Students about to set out on the next stage of their learning journey can apply for a helping hand through the Gunnedah Community Scholarship Fund.

The fund has now opened for applications for local people under 25 who are embarking on their tertiary education adventure.

The Gunnedah Community Scholarship Fund has helped more than 380 Gunnedah students meet some of the costs associated with pursuing their chosen education.

Since the Fund’s inception 19 years ago, more than $370,000 across more than 387 scholarships has been awarded to local students. Scholarships have covered many disciplines including accounting, agriculture, allied health, animal science, law, architecture, arts/theatre, civil engineering, education, information technology, medicine, nursing and social work.

Gunnedah Shire Council is encouraging students currently considering their tertiary study options to apply for the scholarship fund, which is open to all local students under 25 wanting to further their training and education at university, TAFE, or an accredited training organisation.

A scholarship can help with expenses like:

• Purchasing textbooks,
• Relocation and other travel costs,
• Living expenses, and
• Contribution towards tuition fees.

This year, applications have been extended so students have time to wait for their HSC results and UAC offer before applying for a scholarship.
People who have already submitted an Expression of Interest will be contacted by Gunnedah Shire Council. Applications can be submitted HERE.

Applications close at 5pm on Friday, January 28, 2022.

For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Youth Development Team on (02) 6740 2100 or council@infogunnedah.com.au.

Media and communications team contact: (02) 6740 2100.

Gunnedah Shire Council’s administration building, GoCo and the Gunnedah Library will close for the Christmas break at 12pm on Thursday, December 23, and will re-open on Tuesday, January 4.

The Gunnedah Memorial Pool will open every day except for Christmas Day, and the Gunnedah Waste Facility will open each day except for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, with an early closure of 12pm on December 23.

The Civic Theatre will be closed from Friday, December 24 until Tuesday, December 28, and Saturday, January 1.

The Waste Management Facility will close early (12pm) on Thursday 23^rd and is also closed on Christmas Day and New Years Day.

Bins, including recycling bins, will be collected as usual across the Christmas and New Year period.

The Gunnedah Saleyards will cease operations following the sale on Tuesday, December 14 and will reopen for the sale on Tuesday, January 11.

The Visitor Information Centre will be closed on Christmas Day only.

For more details on closures, please see our Christmas Closure Calendar.

Gunnedah Shire Council wishes everyone a wonderful and safe Christmas and New Year break.

For urgent assistance over the Christmas closure, please phone the after hours service on (02) 6740 2100.

Media and communications team contact: (02) 6740 2100.

December 16, 2021

The winners of the Gunnedah Shire Christmas Lights Competition have been decided – and Gunnedah has a new Santa Street!

The bright lights and showmanship of Kurrajong Road have earned the street the coveted title of “Santa Street”, the award given to the most dazzling Gunnedah Shire street of all during the festive season.

The residents of 5 Sanders Place, Gunnedah have again taken the title of Best Decorated House.

The winners of the 2021 Gunnedah Shire Christmas Lights Competition are:
• Santa Street – Kurrajong Road
• Best Decorated House – 5 Sanders Place, Gunnedah
• Best Christmas Theme in a Village – 23 Poole Street, Curlewis
• Judge’s Choice Award (replaced the Nativity Scene category in which there were no entries) – Oak Tree Retirement Village
• Judge’s Choice Award – 21 Kurrajong Road, Gunnedah
• Best Dressed Shopfront Window – Goodness & Gracious

There are still nine nights before Christmas to enjoy the amazing Christmas lights displays in Gunnedah Shire. Oak Tree Retirement Village will have their gates open until 10pm each night up until Christmas to allow people to take a look at the lights, and Santa will visit Oak Tree on the afternoon and evening of Monday, December 20.

There will be a presentation for the Christmas Lights winners at 5.15pm on Tuesday, December 21 in front of the Gunnedah Community Christmas Tree in Brocks Court.

ENDS

Media and communications team contact: (02) 6740 2100.

December 15, 2021

A bold new exhibition about to open in Gunnedah celebrates a success story that has sprung from the pandemic.

Sunsets are More Beautiful at the Farm is an exhibition by Arushi Nayar featuring 20 pieces inspired by her life at a farm in Gunnedah.

Arushi’s work spans performance art, video, photography, painting, music and writing, and the Gunnedah exhibition includes 11 drawings, eight paintings and one video. She has a Bachelor’s degree in fine art from the National Art School in Sydney, and a Bachelor’s degree in mass media and mass communication from Indraprastha College at Delhi University, and her painting and drawings are including in collections across India, Australia, the USA, UK and Dubai.

But the pandemic meant Arushi found herself living in Sydney without a job. She considered returning to family in India, but decided the COVID-19 risks were too great. Then her friend Georgia Byriell invited her to come and stay on a farm in Gunnedah about six months ago.

“It is beautiful, I love the place,” she says. “I love the open skies, the sunsets, the horses and dogs, and the chooks. I’m now the chook lady.
“It’s been a journey.”

Arushi has celebrated that journey in the art which will be on display at the Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery from Saturday, December 18.
She will open the exhibition at 10.30 with a performance piece of her own writing and her own songs, alongside Dominic Goodwin-Hauck, Meg Clowes and Sandra Clark from the Gunnedah Conservatorium.

