbo council serving villages that were 100km away from town but 40km from Orange.

“Their centre of influence is not Dubbo,” Cr Dickerson said.

The proposed new laws would require councils to develop upfront a robust business case to demerge, consult their community and then seek ministerial permission for a local referendum.

The business case must consider the financial impacts and the council’s ability to fund de-amalgamation Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig said the new laws enshrined local democracy in the decision-making process so councils and communities were fully informed of the financial and other implications of de-amalgamation.

“The forced amalgamation of NSW councils was a failed and expensive experiment,” he said.

“While the NSW government strongly supports a clear process for councils and communities to exercise their democratic right to pursue de-amalgamation, we also have to be realistic about some of the challenges this brings.”

The bill also provides for transition arrangements for councils whose demergers already have ministerial permission.

Due to the rising cost of newsprint and printing, and after considering all options, the publishers of the Wellington & District Leader will be increasing the purchase price of each paper by 0.50cents to $2.50 a copy as of March 7, 2024.

Sharon and Mark regret this price rise but need the increase to balance the costs associated with printing and distribution.

Labor ignores regional communities in its renewables report FARMERS AND regional communities will be disappointed with the Labor Government’s Community Engagement Review into renewables, which fails to examine the real impacts on agricultural land.

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said Labor was asking regional Australia and agriculture to bear the burden of its reckless race to 82 per cent renewables by 2030, without any understanding of its impacts.

“The bland recommendations in the Review do not provide the confidence and certainty that farmers and regional communities have desperately asked for,” Mr Littleproud said.

“This Review gives zero indication of how farmers can continue to do their job without being impacted.

“It fails to give clarity on protecting their livelihoods.

“Communities will continue to feel anxiety about their future, with Labor failing to ensure agricultural land, or our nation’s food security, will be preserved. While farmers will bear the brunt of Chris Bowen’s reckless race to renewables, it’s families at the checkout who will pay for it. The report appears nothing more than a cynical public relations exercise by the Albanese Labor Government to give Labor a green light to forge ahead steamrolling regional communities in its attempt to

reach their reckless target.”

Mr Littleproud added the report also highlighted the disgraceful treatment of farmers and regional communities in steamrolling ahead with these renewable projects.

“It is alarming that 92 per cent of respondents were dissatisfied with the level of engagement from project developers.

“Rather than listen to communities, Labor is instead more focused on its PR campaign, with the report also stating that messaging about renewables should include ‘the limited time available to achieve these significant changes’.

“We have time to pause and plan this correctly – rather than destroy regional communities and drive up everyone’s cost-of-living because of Chris Bowen’s target, who has previously stated that 40 7-megawatt wind turbines will need to be installed every month until 2030, while 22,000 five hundred-watt panels need to be installed every day, or 60 million by 2030.

“Labor will also require 34 times the current amount of utility-scale variable renewable energy in the national electricity market to meet its hydrogen export ambitions.

“The Nationals are not against renewables, but renewables are losing their social licence on the very thing they are meant to protect – the environment,” Mr Littleproud said.

WELLINGTON & DISTRICT LEADER, Thursday, February 22, 2024 3

Our first cricket season is done and dusted!

Reflections from a Yeoval district mother, Amy Dickens.

AND TO my own surprise, it was a blast!

At the start of the season, when the boys suggested they wanted to play cricket, I must admit I was that Mum who dragged her feet a little. After all, cricket was akin to watching paint dry! Urgh!

How wrong was I. A massive thank you to the awesome Dad coaches/trainers - especially our kids’ Wellington Under 12B Gold team coaches, Dave and Sam who gave up so much of their time on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings to coach our kids.

To see the amount of time spent training each child, and then see them develop as the season went by, was outstanding. Thank you.

Wednesday afternoon training sessions in Wellington were made all the more memorable by the 35-minute drive from Yeoval with five very loud and excited young lads in my car Our anthem (thanks Morgan) became Hot in Herre by Nelly, with me grinning at the suggestive grunts of five 8 to10 year old boys who thought they were hilarious. They were.

I learnt a lot about cricket this Summer, after being asked to score and eagerly agreeing while naively thinking, “it can’t be much different to soccer, surely.”

Put it this way, I quickly learnt what a dot ball was, what those ref’s arm actions mean, boxes are not just for storing things in, and that it is pretty much impossible to score and have a yarn at the same time.

I will never forget Jack’s shared joy and celebrations with each wicket, and Mitchell proudly running off the field to let me know he got a wicket while bowling. What a treat!

So, it’s been fun, despite our wins coming to a big fat 0. Bring on cricket season 2024/25 I say.

Happenings at Yeoval Central School

LAST WEEK, I introduced my very first Private Member’s Bill to Parliament.

The ‘Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Foreign Entities Bill 2024’ would ban foreign buyers from the Australian residential property market for two years.

This means only Australian citizens and permanent residents would be allowed to buy residential property over that time.

I drafted this bill and presented it to Parliament because for so many hardworking Aussies, the Great Australian Dream of home ownership is slipping away before their eyes.

Immediate action is needed to ease demand and crack this housing affordability crisis.

Boosting housing supply is going to take a long time, perhaps decades.

A ban on cashed-up foreign buyers purchasing Aussie homes would take pressure off the market straight away, and that is the aim of this bill.

This bill is not about turning our backs on the wider world.

Rather, it’s about making thousands more homes available to hardworking Australians.

It’s about helping Australian homebuyers, especially first-home buyers, finally get a foothold on the residential property ladder.

It’s about helping more Australians get their shot at the Great Australian Dream.

The bill stipulates that the penalty for contravening the prohibition is 800 penalty units, which equates to $250,000. A penalty of five times this amount may be imposed upon an offending foreign corporate entity, which equates to $1.25 million.

Importantly, the bill also provides

for the Federal Court of Australia to order the disposal of foreign-held residential property that contravenes the prohibition in the bill.

