Council News 5 June 2019

COUNCIL NEWS 5 JUNE 2019

The 62nd annual Henry Lawson Festival of the Arts will be held this weekend the 6 – 10 June, 2019.   The festival is always the highlight of the year for Grenfell and this years event is shaping up to be one of the best.  From the various school events to the opening of the Art and Porcelain Exhibition on Thursday evening sees a huge variety of exhibitions, events and entertainment for all ages.  The theme for this years festival is ‘Ode to Winter”. The official opening of the Festival will be performed by our special guest for 2019 Inga Simpson who was a local and is an accomplished writer. The regular events for the festival will also be on show including the children’s rides, street procession, street entertainers and the car show on Sunday. The Henry Lawson Statue will no doubt again be very popular with locals and the many visitors that will be in Grenfell for the weekend.   Everyone is encouraged to come along and get involved in the weekend and enjoy the numerous events and activities that the festival weekend has to offer. 

The festival themed banners have been erected along Grenfell’s Main and Camp Streets. Similar to the lead-up events, the banners create interest in the festival and help get everyone into the festival spirit.

As residents may be aware a toxic fumigation product was placed in the domestic skip bin at the Grenfell Waste Facility last week.

The situation required the closure of the facility to ensure community and operator safety and required specialized services for clearance of the hazardous material. The irresponsible actions compromised the health and safety of Councils staff, contractor and community users with staff and the contractor requiring assessment and clearance by health professionals.

NSW Fire and Rescue were called and responded to the Hazardous Material Incident which required the use of specialised protective suits and breathing apparatus. The hazardous material was removed and disposed of appropriately with the site then declared safe.

Thank you to Council Staff and the Captain and Crew of Grenfell Fire Station 308 for their cooperation and the professional manner in which the incident was managed.

Council will continue its investigations regarding the identification of the person or persons involved in the placement of the material and may consider legal action regarding the incident.

Riverina Nationals’ MP and Deputy Prime Minister the Hon Michael McCormack MP has lauded the efforts of volunteers as champions of their local communities which is very timely with many local volunteers assisting with the upcoming Henry Lawson Festival.

Mr McCormack advised that volunteers are champions of their local communities and whether it is helping out the local sporting club, assisting our most vulnerable or putting time in recovery efforts after a significant storm, these selfless individuals play an essential role in helping to shape rural and regional Australia. They also help to build resilience in our towns and the Federal Government recognises these efforts by providing grants through its Volunteer Grants Program.

The grants, which range from $1,000 to $5,000, make such a tangible difference for volunteer organisations to be able to continue the invaluable work they do in our communities.

Further information regarding the Volunteer Grants program can be obtained by visiting www.communitygrants.gov.au/grants/volunteer-grants-2018

Member for Cootamundra the Hon Steph Cooke MP has announced the expansion of a grants program which will see more children being able to access upgraded facilities and a wider range of education experiences.

The NSW Government’s Quality Learning Environments and Community Grants programs will now be extended to include not-for-profit long day care centres as well as community preschools.

The program has already awarded more than 770 payments to preschools across the State to fund renovations and repairs, the purchase of particular infrastructure items, and specialised educational programs and activities like yoga or dance classes. Grants of up to $10,000 can be applied for.

Ms Cooke is urging eligible long day care centres to consider applying for the grants, which will help ensure children in our region have access to the best-quality early education experience.

Applications for the Quality Learning Environments grants and Community Grants will open this month.

Member for Cootamundra the Hon Steph Cooke MP is also calling on all cricket clubs in the electorate to consider applying for a share in a $2 million commitment to the sport’s grassroots level. Cricket clubs and councils can apply for grants thanks to Round 2 of the NSW ICC T20 World Cup 2020 Cricket Legacy Fund.

The NSW Government has ensured grassroots cricket in regional and suburban areas benefits from NSW hosting games at the women’s and men’s ICC T20 World Cup tournaments. The NSW ICC T20 World Cup 2020 Legacy Fund enables clubs and councils in the Cootamundra electorate to improve cricket facilities, increase participation and attract major cricket events.

The T20 Legacy Fund is about giving back to local cricket clubs. Clubs, associations and Councils in the Cootamundra electorate are encouraged to take advantage of this once in a generation opportunity.

Applications for the NSW ICC T20 World Cup 2020 Legacy Fund are open until July 8.

For further information on the Legacy Fund visit: https://sport.nsw.gov.au/clubs/grants/t20worldcupfund  

A Single Touch Payroll Workshop will be held at the Grenfell Bowling Club on Tuesday 18th June, 2019.

Businesses with 1-19 employees will need to report to the ATO using Single Touch Payroll from July 1st 2019. Details regarding the workshop are as follows:

Free Workshops are being held to help you prepare. Workshops are customized to suit the software you work with. Free and low-cost alternatives will also be discussed. The workshop will be held Tuesday 18th June 2019, 6pm at the Grenfell Bowling Club

To make a booking Ph: 1300 232 249 or email

Council has been advised that free first aid training for primary producers and farm workers in Caragabal will be available on Wednesday 12 June, 2019 from 8.30am – 4.30pm.

The free Farm First Aid Training will be held at the Caragabal Country Club and aims to develop valuable first aid skills and improve safety on your farm or rural workplace.

Places are strictly limited and to register visit www.nalag.org.au/farmfirstaid

The new exhibition at the Grenfell Art Gallery is the Henry Lawson Festival of Arts – Competition and Exhibition which will be on display from 6 to 10 June, 2019.

The Art Competition is one of the premier events on the festival program and is your opportunity to see some exceptional quality works of art in a quality gallery setting.

The Official Opening of the Henry Lawson Festival of Arts annual Art Exhibition will be held at the Grenfell Art Gallery at 7pm on Thursday 6th June 2019 and residents are welcome to attend.

The next film to be screened at the Grenfell Cinema will be after the Henry Lawson Festival.

Dates to Note

Friday 14 June 2019 - Recycling Collection (Grenfell East)

Monday 17 June 2019 - Recycling Collection (Grenfell West)

 

Street Stalls

Thursday 6 June 2019 – Henry Lawson Festival Committee

PO BOX 125                                                                                                AUTHORISED BY

GRENFELL                                                                                                   GLENN CARROLL

                                                                                                                     GENERAL MANAGER