NEW CITIZENS & AUSTRALIA DAY AWARD WINNERS FOR 2023

/by

Wentworth Shire Council has welcomed three new citizens to Australia and announced the Australia Day Award winners at their Ceremony held at the Coomealla Memorial Sporting Club in Dareton on 25 January 2023.

The Australia Day 2023 Awards had very worthy nominees, each of whom have made outstanding contributions to the community through volunteering, sports, culture and the environment. Nominees for the Citizen of the Year award included Ross Hall, Clair Bates, Gwen Wilkinson and Jan White.

The Wentworth Shire Council 2023 Citizen of the year is Gwen Wilkinson. Gwen is a Life Member of the Gol Gol Rural Fire Service, a wildlife carer for almost 35 years with Sunraysia Wildlife Carers Group and an extremely active member at the Australian Inland Botanic Gardens since 2012.

Other award winners on the night included Daniel Hawkins, Young Citizen of the Year, Bec Marshall Sportsperson of the Year, Kalesita Burton Young Sportsperson of the Year.

Mayor Tim Elstone also conferred citizenship on Miss Anna Kuus, Mrs Brooke Mobilio and Ms Ludivina Macalla.

Mayor of Wentworth Shire, Cr Tim Elstone said “On behalf of the Wentworth Shire community, I warmly welcome our new citizens to the Wentworth Shire and to Australia. I also congratulate the 2023 award winners and of course, all of the deserving nominees. I would also like to acknowledge those who took the time to submit such worthy nominations. In addition, I would like to thank our Australia Day Ambassador, Dr. Clio Cresswell and Senator Perin Davey for being part of our celebrations. It was a pleasure to have them attend.

Citizen of the Year Gwen Wilkinson - pictured with Mayor of Wentworth Shire Cr Tim Elstone & Australia Day Ambassador Dr Clio Cresswell
Citizen of the Year Gwen Wilkinson – pictured with Mayor of Wentworth Shire Cr Tim Elstone & Australia Day Ambassador Dr Clio Cresswell
2023 Australia Day Award Winners – – pictured with Mayor of Wentworth Shire Cr Tim Elstone, Senator Perin Davey & Australia Day Ambassador Dr Clio Cresswell
2023 Citizen of the Year Nominees – pictured with Mayor of Wentworth Shire Cr Tim Elstone & Australia Day Ambassador Dr Clio Cresswell
Sportsperson of the Year – Rebecca (Bec) Marshal – pictured with Mayor of Wentworth Shire Cr Tim Elstone & Australia Day Ambassador Dr Clio Cresswell
Young Citizen of the Year – Daniel Hawkins – pictured with Mayor of Wentworth Shire Cr Tim Elstone & Australia Day Ambassador Dr Clio Cresswell
Young Sportsperson of the Year – Kalesita Burton – – pictured with Mayor of Wentworth Shire Cr Tim Elstone & Australia Day Ambassador Dr Clio Cresswell
Citizen of the Year Nominee – Jan White – pictured with Mayor of Wentworth Shire Cr Tim Elstone & Australia Day Ambassador Dr Clio Cresswell
Senator Perin Davey & Cr Daniel Linklater Deputy Mayor for Wentworth Shire Council
Citizen of the Year – Ross Hall – pictured with Mayor of Wentworth Shire Cr Tim Elstone & Australia Day Ambassador Dr Clio Cresswell
New Australian Citizens – pictured with Australia Day Ambassador Dr Clio Cresswell, Mayor of Wentworth Shire Cr Tim Elstone & Senator Perin Davey

Wentworth Shire to welcome new citizens

/by

Three Wentworth Shire residents will become its newest citizens during a special citizenship ceremony at Coomealla Memorial Sporting Club in Dareton this Australia Day Eve, Wednesday 25 January 2023 from 6:00pm.

Wentworth Shire Mayor, Cr Tim Elstone said: “Our new will join thousands of other Australians who are celebrating their citizenship. They will contribute their skills and cultural diversity to our local community, and enrich it through their hard work and participation in public life.”

Mayor Elstone will preside over the ceremony, which will also include the Australia Day Awards Ceremony and a Welcome to Country by Arthur Kirby from Barkindji Maraura Elders Environment Team (BMEET).