In the year to June 2022, 4228 homes were snapped up by foreign buyers. That scarce housing stock could have gone to 4228 Aussies, desperate for a home to call their own, who are being crowded out of the market.

More than 75 per cent of these properties sold for less than $1 million. The year before, in the 12 months to 2021, 8pc of the homes purchased by foreign buyers were under $1 million.

That shows that foreign buyers and foreign speculators are snapping up entry-level homes.

And in the five years to June 2022, almost 37,000 residential properties on our shores were snapped up by foreign buyers. That’s a huge number of homes that could’ve been the first rung on the property ladder for Australians.

In these difficult economic times, we need to be putting the interests of Australians ahead of wealthy foreign property speculators.

The government needs to bring this bill on for debate on the double.

It’s not enough just to believe in the Great Australian Dream.

It’s our role as members of parliament to empower Aussies to achieve it.

This bill does just that.

Mumbil and Stuart Town Kindy Kids

Milly Marnard started Kindergarten at Mumbil Public School recently.

Centre open Sat & Sun 10am to 4pm Catherine's Yoga Mondays 5:30pm Tai Chi Fridays 9:30am Tibetan Yoga Sundays 10am

Empathetic Counselling 0431 616 074 Catalaya Rykee started her school year in Kindergarten at Stuart Town Public School this term.

4 Thursday, February 22, 2024, WELLINGTON & DISTRICT LEADER

Why are we a PROUD town?

WELLINGTON’S history is timeless.

Our first nations caretakers had no records or need for records, they just got on with living.

Laws and rules were administered in a way to retain sustainability of the culture and the land that still feeds us all.

Over 200 years we have now made our lives so complex, driven by gain and greed that we forget about the simple pleasures of life and how to live with each other.

Wellington stands proud as a town of many ‘firsts’ given that its settlement occurred so rapidly after explorers found their way to this lush valley and the frontier to the western regions was established.

Times change, people come and go, but the backbone of this township and many others is in the strength of the people who carry it.

This is the business owners, the proud residents of many cultures, the sporting and social clubs, the farmers and food producers, the essential service pro-

viders, teachers, police and volunteers of all capacities.

If you are a local of Wellington and have a few hours a week where you can contribute to making our town fabulous then March is your month to get your wiggle on and volunteer.

The social calendar for March kicks off with the 31st Vintage Fair and Swap Meet on 2-3 March (volunteers required), The Great Australian Stone Festival 15-26 March (volunteers required).

At both events we need help to erect tents and marquees, to sit and chat and promote our town as you count visitors to the events, sell tickets or take food and water to the vigorous workers. Nothing hard about that!!

Meals on Wheels needs assistance every week to assist the elderly and disadvantaged with the delivery of meals.

You don’t have to cook, just make time

to help those who need it!

Wellington Multi Services Centre coordinate this activity and it looks after all our needy elderly or disadvantaged residents. Plus, they need compassionate volunteers to make humble and needed personal phone calls daily to check on our vulnerable residents. Not hard at all, so what’s stopping you?

Have you some time to help your community who supports you?? The coming months are just as busy as our little Wellington punches above its weight with the local annual show.

Yes, again volunteers are needed.

Maybe to help hang art or sort out craft, put up sheep pens, mow some lawn, help arrange flowers, or to assist with tickets at the gate. None of this is hard, and your community groups will welcome you with open arms.

Giving is so much better than receiving.

Young Sportsperson presented award As reported on ABC Radio SAM THOMPSON lives hundreds of kilometres from the coast, but that doesn’t stop her waking up at 4am every morning to train for open water swimming.

She entered her first ocean race in Sydney in 2022, five hours away from her home in Wellington, in Central West NSW. Since then, the 18-year-old has competed at state and national levels, scheduling hours of training around high school.

But she almost walked away from her very first race.

Before competitors got in the water, an announcement came over the loudspeaker warning them not to put their feet down in the shallow water because there were stingrays.

“I was like, ‘No, thank you, I really don’t want to do that,’ and my coach was like, ‘You’re here, get in the water,’” Thompson said.

It would take another two races for her to find her affinity with the sport.

“I didn’t fall in love with it immediately, I was a bit nervous — it was very uncomfortable,” she said. “[The team] all got in together, we were all going to swim together, I got about five strokes in and I lost everyone, I started panicking.

At Council’s February Ordinary

Meeting, the Mayor Mathew Dickerson and deputy mayor Richard Ivey presented the award.

Pictured at right.

“I don’t know why I kept doing it after that.”

It was a five kilometre race further down the track that changed Thompson’s perspective.

“I finished the first lap and my shoulders were hurting but I embraced the water and the pain,” she said.

“It was like a mental block lifted away and I was like, ‘Oh this is really fun, I’m enjoying this now.’”

A lot of hard work Last month, Thompson travelled to Busselton in South West WA for the Australian Open Water Championships, where she placed 14th in her age group in the 10km race and 19th in the 5km race.

While some open water competitions are held in rivers and lakes, most races are in the ocean, and Thompson found she was often the only competitor who was not from a coastal area.

“It’s all major cities, coastal towns — you never get anybody that’s from central areas so it’s a bit hard, I feel like I’m a bit left out,” she said.

“The main open water clubs, they go down and swim in the actual ... Continued on Page 7

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WELLINGTON & DISTRICT LEADER, Thursday, February 22, 2024 5

LEADER Classifieds

LEADER Classifieds

Public Notice

ONE STOP SHOP

Calling out for Assistance!

DIRECTORY

Great Australian Stone Festival organisers are calling out for volunteers to assist with the week’s events.

Please contact Emma Knowles 0432 350 125

especially for

tradies & services just like yours is now available in the

LEADER Classifieds

Anglican Parish of Wellington WELLINGTON – St John the Baptist Church Sunday 9am Sunday 5pm - The Gathering STUART TOWN 5.30pm on 1st Saturday of month MARANATHA 11am on 2nd & 4th Friday of month.

