There is a user-friendly pack of information that guides people through four simple steps to making your bush fire survival plan. Please contact the local RFB education officer Liz Read or visit their Facebook page to join up.

The newly elected Upper Lachlan Shire Council met on September 22 with five re-elected councillors (McCormack, Culhane, O’Brien, Searl and Wheelwright) and four newcomers (Cummins, Kensit, Opie and Stafford).

Cr Brian McCormack was elected Mayor defeating Cr John Stafford, the latter then being elected as Deputy Mayor defeating Cr James Wheelwright, previous Deputy Mayor. Former Cr Malcolm Barlow was unsuccessful in the election, but his contribution to the council’s work was gratefully acknowledged by John Shaw in his final address to the meeting. 

Mr Barlow, well known for his spirited opposition to wind farms, was given the floor for a short address. He implored the new council to fight for increased community contributions from wind farms, asserting that from those in place and planned, if 5 per cent of their income came to the Shire, the total would be equal to about 25 per cent of its annual budget, each year. He also was scornful of new proposed guidelines for wind farm towers with no legislated set backs from residences and no requirement for each to be erected as per approved plans. His final plea was for the council to deal with ‘weekend warriors’ on good agricultural land but with no building entitlements.

Incidentally the Cullerin Range Wind Farm is seeking expressions of interest in becoming a community representative on its Community Fund 355 Committee. The deadline is October 21.

Do you want to serve on the council’s tourism committee? If so register your interest by October 7 (AGM on October 11 in Crookwell at 1pm).

The council is holding a meeting in Gunning, October 19 at the Old Fire Control Centre, 4-7pm, to help shape a 10-year plan to improve and integrate walking and cycling routes and infrastructure. There will also be an online survey. 

These opportunities could be part of the push that the new Gunning District Association might grab with both hands. The inaugural AGM for this new organisation is on Wednesday, October 12 at 7pm in Foley Centre.

The successful students at the recent Lions Primary School Public Speaking contest were Harry Knight (Year 4 Gunning); Breea Waters (Year 5 Gunning) and Elyah Taylor (Year 6 Collector). Judges were Jacquie Adams, Carmel Hills and Alison Colebrook with speakers from Breadalbane, Collector, Dalton and Gunning schools.

John Oke, President of the Lions Club said “...(it) was an eye opener for me. The standard was excellent and it is good to see young children participating in such an event.”