12 August, 2020

Gunnedah Shire Council has taken out top honours in two categories at this year’s Local Government Awards, for librarian Christiane Birkett’s outstanding individual contribution and the Rainbow Serpent Water Feature Project.

Gunnedah Shire Librarian Christiane Birkett received the RH Dougherty Award for Outstanding Individual Contribution, with the award recognising and encouraging greater understanding and communication by councils with the communities they serve.

Under the leadership of Mrs Birkett, the Gunnedah Shire Library has delivered several award winning programs to the Gunnedah community. Most recently the Brain Training Expanded program was recognised in the NSW Local Government Excellence Awards for continued delivery to seniors during the COVID-19 library closure period.

Judges of the RH Dougherty awards commented, “[w]hat a great person Christiane Birkett is! Her passion to assist the community in particular to impart knowledge and her love, obviously, for books! The Brain Training initiative is a great idea! A great success story indeed.”

Council’s Rainbow Serpent Water Feature Project was also successful, receiving the Leo Kelly OAM Arts and Culture Award which celebrates outstanding achievement by local government organisations in strategic planning for arts and culture.

Judges commented that the water feature is “[a]n extraordinary story of persistence and admirable Aboriginal-led art. The capacity to engage not only with the women creating the sculpture but the support of the community is innovative.”

Cultural Precinct Team Leader Lauren Mackley said that Council is honoured to be recognised for this important cultural initiative, and acknowledged the efforts of local Kamilaroi artists in bringing the project to life.

“Shirley Long, Janet Wanless, Delma Jones, Ellen Draper, Gloria Foley, June Cox, Alison Cox, Rita Long and Cindy Foley advocated for the completion of this project for almost 20 years,” Ms Mackley said.

“The water feature is now permanently installed in front of the Cultural Precinct as a celebrated cultural asset that preserves and celebrates the culture, history and experiences of these strong and determined women.”

The Rainbow Serpent Water Feature is positioned outside The Civic Theatre on Chandos Street as a part of Gunnedah’s Cultural Precinct. This is a permanent structure and is open for the community to visit.

To learn more about library programs and initiatives, contact the library on (02) 6740 2190.

Photo Caption: (From left to right) Artist Gloria Foley, Cr Owen Hasler and Cultural Precinct Team Leader Lauren Mackley, alongside the completed water feature.

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Media contact: Eliza Gallen (02) 6740 2100.

August 11, 2020

Another three projects submitted during a Gunnedah Shire Council call for community resilience projects will go ahead with significant benefits for the community.

Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey said he was pleased to announce Carroll Progress Association, Gunnedah Tennis Club, and the Gunnedah Urban Landcare Group had been granted funding through the Federal Government’s Drought Communities Program.

“We called for new projects late last year to stimulate local spending, provide employment and use local businesses and suppliers while delivering a long-lasting public benefit,” Cr Chaffey said.

“These are three of the wonderful projects that met those requirements.

“It’s exciting to see the Carroll Sportsground on its way to being restored as the heart of the sporting community in Carroll. Congratulations to the Carroll Progress Association for taking on this project which will have not only sporting benefits, but will provide a gathering place and make the Carroll community even stronger.

“The Gunnedah Tennis Club has also come up with a great project to install LED lighting at the popular Wolseley Park courts. This will mean greater energy efficiency, more even lighting and less light spill for nearby residents. Gunnedah has some great tennis talent, and this will make the courts better for both those who are heading for big things, and those who just want to have a bit of fun.

“I would also like to congratulate the Gunnedah Urban Landcare Group (GULG) on their projects to improve the popular walking and recreation areas of Porcupine Reserve and Pensioners Hill Reserve.

“The initiative includes rehabilitation of some of the Porcupine walking track, installing bollards at the perimeter of the reserve to prevent four-wheel-drive damage, and new directional signs.

“At Pensioners Hill, GULG have created new garden beds with native plants and installed a new eagle bench which is a work of art.

“Gunnedah Shire Council is really pleased to have been able to work with these groups to secure federal funding through the Drought Communities Program, and we look forward to the results.

“These are projects that are help to build our resilience during times of drought and beyond.”

Photo Caption: Gunnedah Mayor Jamie Chaffey and Deputy Mayor Rob Hooke with Gunnedah Urban Landcare Group chair Mark Kesby (left) and member George Truman (right).

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Media contact: Eliza Gallen (02) 6740 2100.