Wellington Baptist Church 77 Swift Street 9:30am Sunday mornings 6pm Evening Service

PAPA

Provision of Aged Persons Accommodation

Wellington Uniting Church

Annual General Meeting

Tuesday 5 March 2024 5.30pm at Cow and Calf Hotel Function room.

Sunday at 9.30am

Call Sharon 0407 935 998 email: sharon@wdleader.news

WATS auditions for 2024

Thursday 29th February at WATS Place 6.30pm start.

The show is a good old fashioned melodrama style show with an Australian twist.

A Villian with his sidekick, a hero, heroine who needs no hero, a feisty mum, a pub/saloon crew and it could not be Australian without our CWA ladies.

Looking forward to seeing everyone there!!!

Water Delivery Domestic Water Deliveries Servicing Wellington Region Fiona: 0427 463 441 Ken: 0427 463 442

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St Patrick’s Catholic Parish

Saturday Vigil 8.30am – St John the Baptist Church, Stuart Town Saturday 6pm – Mass, St Patrick’s Church, Wellington Sunday 8am – Our Lady’s Church, Yeoval first, third and fifth Sundays of the month 10am – Our Lady’s Church, Yeoval second and fourth Sundays of the month 10am – St Patrick’s Church, Wellington first, third and fifth Sundays of the month 8am – St Patrick’s Church, Wellington second and fourth Sundays of the month Weekday mass Please check parish bulletin

In Christ Chapel 2pm Sunday

Riverside Church Inc. 170 Thornton Street Sunday: 10.00am Service Thursday: Bible Study for Men and Women 10.30 am

this purpose built, one-of-a-kind WORK HAS finished on the with our facility is now ready to house up overtaking lanes and safety upto 65 platypus who need rehabiligrades on the Mitchell Highway, State Member tation and rewilding. Attached to as part of a $32 million investthe Rescue facility is also a rement from the former coalition search centre to study this wellgovernment between Dubbo and loved, but not yet well Narromine. understood curious little creature.

The project got underway in From initial conversations January 2022, and included a through to securing funding from range of safety improvements The former NSW Government val Local Achievement Awards, the previous NSW Government, like widening 11 kilometres of understood the importance of the with winners to be announced highway, installing rumble strips it was a proud moment to see this service that Macquarie Home during the NSW Seniors Festival project shine and show all those and safety barriers, and improvStay provides and invested $2.5 which runs from 11 to 24 March. ing drainage and property access. in attendance just how unique million to help Stage 2 of the If you know a senior who helps and important this space is.

It was a key commitment I project deliver 26 new rooms, make our community diverse, inDo yourself a favour and spend made ahead of the 2019 election, which more than doubles the cur- spiring, and active, then I encourso I’m very proud to see the a day at Western Plains Zoo and rent capacity and I’m really exage you to nominate them for work making an enormous differ- experience this masterpiece for cited to watch the progress of acknowledgement of their conence to travel times and safety on yourself. this build. tribution. the road. *** Congratulations to Rod and his This annual festival is all about *** Last week I attended a wonderful team, the Macquarie Home Stay celebrating the positive impact of Last Tuesday was a momentous morning tea and the Launch of Board and all the community older people in our families and occasion for the whole team at the Macquarie Home Stay stage groups and organisations that society!

Taronga Western Plains Zoo as 2 build. support this incredible space!

Nomination forms are available Platypus Rescue HQ was offiThe construction of the “CWA *** via my office, so pop in or email cially opened. of NSW Guesthouse” is well un- Seniors are such an important us to grab a form and nominate Now home to Mackenzie, the derway and all going well, will part of our communities, so don’t someone fabulous!!!! first platypus that will greet visbe ready for guests to stay by the forget, nominations are now open Until next time, itors as they enter the experience, end of this year. for the 2024 NSW Seniors Festi- Dugald 6 Thursday, February 22, 2024, WELLINGTON & DISTRICT LEADER

Around the Dugald electorate Saunders

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Bus Safety Week Hold supermarkets to account say farmers * Stay safe on and around buses. * Wait until the bus has gone, then use a safe place to cross the road. * Parents and carers always meet your child at the bus stop - never wait across the road. * Talk to your children about “STOP, LOOK and LISTEN”

Local landscapes and streetscapes feature in latest exhibition WELLINGTON ARTS’ new exhibition of local streetscapes and landscapes will be officially launched at the Western Gallery on Thursday evening, February 29 at 6pm.

This will be the first exhibition at the gallery under the leadership of recently elected president, Gillian Ryan who established the concept to encourage local artists to look a little closer at their local community.

Gillian said there were more than 40 artworks which will take the eye.

“Everyone is invited to our opening night to view, and hopefully purchase, local art,” she said.

Letter to the Editor The Editor, I READ the mayor’s column in your newspaper of Thursday, February 15, 2024.

His analogy of canola and wind turbines or solar panels is crap.

Firstly, a canola crop next door does not affect potential capital value of your farm in a negative way, it doesn’t change it from a farming area to an industrial area.

It doesn’t affect the property rights of the farmers that have their land acquired to move the power from where it is generated to the city where it consumed.

The cost to the community and the environment is too large compared to the benefits.

If carbon emissions go to zero there is no proof that climate change will not continue.

A Zero carbon policy is probably good but at what cost in dollars, our community and environment?

The government is trying to convince society that wind and solar power will stop climate change.

It may slow climate change, but our climate has been changing for millenniums and will continue.

Peter Barton.

Young Sportsperson Australia Day award presented to Samantha Thompson ... Continued from Page 5 ...Cntinued from Page 5ocean or in a regatta centre, so they can get their skills up going around the buoys and actually swimming against the current.”

To make up for her distance from the ocean, Thompson puts in extra hours of training, waking up at 4am every morning to swim for an hour and a half before school.

She encouraged others who were interested in an unconventional sport to give it a go.

“Find a good support system and try your hardest, just give it your all,” she said.