“The performance is my way of saying thank you to the friend who invited me here, my friends and my family, to Arts North West for the funding through New England North West Creative Projects, and to Gunnedah Shire Council for offering me this opportunity,” she says.

“I feel so grateful to everyone here. It’s not just the sunsets I love, it’s the people. They are very warm and welcoming in the community of Gunnedah.”

Arushi is now looking to make Gunnedah her home permanently.

Sunsets are More Beautiful at the Farm, a solo exhibition by Arushi Nayar, opens with a performance at the Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Centre at 10.30am on Saturday, December 18. The exhibition will continue through January.

Caption: A section of Arushi Nayar’s work Sunsets are More Beautiful at the Farm.

ENDS

Media and communications team contact: (02) 6740 2100.

14 December, 2021

Preparations for Australia Day celebrations across Gunnedah Shire are underway, with president of the National Farmers’ Federation and Liverpool Plains local Fiona Simson announced as Gunnedah Shire’s official ambassador.

A farmer herself, Fiona Simson grew up on a property near Armidale and now resides on the Liverpool Plains. She has created opportunities for more women and young people to become involved in industry, and was instrumental in the launch of the NFF’s first Diversity in Ag Leadership Program in 2018.

Elected in 2016 as the first female President of National Farmers Federation in its 40-year history, she is now leading industry through an exciting period of change and is passionate about the growth and sustainability of rural and regional Australia and agriculture’s role in its future.

As well as a number of government advisory committees, Mrs Simson also chairs the recently established Future Food Systems CRC, is a Commissioner and Chair of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, sits as a Director on the Boards of Australian Made Australian Grown, and NRMA (NSW), and is Patron of National Rural Press Club and Gunnedah Gatepost Community Support Centre.

Gunnedah Shire Council Director of Corporate and Community Services Colin Formann said he was delighted Mrs Simson would be joining celebrations and he encouraged the community to come together and celebrate what it means to be Australian.

“I’m really excited to have Fiona Simson as our Australia Day Ambassador. She has been an impressive advocate for the agricultural industry and in particular women in agriculture, and I am looking forward to meeting her and hearing her story at the awards dinner,” Mr Formann said.

“It’s fantastic to have an ambassador with a strong connection to our local region, who is passionate about rural people and issues and is now helping inspire the next generation of industry leaders.”

Fiona Simson will be sharing her story as the guest of honour at the Australia Day Awards Dinner on Tuesday, January 25, 2022. The dinner will be held at the historic Gunnedah Town Hall and the whole community is invited to attend.

Gunnedah’s Australia Day nominations close at 5pm on Friday, January 14, 2022.

To find out more about the dinner, nominations for Australia Day Awards or other Australia Day activities visit www.thecivic.com.au/live-theatre--events and keep an eye on Gunnedah Shire Council’s Facebook page.

Photo caption: Agricultural industry leader Fiona Simson is Gunnedah’s Australia Day Ambassador for 2022.

ENDS

Media and communications team contact: (02) 6740 2100.

December 13, 2021

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED

2022 will offer an opportunity to start your pets off on the right paw with another Gunnedah visit by the Animal Welfare League’s NSW Mobile Vet Truck (MVT).

The Mobile Vet Truck will be at the Gunnedah Showgrounds on Friday, January 14 and Saturday, January 15, offering free and discounted veterinary services to pensioners and concession card holders.

Gunnedah Shire residents can bring their pet along for free microchipping and health checks, with vaccinations also available at a discounted rate of $20.

The Animal Welfare League NSW has a 60-year history of providing expert care to animals.

The Animal Welfare League Mobile Vet Truck will be at the Gunnedah Showground South Street entrance between 8am and 4pm on January 14 and 15. No appointments are necessary.

The service will be available to Gunnedah Shire pensioner and concession card holders. Owners are asked to ensure cats are transported in a carrier cage, with dogs to be kept on a lead. Litters are not permitted, and services will be limited to three pets per household.

For more information contact Animal Welfare League NSW on community@awlnsw.com.au or Gunnedah Shire Council on (02) 6740 2100.

ENDS

Caption: The Animal Welfare League NSW Mobile Vet Truck made a successful visit to Gunnedah earlier this year.

Media and communications team contact: (02) 6740 2100.

December 8, 2021

Gunnedah’s new Koala Sanctuary has reached an exciting milestone with the news the development application has been approved by the NSW Government.

Gunnedah Shire Council submitted the application to the NSW Northern Regional Planning Panel in March and remains committed to bringing this important project to life despite the worldwide challenges 2021 has brought.

Gunnedah Shire Council Acting General Manager Colin Formann said the approval was good news for Gunnedah.

“Approval of the development application is the tick that was needed to allow Gunnedah Shire Council to go ahead with construction of the Koala Sanctuary,” Mr Formann said.

“Council continues to look at options for the eventual operation of the sanctuary, a process that will run alongside construction.

“We remain very positive about this project and what it will mean for both koala conservation and tourism in Gunnedah.”

