It has been great to see the burst of green and gold across Narrabri Shire this week in support of our Paris Olympians Laura Gourley and Shannan Davey.
We are immensely proud of your achievement in gaining a place in our National Olympic Team and continuing to reinforce our place as Australia’s Sportiest Town.
In another local announcement, Eloise Chaplain, born and raised in Narrabri Shire and holding degrees in both engineering and finance, has been appointed as our interim general manager.
Her appointment has been very well-received by staff and the community in general.
Eloise brings a wealth of experience and dedication to the role. I am confident she will steer our operations effectively until we find a permanent replacement.
Last Tuesday, we held our ordinary council meeting with a number of issues being discussed. One item to receive significant feedback from the community was swimming lessons at our local shire pools.
Concerns were raised by swimming teachers and parents about the recent rises in admissions and lane hire fees paid by swimming teachers at our shire swimming centres.
It is essential that we balance the needs of young families to receive affordable swimming lessons with the needs of the broader rate-paying community to keep rates down.
Narrabri Shire ratepayers continue to subsidise the three swimming centres to the tune of $2 million per year or around 88 per cent of the cost of running these important facilities.
However, we need to balance that against the importance of all children in our shire having the opportunity to learn to swim.
Swimming is a very important skill and can ultimately save lives!
Council will continue to discuss this matter at the next ordinary council meeting in August when we will have a full picture of any proposals to subsidise lane hire fees or admissions fees for official swimming lessons.
This week marks Local Government Week, a time to celebrate the vital role that local councils play in our communities.
At a time when public confidence in Australian government is at an all-time low, local government remains the most trusted level of government in Australia.
As part of Local Government Week, I invite everyone to join staff and Youth Council Members at the Narrabri Rotary Markets this Saturday, August 3.
This is a great opportunity to learn more about the many services and projects we are involved in. It’s not just about roads, rates, and rubbish – we play a critical role in enhancing the quality of life for all residents.
I encourage everyone to visit our tent at the markets and engage with us about the future of our shire.
In arts news, we are seeking expressions of interest from artists for a $24,000 sculpture commission, funded by a donation from the Port of Newcastle for the Create Festival.
The sculpture will be situated in council-owned parkland, and we anticipate it will become a significant landmark for our community.
Interested artists should apply online via our website by 5pm on August 16.
The successful artist will be notified by August 25, with the sculpture to be completed by February 15, 2025.
Encourage any artists you know to apply for this exciting opportunity.
The free Tax Help program is now available at the Narrabri Library for eligible residents.
This program runs from July to October and offers assistance with lodging tax returns online, as well as help in creating a MyGov account.
Accredited volunteers will be available by appointment on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Bookings are essential, so please call 6792 3336 to reserve your spot.
This Friday, August 2, marks the Namoi Jobs and Trades Show, held at the Narrabri Racecourse from 9am to 4pm.
This event is an excellent opportunity to explore local employment and career opportunities.
We are proud to support this initiative, and I encourage all community members to attend.
Nominations for the Narrabri Chamber of Commerce Business Awards are closing soon on August 10. This is your chance to recognise and celebrate the outstanding businesses and businesspeople in our community.
The awards ceremony will be held on Saturday, September 14, at The Crossing Theatre. Tickets are available now – don’t miss out on this wonderful event.
A reminder that applications for the Community Financial Assistance Grant are open until August 15.
These grants support projects and activities that contribute to making life better for all of us across our towns and villages.
For more information and to apply, please visit our website.
Finally, all the very best to Laura Gourley and Shannan Davey in their Paris Olympics competitions.
Our entire shire is behind you! Go green and gold!
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