“There’s nothing stopping you, other than yourself.”

Thompson’s next goal is to make it into the top 10 at next year’s national competition.

But she is also happy simply to push her limits.

“Overall, I kind of just want to see how far I can go trying my best — if I get on an Australian team, that’s amazing — more than I could ever dream of,” she said.

“But also, if the most I make is the NSW team, then that’s as far as I got and as long as I tried my hardest, I’m happy.”

Sam was awarded the Young Sports Person at Wellington’s Australia Day awards, but was swimming in Busselton at the time.

FRESH ALLEGATIONS of price gouging behaviour by supermarket giants should be a wake-up call to fix Australia’s unfair supermarket duopoly, according to NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin.

The claims detailed by Four Corners on Monday night came amid mounting scrutiny of the supermarket sector, which was welcomed by both consumers and farmers. Mr Martin said the market power abuses reported by the ABC in the “Super Powers” episode of Four Corners would further enrage farmers and families who had been grappling with unfair prices at the farm gate and the checkout for too long.

“These reports that suppliers are having to pay for price increases on their own products are not isolated, and nor are

they the only example of anti-competitive behaviour we are seeing from these mega players in our supermarket sector,” Mr Martin said.

“For years, we have heard reports of farmers copping abuses of market power at the hands of the supermarkets, and this behaviour has ranged from offering contracts on a ‘take it or leave it’ basis all the way through to paying farmers prices that are well below the cost of production. “Giant middlemen are making super profits while farmers and families on either end of the supply chain struggle, and we need meaningful competition reform to fix this obviously broken system.”

Amidst growing media and government attention, Mr Martin said a total transformation of the nation’s competition

environment was necessary if fair food prices were ever to be achieved.

“Make no mistake, the many enquiries into this matter are welcome news for farmers and consumers who have been battling these retail giants for too long,” Mr Martin said.

“However, this extra attention won’t solve anything unless there is real action to implement the outcomes of governmental inquiries, and effect true, meaningful competition reform.

“There is far too much profit being sucked out between the paddock and the plate, and Australians deserve better than what they’ve been getting at the farm gate and at the supermarket checkout.

“The next time you’re at the checkout, ask yourself if you’re getting a fair deal.

That’s how farmers feel.”

ENDORSEMENT AS a favoured candidate for the upcoming Country Championship came when Syrian Star won a Preview in good style on Sunday at Dubbo.

Owned by Paul and Belinda Frampton from Merriwa and trained at Scone by Rod Northam, Syrian Star had Grant Buckley in the saddle for the 1300 metres Inland Petroleum Class 4 Handicap-Championship Preview.

Allowed plenty of time to settle, Syrian Star from the inside gate drifted back to race near the tail of the field.

Grant Buckley found gaps in the straight and the well supported Syrian Star ($2.40 to $2 favourite) powered home to win by over a length from Brogans Creek (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $8.50) and Dawn County (James Rogers, $21).

Syrian Star is now likely to contest the $150,000 Hunter & North West Championship Qualifier at Tamworth on Sunday March 10 while Gilgandra trainer Kieren Hazelton will aim for the $150,000 Western Districts Championship Qualifier at Coonamble on Sunday March 17 with Dawn County.

Second placed Brogans Creek trained at Mudgee by Toby Pracey is ineligible for the $150,000 Central Districts Champion-

ships Qualifier at Mudgee on Sunday having exceeded the maximum 20 lifetime starts.

The million-dollar Newhaven Park Country Championship Final is scheduled for April 6 at Royal Randwick.

The third and final Heat of the Barastoc Summer Sprint Series was run on Sunday and as another innovative event from Dubbo Turf Club and the sponsor partner Barastoc, received excellent support from owners and trainers.

Kora Magic, Sisters Pick and Obsessive Nature led for home with the eventual winner Canny Prospect near the tail of the field.

Finishing fast, the Todd Howlett, Muswellbrook trained Canny Prospect (Aaron Bullock, $3.10 to $2.25 fav) arrived in time to win by almost a length from the very consistent That’s Better (Will Stanley, $10) and Choice Witness, (Cobi Vitler, $3.90).

Now residing at Newcastle, former Trangie Jockey Club president Ken Dennis was at Dubbo as part owner of Blue Guitar, winner of the 1600m Barastoc Race N Win Benchmark 58 Handicap.

Coming from a long way back, the Peter Nestor, Dubbo trained Blue Guitar

(Georgina McDonnell, $7) swooped on the leaders over the closing stages to score by a length from Subscribe Me (Cobi Vitler, $26) and Rubiland (Ronald Simpson, $7).

Formerly trained in Victoria, the Brett Robb, Dubbo trained Rouge Moulin was well ridden by Tony Cavallo to win the 1200m Marty Nelson Air Conditioning And Refrigeration $50,000 Super Maiden Handicap.

Rouge Moulin ($2.70 fav.) wore down Wandering Jack (Aaron Bullock, $5.50) to win by a neck with Thirteen Under (Darryl McClellan, $41) running on well for third.

Giving Brett Robb a double, Deion (Aaron Bullock, $3.60) after a good battle won the 1000m Barastoc Stablemate Class 1 Handicap from Gorgias (Sarah McDonough, $16) and the fast finishing Antisocial (Braith Nock, $2.90). *** Epiroc Ladies Day at Orange on Saturday and Central Districts Country Championship Qualifier at Mudgee on Sunday.

WELLINGTON LIBRARY will be celebrating International Women’s Day at the Library’s third morning tea with author Kim Kelly (pictured right) as guest speaker.

Kim is an Australian fiction writer and book editor whose work has been long and shortlisted for various awards, including the ARA Historical Novel Prize.

Her latest publication, “Ladies’ Rest and Writing Room”, was awarded the 2023 Finlay Lloyd 20/40 prize.

Around the tracks with Col Hodges

Enjoy a relaxed morning tea and special talk with others of all ages at the Library from 10.30am to 12pm Friday, March 8.