The development application included plans for a koala hospital, a camping ground, accommodation and other activities.

Preliminary preparation work is already underway on the 50-acre bushland site on the Oxley Highway, and 10,000 koala food trees have been planted.

The Gunnedah Koala Sanctuary project secured $6.48 million through the NSW Government’s Regional Social Benefit Infrastructure Fund.

Caption: Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey and Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson at the Koala Sanctuary site earlier this year.

ENDS

Media and communications team contact: (02) 6740 2100.

December 6, 2021

A landmark meeting of Gunnedah doctors to consider potential short, medium and long-term strategies to address the shortage of GPs in Gunnedah Shire will take place on December 14.

The doctors will consider a range of strategies proposed by a working group established to find lasting solutions to Gunnedah’s GP workforce crisis.

Gunnedah Shire Council engaged the Rural Doctors Network NSW (RDN NSW) late last year to develop a way forward for a sustainable GP workforce, including ways to attract and retain GPs.

The working group includes representatives of NSW Rural Doctors Network, Hunter New England Central Coast Primary Health Network, GP Synergy, Hunter New England Local Health District and Gunnedah Shire Council.

Chair of the working group, Dr Estrella Lowe from RDN, said the December 14 meeting was a critical step in building a practical action plan for Gunnedah.

“Following A State of Play report on the current situation and a survey of the Gunnedah Shire Community, the working group has put together a number of strategies we believe could lead to long-term results,” Dr Lowe said.

“It is very apparent that the people of Gunnedah Shire have too few local GPs to meet their needs and the point of this meeting is to present those strategies to the hard-working people on the ground – Gunnedah’s doctors – to find with them an agreed way forward.

“This is about not only finding solutions but working together to make those solutions practical and achievable. We need to know what is likely to work, what is still missing and how best to put the solutions into action.

“It’s exciting to be at this point and we are looking forward to a plan that has our health professionals on board and excited about the future of primary health care for Gunnedah Shire.”

Both the State of Play report and the Gunnedah Shire community survey have also been submitted to the ongoing NSW Government Upper House Inquiry into Rural Health Services.

ENDS

Media and communications team contact: (02) 6740 2100.

December 3, 2021

Gunnedah Shire Council is offering free waste collection and disposal to help residents clear flood damaged residential and household goods from their properties.

Items eligible for collection include old furniture, whitegoods and general sorted domestic waste.

Ineligible items include chemicals, liquid waste, commercial waste, mixed building waste, asbestos containing materials and medical waste.

A bulky waste collection will be conducted next week between Monday and Friday for flood impacted Gunnedah streets. Residents should ensure waste is left kerbside before Monday.

Bulky waste will be collected from flood impacted parts of the following streets between Monday December 6 and Friday December 10:

• Maitland St
• Bloomfield St
• Warrabungle St
• Tempest St
• Abbott St
• Conadilly St
• Little Conadilly St
• Little Bloomfield St
• Conadilly St
• Chandos St
• Marquis St
• Elgin St
• Henry St
• Osric St
• Old Tamworth Rd
• Finch St
• Weaver St
• Talibah St
• Lochrey Rd
• Wenworth St
• Rosemary St

Disposal fees will also be waived for those in rural areas and others wishing to take flood waste directly to the Gunnedah Waste Management Facility until December 18. Residents will be required to complete a declaration form before depositing their waste.

Anyone who has already deposited flood related waste at the Waste Management Facility will be eligible for a refund. Please take your receipt to Council’s Elgin Street Administration Building or phone (02) 67402100 to arrange this.

A copy of the declaration form is available here. Please note residents will need to provide a declaration form in order for someone to deliver material on their behalf.

A Natural Disaster Declaration has now been made for 38 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across NSW, including Gunnedah LGA, with extensions to include further LGAs expected later this week.

Assistance activated by the Natural Disaster Declaration includes:

• Help for eligible people whose homes or belongings have been damaged;
• Support for affected local councils to help with the cost of cleaning up and restoring damaged essential public assets;
• Concessional interest rate loans for small businesses, primary producers and non-profit organisations;
• Freight subsidies for primary producers; and
• Grants to non-profit organisations.

Anyone still requiring immediate assistance should contact the SES on 132 500. This includes any member of community who was unable to attend the Evacuation Centre and still needs to be referred to Department of Communities Justice for emergency accommodation.

A significant amount of work is continuing to undertake impact assessments, including impacts on infrastructure and community assets, waste and environmental impact, agricultural and animal impacts, and impacts to households and community wellbeing. 

Please take care if attempting to clean up prior to a structural (engineering and electrical) assessment being completed, and remember to photograph as much as possible to assist with potential insurance claims or grant applications.

More information about returning to your property after a flood is available on the SES website.

Resilience NSW is working closely with Gunnedah Shire Council and partner agencies to ensure the community is supported in their recovery from recent severe storm and flood events. This will include the establishment of a Local Recovery Committee.

Residents can log on to the on to the Service NSW website and search ‘Disaster Assistance Finder’ or phone Service NSW on 13 77 88 for a range of services and supports including how to apply for Resilience NSW’s Disaster Relief Grants program.