Other events to celebrate Australia Day on Thursday 26 January 2023 will include:

Breakfast in the Australian Inland Botanic Gardens

A breakfast cooked by the Buronga Gol Gol Lions Club in the picturesque Australian Inland Botanic Gardens commencing from 8:00am.

Pooncarie – Breakfast in Pioneers Memorial Park

The Pooncarie and District Development Association will hold a breakfast in Pioneers Memorial Park, Pooncarie commencing from 8:00am.

Dareton Community Brunch in the Park

The Dareton Coomealla Namatjira Community Action Group will hold a brunch in Tapio Park, Dareton commencing from 10:00am.

“I encourage everyone to not only enjoy Australia Day festivities, but to take time and reflect on what it means to be an Australian citizen. Think about how you can become more involved with your local community, to help make it a better place every day,” said Mayor Elstone.

For more information about Australia Day activities in Wentworth Shire, visit the Experience Wentworth website at: www.experiencewentworth.com.au

For more information about Australian citizenship (including eligibility criteria and application process) and our shared values, visit www.citizenship.gov.au

Ready to Winedown at the Australian Inland Botanic Gardens?

/by

FREE TO ATTEND // FOR ALL AGES

Get ready to Winedown at the Australian Inland Botanic Gardens (AIBG), Buronga. Pack your picnic rug and bring your friends to enjoy a platter and listen to some of Australia’s top artists.

Featuring Mallrat, Allday, Alice Ivy & Loose Bricks, you can enjoy some of the region’s best wine offerings with pop-up cellar doors and a beer garden.

Enjoy a platter of delicious gourmet foods from local catering companies and food vans.

Although the event is no longer located at Wentworth, buses will still be running from Wentworth, Dareton, Buronga and Gol Gol to support our local businesses before and after the event.

Buses will also be running to and from Mildura for those living across the border. All bus tickets will be a small fee of $10 plus booking fee for a return trip.

Head to www.experiencewentworth.com.au to purchase bus tickets and for more information.

Funded by the Reconnecting Regional NSW – Community Events Program

Flood Impact Survey for businesses impacted by floods

/by

Has your business been impacted due to flooding in the area? Have you suffered from a lack of tourism due to floods?

The NSW Government would like to know the financial impacts of the recent storms and floods on businesses in flood affected regions.

Your business does not necessarily need to be affected by rising flood waters to complete the survey. Other types of flood water impacts may be due to road detours, lack of visitation, supply chain issues or additional costs in mitigation works.

If your business has been impacted, please complete the short 5 minute survey.

Your input will support ongoing disaster response and help get assistance to those in our region who need it.

NOTE: This survey has now closed

Fee relief for families with preschool aged children in long day care and community and mobile preschools

/by

The NSW Government is providing fee relief for families with preschool aged children in long day care and community and mobile preschools from January 2023.

Families can save up to $4,220 per child on community and mobile preschool fees and up to $2,110 per child on long day care fees (in addition to the Child Care Subsidy). The fee relief will be passed on to families as a reduction in fees.

For more information visit the Start Strong website, call 1800 619 113, or email ececd@det.nsw.edu.au

Preschool_fee_relief_in_long_day_careDownload
Fee_Relief_in_Community_and_Mobile_PreschoolsDownload

The road to recovery

/by

The Murray River is slowly dropping in Wentworth Shire Council however rises in the Darling River are still expected over the coming weeks.

Please be advised that roads and other sites will only be able to reopen when Council officers are able to assess the safety and potential damage that may result.

Roads may take weeks and in certain cases months to re-open to road users, dependant on the extent of debris clean-up, emergency repair works and level of inundation suffered. Roads closures for heavy vehicle access may still be in place for longer duration to prevent road damage as a result of sodden pavements.

We ask for road users to plan ahead and avoid flood affected areas and roads whilst the recovery phase progresses.

To keep up to date with road and other site closures in our Shire impacted by the flood event, please visit https://www.wentworth.nsw.gov.au/flood-updates-roads-other-sites/

Please remember to obey road closure signage, drive with caution and to NEVER drive through flood water.

Please be advised as we move into the recovery phase there will be a high volume of requests for the re-opening of roads. Your patience will be greatly appreciated.

To view the latest river levels and flow rates for the Lower Darling, visit https://mdbwip.bom.gov.au/16/#4.6/-31.5/147