The event is free but your booking is necessary.

PLEASE NOTE Wellington Library will be closed on Thursday, February 29 for staff training.

Wellington Library can be contacted by phoning (02) 6840 1780

Peter Perry celebrated his 75th birthday at 75 On Arthur last Saturday evening with wife, Anne Jones, his son and daughter and close friends.

Pictured, he is joined by his three grandchildren and two friends who helped him cut the birthday cake.

WELLINGTON & DISTRICT LEADER, Thursday, February 22, 2024 7

8 Thursday, February 22, 2024, WELLINGTON & DISTRICT LEADER

WELLINGTON & DISTRICT LEADER Thursday, February 22, 2024, 9

10 Thursday, February 22, 2024, WELLINGTON & DISTRICT LEADER

Throwback Thursday Looking back at some photos of locals as they were several decades ago - help preserve their names by contacting the “Leader”.

Cathy Austin came to the rescue once again with both the above photos. We had identified John Powyer at left and Wilf Darney at right, then Cathy Austin identified Fred Hinton in the middle is Cathy’s uncle, who is also related to the three ladies at left. Cathy said Fred is brother to her mum, Irene Austin (left), uncle to Margaret Beggs (right) and brother-inlaw to Una Hinton (seated). Thanks to Cathy and also Marie Hoffman.

Jon White local artist, farmer - grazier and former Wallaby International Rugby player.

Ian (Legend) Darney.

Andrew Hill with some of his boxing trophies.

Michael Pope and Ian Powyer were familiar faces at the Post Office.

Luke and Ashley Meyers from Dubbo checking out the old double decker at a Vintage Fair.

Dovelyn Schmidt.

K A Spencer - in a WATS theatre pose?

Rose Chown.

WELLINGTON & DISTRICT LEADER Thursday, February 22, 2024, 11

Rural Around the tracks with Col Hodges

Stock report by Ross Plasto

Mb: 0428 635 994 RAINFALL THIS past week for this district was in most cases excellent. I measured 35mm and it had to happen with the build-up over three days, particularly with the high humidity. This week will be similar to last week. *** A message from Grain Trade Australia reminding canola growers to avoid using “haloxyfop” herbicide after the European union confirmed it would reduce the maximum residue limits (MRLs) for this herbicide. This regulatory change comes into effect from August 19.

The EU has also confirmed that it will lower MRLs on other crop types starting with pulses. *** Farm cost inflation vs CPI Farm costs 8.1% vs CPI 2.6% over the past five years (1997-2022 ) for your diary.

As we lost barley sales to China, we have found a new market in Saudi Arabia who are purchasing large quantities of barley. They are not new to Australia, they were good clients until China came to the market and the rest is history.

Do you need to improve your bottom line for farmers then read on.

Due to increasing demand for Monola oil, crushers have lifted their premiums to $100/t.

Monola, a canola variety licensed by Nuseed, is promoted by the company as a healthy alternate to cooking oils containing high levels of saturated and trans fat. Demand is being led by fast food outlets such as KFC who have switched 100% to monola as well as high class restaurateurs.

Agronomically monola grows the same as canola, similar inputs and yields. Earlier varieties were TT but now there are new traits as well.

Yields of 3/t per ha are common, say at $700/t plus the $100 premium, equals $2400 per ha plus oil bonuses and other bonuses. For further information contact my friend Brett Mawbey at Nuseed or myself.

I was a pioneer of this crop on my farm and a delegate on the Australian Oilseed Board. *** Markets at a glance Wool. Sydney - All Merino fleece lost ground Tuesday 6c to 59c, Wed saw the market back in positive territory. Merino skirtings down, cardings up 1c, NMI closed 1202c/kg CLN, down 10c, pass-in rate 5.9% 243 bales withdrawn.

Cattle. DBO Feb 15, 4300 yarded, 421 increase.

Market softer, prices falling by 30c to 85c with some secondary lines falling by 50c. Medium weight weaners to 404c/kg with heifers to 322c/kg. Medium feeder steers 276c to 380c/kg, processing cattle to 406+c/kg, prime weaner steers 260c to 306c/kg.

Sheep. DBO Feb 12, 40,310 head up 1470.

Lambs 22,420 up 820. Market sold to cheaper trends with heavy lambs least effected. Trade lambs to 24kg fell $8 to $12 selling from $98 to $170. 24kg to 28kg $128 to $190. Hoggets fell to $138 mainly Dorpers. Mutton $16 cheaper.

Grain. Wheat, all grades $2 to $3 cheaper, Canola poised to rise, Barley and Sorghum to fall

PRODUCTS OF THE WEEK * Quartz canola seed $750/t * Oats yarran bagged $250/t * Security fence gal $15 each a few coils left * Gal pipe posts from $10 each various sizes.

LOVELY STORMS over the weekend with more forecast bringing much needed rain to the district.

4300 prime cattle yarded in Dubbo last Thursday with numbers lifting slightly though quality was a little plainer with more Bos Indicus and crossbred cattle penned. Yearlings made up the majority and there were several larger runs of grown steers and bullocks. Grown heifers were not in the numbers of previous weeks and there was a mixed run of cows. The market sold to weaker trends although the better-bred Bos Indicus going to backgrounders in the north did not fall as much as the British bred lines. Across many of the cattle prices fell 30c to 35c with some of the secondary lines up to 50c cheaper. Medium weight weaner steers reached 404c and heifers 322c/kg. Medium weight feeder steers 276c to 380c/kg and restockers pushed to 406c/kg. Heavy feeders 268c to 384c. Feeder heifers 252c to 295c and forward conditioned heavy weights to feed reached 320c/kg. Heavy trade cattle 260c to 290c/kg. Grown steers 260c to 326c and heavy grown 263c to 280c/kg.

Heavy cows 15c to 20c softer from 220c to 248c/kg and medium weights 152c to 222c/kg. Restockers paid to 224c/kg for the same weight.