August 11, 2020

Gunnedah Shire Council is offering groups and individuals the opportunity to have a piece of Gunnedah’s history in your home.

The seating has been replaced at the Civic Cinema, and the old chairs are now up for sale.

Gunnedah Shire Council Cultural Precinct Team Leader Lauren Mackley said the royal red chairs were first installed nearly 20 years ago, in 2001 when the Civic was first built.

“Going to the movies has always been a much-loved part of life,” Ms Mackley said.

“These seats have given cinema-goers a front row (and a back row) seat for classic cinema moments from Shrek to The Notebook and King Kong.

“The chairs are part of Gunnedah’s history, from a child’s first performance to their first time seeing a movie on the big screen.”

There will be three viewing days for individuals and community groups who are interested in purchasing chairs.

Individuals and groups must prebook a ticket for the viewing days on Seat Advisor through the ‘Buy tickets’ link at www.thecivic.com.au

The viewing days and times will be:
• 3.30-5.30pm Monday, August 17
• 3.30-5.30pm Tuesday, August 18
• 3.30-5.30pm Wednesday, August 19.

Chairs will be for sale and collection. The purchaser must organise their own removal and transport. A nominal fee will be charged for each seat depending on the amount of seats purchased and the chairs condition.

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Media contact: Eliza Gallen (02) 6740 2100.

August 11, 2020

An innovative exhibition inspired by the importance of space in artworks will open at the Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery on Friday, August 21.

“The Space Between” is an exhibition by Hayley Ward and Patricia Petersen that explores the use of space within a painting based on ideas and philosophies from Asia.

Patricia Petersen has just returned from studying significant contemporary Asian ink brushwork artists in Singapore, China and Japan, which inspired her artworks.
“I have always been fascinated by the Asian concept of giving respect and equal importance to the painted and unpainted space of a painting,” Patricia said.

“Traditionally, the painted area can be seen to energise the white space. Paul Gauguin, who was influenced by Japanese wood block prints stated that ‘The most important in art is what is not stated’.”

Hayley Ward explores the Japanese practice of Boro and the concept of Wabi-Sabi using found objects and encaustic wax paint.

Boro are well-used Japanese textiles that have been mended or patched together using sashiko (little stabs) stitching. Wabi-Sabi relates to a particular Japanese aesthetic and celebrates the earthy, imperfect and variegated.

“I hope to bring attention to the overlooked beauty of worn and discarded objects that are no longer valued and to encourage people to reassess our throwaway culture,” Hayley Ward said.

What: “The Space Between” Exhibition 2020
Official Opening: 6pm Friday, 21st August, 2020
Exhibition continues until: Friday, 18th September, 2020

Light refreshments provided.

Free tickets can be booked through the “Buy Tickets” link at www.thecivic.com.au Gunnedah Shire Council is asking guests to book a free ticket to attend the opening to ensure COVIDSafe protocols.

Captions:
Patricia Petersen works on an artwork

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Media contact: Eliza Gallen (02) 6740 2100.

5 August, 2020

Gunnedah Shire Library has demonstrated the theme of this year’s Local Government Week celebrations: Councils do, helping the community learn, discover and access services despite the challenges of COVID-19.

The library’s efforts during the COVID-19 closure have been formally recognised, with Brain Training Expanded achieving Highly Commended in the NSW Local Government Excellence Awards in the category of Special Delivery Initiative.

During the lockdown period the library team continued to deliver the Brain Training program to seniors, hand delivering resources to retirement villages, nursing homes and other residences across the Shire.

Gunnedah Shire Librarian Christiane Birkett said that Brain Training was designed as a form of ‘mental gymnastics’, helping engage and stimulate seniors throughout the isolation period.

“During the time the library was closed to the public we delivered 279 brain training programs a week,” Mrs Birkett said.

“Now that the library has reopened to the public we are running Brain Training again in person, and participants are enjoying the social aspect of being back in the library.

“It is just fantastic to see people using our library, whether physically or remotely, and enjoying lifelong learning opportunities.”

Rose Newall, a Brain Training participant said while some of the timed activities like colouring with your left hand were challenging, the program was good fun and gave her something to think about while in isolation.

“This library has done so much for me personally, I normally visit 3-4 times a week so I appreciated having these services delivered to me at home,” Mrs Newall said.

