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EDITORIAL

Australia Day a chance to reflect on exceptional community service

In every corner of Australia, community service is placed in the spotlight on Australia Day.
People from all walks of life come together to celebrate achievement at all levels, from the presentation of Australia Day Honours to acknowledging dedication at a community level.
Narrabri Shire has no shortage of great achievers and this was evident at the presentation of local Australia Day awards on Friday morning.
The presentation of awards is a reminder of extraordinary service to the community.
This service takes many forms, through community groups, sporting clubs, achievements and just generally being a person who is both kind in spirit and with time.
There is no greater gift than giving back to the community.
That investment in time is usually returned and more, through the friendships and connections you make while rolling up your sleeves and getting to know your community in greater detail.
Australia Day also serves as a reminder of the great work community and sporting groups provide at a local level.
In towns and cities, small and large, these groups are the glue which keep communities together.
Without these organisations, important services, cultural and sporting activities our communities would be poorer.
From the volunteer firefighters who put their lives on the line to the groups which fundraise for services and facilities, every organisation and individual plays an important role in the fabric of our society.
The greatest gift you can give back to your nation is to volunteer in your community.

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Your Say

We have Jesus helping, equipping and encouraging us to choose life

For a few years, like many people of more mature years, I have been fighting a battle with my weight.
It all started when my doctor told me that if my blood pressure went any higher, he would have to send me to a cardiologist to prescribe stronger medication.
I decided to take responsibility for my health and started to eat more responsibly and exercise more.
I used an app to track daily my weight and food intake.
Over about 18 months my weight went down from 105 kg to 83 kg.
I felt really good about going from XL clothes to L and for the extra energy that I had.
Better still, the doctor did not have to refer me to the specialist.
Then life set in.
The stresses of the COVID period led me to eating more again, especially chocolate.
My parents are elderly and distant, and they both became ill, and that added to the stress eating.
By then I was back in the habit of eating snacks morning, noon and night, and the kilos were piling back on.
When my weight tipped over the 90 kg mark, I decided that enough is enough and it’s time to get back on the wagon.
I decided to discipline my eating habits as I had a few years ago.
Within a couple of days, I had shed more than one kilogram, just by minimising snacks.
Here’s the thing: I knew what I should be doing but I chose not to.
Living for the Lord means that we each must make choices about our lifestyle.
Those are daily choices that either take us closer to the Lord or further from Him.
Often we know what we should or should not do, but the stresses of life can leave us prone to temptation.
In Romans 7, Paul talks about the struggle with sin that we face.
I want to do what is good, but end up doing what is wrong.
He asks: “Who will set me free from this life dominated by sin and death?” the answer, of course is Jesus Christ.
We don’t have to fight with our temptations and addictions alone.
We have Jesus helping, equipping and encouraging us to choose life.
The more we choose His way, the easier it becomes.
That really is good news.

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TOPICAL

Topical 15/5/25

A new logo ‘ReMade in Australia’ was launched in April and is a new brand that identifies genuine products which use recycled content. Products must have a minimum of 20 per cent recycled content, half of which must be Australian-made, to display the logo. It is designed by Dr Kenneth Cato, the same artist who designed the ‘Made in Australia’ logo, which has been around since 1986 and is currently used by more than 4500 businesses. It has helped consumers support local products and has helped Australian businesses to compete against multinational companies.

Topical 1/5/25

‘The little town with the big heart’, Boggabri, once again staged a very successful Drovers Campfire last weekend. The weekend included a variety of entertainment, stalls, bus tours, food stalls, whip cracking, music, raffles, a dog jumping demonstration, billy boiling, art and craft displays and a colouring-in competition and this year for the first time, yabbie races were held. There was something for all ages. Narrabri Shire Council mayor Darrell Tiemens opened the campfire and welcomed visitors and praised the committee and volunteers for organising and hosting the event. The popular drawcard is on caravanners’ calendars which they look forward to coming to each year, with 171 booked in this year. The final event was a fun, trivia night on Sunday night. Next year will be Drovers Campfire’s 20th anniversary and work has already begun to make this event one to remember.

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