There were 16,520 lambs penned in Dubbo on Monday numbers eased and the quality was plainer. Not many heavy lambs or extra heavies penned and the trade run was mixed.

Plenty of lighter lambs. Dorper lambs well represented and some good runs of crossbred and Merino hoggets.

Light lambs dearer with an extra order operating, trade and heavy lambs cheaper and hoggets were firm to

Dubbo (02) 6885 0549

cheaper. Processor lambs were $8 to $12 dearer from $52 to $116. Trade weights were around $10 cheaper with a mixed run offered. Prices from $100 to $153 for medium and heavy trades to averaged 580c to 620c/kg.

The 24 to 26kg lambs showed more consistency but eased $3 to $5 ranging from $160 to $188 ave 670c/kg.

Heavy weights $166 to $196. Hoggets firm to $5 cheaper with Merinos with longer skins reaching $130.

Mutton numbers were down, only 10,355 yarded and quality was again mixed. Prices were $5 to $10 dearer on light mutton and $3 to $4 on heavy weights. Heavy Merinos reached $99 and heavy crossbred ewes made to $78 while Dorpers $75. Most of the mutton ave 230c to 250c/kg.

Schute Bell Report the market once again opened the week softer. The largest declines were confined to finer Merino types with the NRI falling 14 cents on the first day. Second day sales witnessed a slight change in sentiment particularly around the 20-micron types that closed 20 cents dearer for the day. This resulted in a 4-cent rise in the overall indicator, its first daily increase in a month. In a positive sign for next week the Southern Region sold in isolation on Thursday with the market continuing to show signs of improving. Some 36,617 bales sold nationally with 9.5% passed-in. The headline market indicators both closed the week spot on their average level for the 2023/24 season to date. This week’s offering increases to 44,000 bales but remains well below the 50,000 bale offerings that were occurring this time last season.

Wellington 0427 919 062

WEEKLY MARKET REPORT Week ending February 16, 2024 AWEX Northern Micron Indices Comparison

Chinese New Year or Not? AFTER SEEING the market fall since the opening sale of the year, we may just be seeing some positive sentiment that was evident on the last day of selling in the south.

There has been a fair bit of pain in getting to this point, particularly in the finer end.

The 17-micron indicator has given back 208 cents over the six selling weeks, 18micron - 129 cents, and 19-micron - 93 cents. Even 20-micron have come back 80 cents, whilst 21-micron has shed only 26 cents. Wednesday evening was where the sentiment started to change, with exporters being able to head into the Melbourne final selling day last week with good orders for types finer than 19 micron. All these wools are destined for Chinese processors, with sales into India continuing to be modest, and extremely thin going to Europe. There is probably some degree of inevitability around the merits of holding sales during the main week of Chinese New Year, which began last week. No country in history has seen wages growth in percentage terms like the Chinese over the past 20 years. And, just like other developed countries penalty rates for wages during holiday periods make it almost impossible for some businesses to operate during public holidays. There have been repeated requests by Chinese operators for around five years now to hold a one-week recess for CNY. The brokers have agreed in the past pending a shortened July recess, but this hasn’t been agreed to by buyers hence a stalemate for a recess. Some Chinese mills made it known they wouldn’t be buying this week, but others stepped in to take advantage of perhaps less competition. In the end the amount of wool purchased by Chinese mills was probably around par. So, the issue hasn’t gone away, but no doubt will be debated again, and if there was a one week recess granted, we would support it to ensure maximum competition from our largest buyer.

On a positive note, the waterfront dispute between DP World and wharfies was resolved and things are returning to normal for shippers notwithstanding the Suez Canal issues from Houthi terrorists for Euro bound wool!

The market desperately needs to make positive ground after the past six weeks, hopefully this will commence this week as the run to Easter traditionally offers some good selling opportunities.

This week has a little over 44,000 bales rostered with Macdonald and Carmichael Wool offering yesterday (Wednesday).

YOUR WOOL IN SAFE HANDS

12 Thursday, February 22, 2024, WELLINGTON & DISTRICT LEADER

DUBBO TRAINER Connie Greig and Sydneybased jockey Leandro Ribeiro have now won eight of the last 12 races held at Condobolin following a treble on Saturday which included wins in the feature events by Linden Tree and Billy Bent Ear. Both those gallopers were beaten a nose at Bedgerabong the previous week in the Cup and Bracelet, respectively.

Blinking Nomore and Sin City Belle set the pace in the 1400 metres Inland Petroleum Condobolin Picnic Cup with Red Impulse and Linden Tree in handy spots.

Sent to the lead at the top of the straight by Leandro Ribeiro, Linden Tree ($3 favourite) raced to a one-and-a-half lengths win over stablemate and 2022 Cup winner Valadyium (John Wilson, $6.50) and Red Impulse (Tony Williams, $3.60).

Billy Bent Ear, the grand warrior of Central West racing, continues to amaze and the 11-year-old gelding took the record to 17 wins and 40 placings and over $260,000 prize money from 144 starts when a brave winner of the 1000m KMWL & Co. & Ross Berry & Rob Staniforth Memorial Trophy Handicap.

Leading from the outset, Billy Bent Ear (Leandro Ribeiro, $2 fav) humping 71.5kg, fought off every challenge in the straight to defeat Outback Cod (Zara Lewis, $4.20) and Equilibrium (Emily Harrison, $21).

The other winner for Connie Greig and Leandro Ribeiro was Kalpana ($4) which took the lead from Richter and Costas well before the home turn and won by four lengths from the heavily supported Irene Of Athens (Ricky Blewitt, $1.80 to $1.60 fav) and Costas (Zara Lewis, $6.50) in the 1700m Condobolin Milling Class 3 Trophy Handicap.

Wellington trainer Daniel Stanley provided the opportunity for a grateful Izzy Neale who travelled from Sydney to make her race riding debut on Scruff’s Magic in the 1100m Forbes Livestock Class 1 Trophy Handicap.