Brain training was one of many programs that continued to run throughout the shutdown period. Library staff members were busy behind the scenes with a variety of projects, including:

• Organising more than 5000 weekly activity packs for both adults and children,
• Hand delivering more than 1000 library loans during the month of April, and
• Collaborating with Arts North West for the Panorama Project, helping the Gunnedah community document and exhibit their unique experiences during this challenging time.

Those wishing to participate in upcoming library programs are encouraged to phone the library to book their space, with groups capped due to COVID-19 restrictions.

For further information about library services, contact the library team on (02) 6740 2190.

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Media contact: Eliza Gallen (02) 6740 2100.

August 4, 2020

“Councils do” is the theme for Local Government Week 2020, a theme that has never been more relevant than during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Local Government Week, which this year runs from August 3 to August 9, is designed to showcase the work councils do in their local communities, including the wide variety of services they provide.

Gunnedah Shire Council general manager Eric Groth said the top two priorities of Council during the Coronavirus were the health and safety of the community, and the continuation of Council’s essential services.

“COVID-19 has proven a rapid learning curve for everyone,” Mr Groth said.

“Gunnedah Shire Council is an integral part of the community, and has a responsibility as a leader in our Shire.

“I’m proud of the way our Council and our community has not only faced this significant challenge, but has found new and innovative ways to operate, some of which are likely to have benefits long after this pandemic is over.

“Council’s role goes beyond roads, rates and rubbish to many other services that are part of our everyday lives, like the aged care provided by GoCo, the parks and sporting facilities, the cultural precinct and library and, this year in particular, support and assistance for business development.

“Council has taken a lead role in ensuring the Shire’s economic future through programs such as Invigorate Gunnedah alongside grants for businesses and sports and community groups.”

Fast facts from Gunnedah Shire Council’s 2019-20 year:
• Top movie – The Lion King, followed by Frozen II and Toy Story 4.
• Best attended exhibition – Sirens of Gunnedah with 2705 patrons.
• An average of 789 patrons attended exhibitions, 660 people booked for live shows and 609 meetings were booked at the Cultural Precinct.
• 7584 visitors attended the Visitor Information Centre in 2019-20
• Gunnedah’s favourite author was Nora Roberts.
• During the lockdown period of April-May 2020, 2194 activity bags were delivered or picked up at Gunnedah Library
• During the lockdown period of April-June, 2020, participants in the Library’s Brain Training program soared from 182 (January-March) to 1189.
• 35,217 people delivered waste to the Gunnedah Waste Facility.
• 1992 people visited the Bower Bird shop.
• The busiest month at the Gunnedah Waste Facility was April, with 3230 visitors – 356 more than April 2019 (before Coronavirus)

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Media Contact: Eliza Gallen (02) 6740 2100.

August 3, 2020

Two exciting new mural projects and improvements to a preschool are three of the projects included in new funding following Gunnedah Shire Council’s call for new community resilience projects late last year.

Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey said the Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society, Ooranga and Arts Gunnedah had been granted funding through the Federal Government’s Drought Communities Program.

“These are three really exciting and worthwhile projects that were nominated through our call for new projects to stimulate local spending, provide employment and use local businesses and supplier while delivering a long-lasting public benefit,” Cr Chaffey said.

“It is fantastic they have been approved by the Federal Government.

“The Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society has worked with Gunnedah Maize Mill to come up with a plan for a new silo mural to feature one of Australia’s best-loved poets, Dorothea Mackellar. This will be a wonderful addition to our appeal on the silo trail along with the popular mural already at Gunnedah’s Water Tower Museum.

“Arts Gunnedah will also create a new street art mural to follow on from those in place at the Conadilly Street arcade. This community project involves a number of artists and members of the community.

“Ooranga was successful in securing funding for upgraded facilities at Curlewis Preschool, including new toilet facilities. This preschool is an important service in the Curlewis community.

“All of these projects are initiatives that have far-reaching benefits for the community, and include employment or use of local businesses.

“We are very pleased to have been able to work with the Federal Government to support these and many other projects, and thank our federal colleagues for helping us to build our resilience during the time of drought and beyond.”

Captions: Gunnedah Maize Mill's Stephen Dangerfield and Gunnedah Mayor Jamie Chaffey with Phillipa Murray and Owen Hasler from the Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society at the site of the new Dorothea Mackellar silo mural.

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Media contact: Eliza Gallen (02) 6740 2100.

31 July 2020

Gunnedah Shire Council has welcomed Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson's announcement of $9 million for the upgrade of Rangari Road, but note with surprise and disappointment the amount falls short of meeting Mr Anderson's election commitment.

Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey said $12.9 million was required to improve the safety and conditions of Rangari Road, an important regional link road as well as a daily transport route for those who live in the area.

"Council acknowledges and thanks the State Government for its continued support of our community, and the region, with the announcement of the funding which complements the funding announced for Kelvin Road," Mayor Chaffey said.

"These two announcements will ensure the remainder of Kelvin Road and the length of Rangari Road from its intersection with Kelvin Road, will be sealed to the boundary with Tamworth Regional Council.

“Two years ago, Council applied under the Resources for Regions Program, in partnership with Tamworth Regional Council, to seal the entire length of Rangari Road within the two local government areas. We were then advised that our application had been withdrawn from consideration due to the project being funded by Transport for NSW, following the local member’s election commitment. Unfortunately, it appears only part of that funding has materialised at this stage.

"Council looks forward to receiving further detail on the announced funding, finalising a funding deed with the NSW Government and commencing the works as soon as possible.

“We also look forward to continuing to work with the Member for Tamworth to secure the remaining required funding to seal the section remaining unfunded within Gunnedah Shire, along with the promised ‘State of the Art’ Gunnedah Hospital.

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Media contact: Eliza Gallen (02) 6740 2100.

29 July, 2020

As the temperature drops, Gunnedah Shire Council is reminding residents to check regulations before lighting backyard fires, following a recent increase in reports of smoke pollution.

Backyard burning and the incineration of waste are prohibited throughout the Shire, though there are some exceptions in areas where no domestic waste collection service is available.

Where backyard burning is prohibited, there are some situations where fires can still be lit outside in NSW. These include:

• Barbecues or camping,
• Eligible hazard reduction work,
• Certain agricultural purposes, and
• Authorised fire-fighting training.

Council Coordinator of Regulatory Services Wade Berryman said Council’s Burning of Vegetation Policy sets out safe practices for backyard burning to help protect resident’s health and the environment.

“Backyard barbeques and toasting marshmallows on the fire pit are still allowed, but it is important to operate them in the correct way. Using only dry wood and starting the fire with small kindling will help reduce excessive smoke,” Mr Berryman said.

“Burning household rubbish and green waste should be avoided, unless you live in an area where there is no waste collection service.

“Smoke pollution can cause health effects for both you and your neighbours. These effects may include itchy or burning eyes, throat irritations and other more serious conditions.

“People are sometimes unaware that their activities are causing a nuisance, so please check the regulations before going ahead with a burn to ensure it is being conducted safely and won’t attract penalties or fines.”

To obtain a fire permit or report an issue with smoke pollution, visit www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au or phone Council on (02) 6740 2100.

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Media contact: Eliza Gallen (02) 6740 2100.

27 July, 2020

The arrival of a new Council purchasing and procurement platform has been met with enthusiasm by local businesses.

Gunnedah Shire Council launched its partnership with VendorPanel at a business breakfast last week, attended by more than 50 people.

Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey said it was great to see a solid representation from a large range of industries at the breakfast.

“The number of people who made it to the breakfast event showed there is a demand for this innovative platform where businesses can list themselves on a register available to councils across the Namoi region and beyond,” Cr Chaffey said.

“VendorPanel allows staff from the Walcha, Tamworth, Liverpool Plains, Gunnedah and Gwydir councils to find and select registered local and regional businesses.

“This is an exciting opportunity for any registered business that might have a service or product required by local government – from builders to caterers, and from water services to advertising – to ensure they are considered by local government.

“I urge any businesses that might benefit to book in for a virtual information sessions on Tuesday, July 28 at 9am or 6pm or Wednesday, July 29 at 9am or 6pm to learn more about how to register.

“Bookings are already strong for these events, and we would like to see as many suppliers as possible register. It is free to register and is open to any registered business.

“VendorPanel is one of the strong measures Gunnedah Shire Council is taking to ensure our businesses – and our economy – remain resilient during this challenging time. We have also recently announced the Invigorate Gunnedah package with a range of community and business initiatives to support revitalisation throughout the Shire. Along with programs such as the Section 356 Community and Sports Small Grant program, Council is doing its utmost to ensure we continue to grow and diversify, both in our economy and our community life.

To register for the VendorPanel information sessions, visit https://gunnedahshire.localised.com.au/ and scroll to the Newest Projects section.

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Media contact: Eliza Gallen (02) 6740 2100.