Excelling at her only ride at the meeting, Izzy Neale gave the rank outsider Scruff’s Magic a nice run midfield before easing to the outside in the straight.

Owned by a group of friends from Tullibigeal, Scruff’s Magic ($21) won by over a length from Better Judgement (Grady Spokes, $4.20) and Camp Cove (Leandro Ribeiro, $2.20 fav).

Emerging as a possible runner in the $50,000 Picnic Championship later this year at Coonamble, the Ashley Gibson, Gilgandra trained Foxstorm was a runaway winner of the 1400m Chamens Super IGA Class 2 Trophy Handicap.

Ridden by Gilgandra-based Zara Lewis, Foxstorm ($9) from fifth position dashed to the front in the straight and won by over four lengths from the leader Sindagar (Breanna Bourke, $3.60) and Cheeky Nugget (Leandro Ribeiro, $3.40 fav).

Condobolin attracted a big crowd however not many backed the opening winner, the outsider Northern Excel in the 1000m Vella Stockfeeds Maiden Plate.

Trained at Narromine by Michael Plummer, Northern Excel (Emily Harrison, $10) led throughout to win by a neck from Party Stop (Tony Williams, $2.50) with Great Flame (Zara Lewis, $6) six lengths away in third place. *** Saturday is Epiroc Ladies Day at Orange while the feature at Mudgee on Sunday is the $150,000 Central Districts Qualifier for the Newhaven Park Country Championship at Royal Randwick.

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Get your business in front of new customers Phone Sharon on 0407 935 998 IN EPISODE 12 of season 11 of the sitcom ‘Two and a Half Men’ we hear the first human thoughts spoken by a computer.

And somewhat like Alexander Graham Bell’s first monumental words into a telephone back in 1876, “Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you”, Walden’s first thought in the fictional comedy was the word “Pudding”.

Many movies and sitcoms over the years have made jokes about the fact that what we think is mostly filtered before we say anything so reading minds directly could lead to embarrassing, and potentially humorous, outcomes.

While this has always been the stuff of fiction, we may be edging closer than we realise to interfacing between man and machine.

Elon Musk has claimed the first human trial of his futuristic brain implant, ‘Neuralink’, has been completed. This is on the back of the company gaining FDA approval for human testing of the technology in September 2023.

Neuralink has been shrouded in both mystery and anticipation, promising to revolutionise how we interact with technology and treat neurological conditions.

At its core, Neuralink’s device is a sophisticated braincomputer interface (BCI). It consists of a coin-sized chip, known as the ‘Link,’ which is implanted into the skull.

Ultra-thin threads, thinner than a human hair, extend from the chip into the brain, where they can monitor and stimulate brain activity. The device aims to read neural signals with unprecedented precision, offering a direct pathway for

with Mathew Dickerson, Axxis Comworld two-way communication between the brain and external devices. The potential applications of Neuralink are vast and varied. In the short term, the focus is on medical applications, particularly for individuals with paralysis or neurological disorders. By interpreting neural signals, the device could allow people to control computers or prosthetic limbs using just their thoughts.

This could restore a level of independence and mobility to those who have lost it due to injury or illness. Imagine a paraplegic who could control a wheelchair by thinking of moving and having the wheelchair receive those thoughts!

Beyond medical applications, Neuralink’s long-term vision is even more ambitious. The company talks about enhancing cognitive abilities, such as memory, or enabling direct communication of thoughts between individuals without the need for speech or text.

While these applications sound like science fiction, they underscore the transformative potential of Neuralink.

As with any technology that blurs the line between human and machine, Neuralink raises significant ethical and societal questions. Concerns about privacy, data security, and the potential for hacking are paramount. There’s also the

broader philosophical debate about what it means to be human in an age where our biological limitations may be overcome by technology.

Moreover, the prospect of enhancing cognitive abilities brings up issues of inequality and access. Will such technologies be available only to the wealthy, widening the gap between the haves and have-nots? And how will they impact our sense of identity and autonomy?

As Neuralink moves from animal trials to human applications, the world watches with mixed excitement and apprehension. The initial focus on helping those with severe disabilities is widely applauded, but the broader implications of brain-computer interfaces are still being debated.

For now, Neuralink represents the cutting-edge intersection of neuroscience and technology, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. As we stand on the cusp of this new frontier, it’s crucial to navigate the path forward with careful consideration of the ethical, social, and philosophical questions accompanying such profound advancements.

And to trivialise the potential of this technology to the extreme, I do hope the first human thoughts read by Neuralink are more inspiring than thinking about “Pudding!”

WELLINGTON & DISTRICT LEADER Thursday, February 22, 2024 13

Cowboys host Western Championships - Jo Ivey photos

14 Thursday, February 22, 2024, WELLINGTON & DISTRICT LEADER

Touch Footy Round 11 - Jo Ivey photos

WELLINGTON & DISTRICT LEADER Thursday, February 22, 2024, 15

sport Golfing news Warren Williams takes out Saturday’s golf WELLINGTON CLUB’S Pennants Division 1 team enjoyed a comfortable win last Sunday.

They played Wentworth and came away with a 5-0 win.

Division 2 played Mudgee and went down 0-5; Division 3 lost to Parkes 0-5 while Division 4 lost to Duntry League 32.

Volunteers are needed for this Sunday (February 25) to support the club hosting all four Pennant Divisions playing on the day.

The Saturday during the 2024 Wellington Boot Racing Carnival, April 13, the club will conduct a four-person Ambrose as the Wellington Soldiers Memorial Club Wellington Boot golf competition.

Tees will be open from 8am to 12.30pm, with $1000 in prizes up for grabs. There will be snacks available throughout the day and the Soldiers Club will provide transport from town to the course.

Last Saturday’s events were an Individual Stableford plus Round 10 of the Keirles Pharmacy Summer Competition.

Good to see the numbers on a Saturday rising with 66 golfers hitting the fairways last week.

Keirles Competition rounds conclude this Saturday (Round 11) with places in the top eight still not finalised.

The Lion of Waterloo need a win, but if they lose all Lowes Petroleum need to do is win by five holes to take their spot.

Also this Saturday is an Individual Stableford.

Raffle winner was David O’Brien and new member Darren Reeves take the prize award.

Last Saturday’s Stableford winner was Warren Williams who came out firing on the back nine holes and finish with 41pts. Runner-up was Norm Royal who put together a good round to finish with 39pts.

Prize winners were, Steve Kiss, Kosta Athanasiou, Mathew Shephard 38pts; Liam Conn, Cory Sutherland, Rob Parnell, Micheal Bullock, Wayne Lang, Kieran Baker 37pts; David Hyde, Max Ellis, Phillip Reynolds, Gary Cusack 36pts; Nash Forgione, David Pilon, Doug Ney 35pts

on a count back. The Stubberfeild Toyota NTPs were awarded to David Ryan on the 3rd, Gary Cusack 8th, Michael Bullock 14th, Mitchell Cusack 16th. The Golf Club’s NTP in two shots on the 4th was taken by Micheal Bullock.

Jespresso Cafe Longest Drives went to Cody Hannelly in A grade and Liam Conn in B grade.

The Brent Eather Encouragement award was taken out by Cheryl Royal who had a day to forget with her final score being 24pts.

Wednesday Ladies played an Individual Stableford over nine holes and for some, 12 holes.

Winner on the 9-hole was Janelle Frappell on a count back with 18pts. Runner-up also on 18pts was Cathy Loo-Shui who is getting better with each round. Prize winner with 18pts as well was Marg Hollow.

The 12-hole winner and on count back was Cathy Loo-Shui with 23pts, runner-up was Marg Hollow also with 23pts.

Tuesday’s golfers played their Monthly Medal with Neale McCabe claiming the win with a 72nett, he also claimed the Putting Competition with 30putts, runner-up was Les Tremain with a 74nett.

Thursday’s golf competition was an Individual Stableford and the winner was Rod Irwin who put together a great score of 40pts. Runner-up was Peter Holden with 37pts. Prize winner was John Gersbach 36pts.

The Iberdrola, Bodangora Windfarm Twilight Golf competition played Round 19 on the back nine holes last week.

Winner saw T Hooper with a 28nett, runner-up was Peter Holden with 32nett.

Leaders after 19 rounds are Ron Cowan on -16, Rod Pedron, Peter Holden, Rod Irwin-13.

Results from Round 10 of the Keirles Pharmacy Summer comp had Wuuluman Locksmiths defeat Whipper Snippers 4up, Lowes Petroleum defeated Lion of Waterloo 1up, Snipers defeated Used Groceries 1up, Dirt Diggers defeated Maulers 1up, Wellington Mowers and Chainsaws defeated

Wellington Diggers Swimming Club News SIXTEEN SENIOR and junior members participated in our weekly swim on Tuesday, February 13.

Our short course specialist the Popcorn Man Joe Ryan won the 30-metre event being 0.15 outside his time while Lilly Sheridan won the 50-metre event being 0.35 outside her time.

Zacary Hill and Darcy Lousick won the junior events and also the Brace relay being 0.66 outside their time.

Results Juniors 30 Metre: 1 Zacary Hill plus 0.53; 2 Darcy Lousick plus 1.00; 3 Ari Lousick minus 2.68.

50 Metre: 1 Darcy Lousick minus 2.41; 2 Zacary Hill plus 4.15; 3 Ari Lousick.

Seniors 30 Metre: 1 Joe Ryan plus 0.15; 2 Shane Lousick plus

0.21; 3 Luke Wykes plus 0.65.

50 Metre: 1 Lilly Sheridan plus 0.35; 2 Janelle Frappell plus 0.41; 3 Colin Sheridan minus 1.00.

Brace Relay: 1 Zacary Hill & Darcy Lousick minus 0.66; 2 Nick Knowles & Lilly Sheridan plus 2.22; 3 Colin Sheridan & Ari Lousick.

The Platypus

16 Thursday February 22, 2024, WELLINGTON & DISTRICT LEADER

Warren Williams won Saturday’s Stableford.

Kevaliers 5up, and Phoenix defeated Wellington Soldiers Memorial Club 3up.

The draw for the final Keirles round: Wuuluman Locksmiths v Lion of Waterloo, Whipper Snippers take on Snipers, Lowes Petroleum take Maulers, Wellington Mowers and Chainsaws v Used Groceries, Dirt Diggers v Wellington Soldiers Memorial Club, Kevaliers v Phoenix.

Points table after 10 rounds: Wellington Mowers and Chainsaws 39.9pts, Pheonix 39.8pts, Whipper Snippers 39.7pts, Kevaliers 35.7pts, Phoenix 34.5pts, Wellington Mowers and Chainsaws 34.4pts, Dirt Diggers 35pts, Snipers 33.3pts, Wuuluman Locksmiths 31.4pts, Lion of Waterloo 31.1pts, Lowes Petroleum 26.7pts, Wellington Soldiers Memorial Club 24.5pts, Maulers 20.5pts, Used Groceries 16.2pts.

If the golf club is closed, please use the VERDI machine located at the rear of the Club on the back verandah.

Nominations are open for the Cornish Trophy and close on March 9, Kiss Trophy nominations close on May 4.

The 19th hole

In Their Sights Fashions Mount Rifle Club results Saturday, February 17 at 500 yards.S. King 116.5; B. Hollow 114.2; L. Hough 112.4; J. Haberecht 110.4; J. Pirie 98.3; N. Brown 97.3.

Next shoot Saturday, March 2 at 600 yards.

The Rifleman Wellington Diggers Swimming Club members attending the Western District AIF Championships in Dubbo on February 11.