The Gundaroo Gazette Community | Cohesion | Harmony www.gundaroo.org Volume 203 Print circulation 600 — Readership keeps growing October 2020 Judges choose four outstanding GEM Grand Finalists The judges surprised everyone at the four GEM Grand Finalists. Gundaroo Emerging Muso Battle After the semi-final concert, Semi-final by selecting four Event Director Scott Harding contestants to go through to the was full of praise not only for all Grand Final – one more than planned. the musicians in the heats and Event Director Scott Harding the semi, but also for his fellow congratulated all contestants and said judges, the supportive staff at the selection of four Grand Finalists the pub, and Rowan from was testament to the high calibre of Rotating Head, who made the musicians this year, and acknowledged Facebook live-streaming of all the hard choices that faced the judges. the battles work so well. Six outstanding musical acts played for Scott said, “Even without the a COVID-full audience at the Gundaroo Von Blake Family Singers (from Gundaroo) Gundaroo Music Festival this year, the Colonial Inn on Saturday night, 26 success of this second GEM battle is the September. The four successful performers will contest the Grand Final very essence of what our friend Scott to be held as part of the McGrath Windsor always envisaged – giving a start Gundaroo Music ‘WEDGE’ – a live music and a stage for emerging musical talent.” In this issue … event being held at the pub on Local News pp 1–3 Saturday 24 October, in place of this Community Noticeboard pp 4–5 year’s Gundaroo Music Festival, which From ‘The Desk’ p 5 cannot be be held because of COVID-19 Fire Brigade bulletin p 6 restrictions. Scouts p 7 School News p 8 Teenage soloists Kiara Jane (pictured Finding ‘Sunnyridge’ p 9 right) and Madi Kate (see page 10) were Festival Corner, and Counterpoint p 10 selected, together with audience Yellow signs a call to action p 11 favourites, the local Von Blake Family Farming in Gundaroo springtime p 13 Singers (pictured above) and The Aromatic peppercress finds its way Dalmations duo (page 10). to Mcleods Creek Nature Reserve p 15 Duo Matt n Jol and young rock trio Growing lemons in this climate p 17 Glenloch were the two semi-final Baby-bird season under way p 19 talents who sadly missed out. Gundaroo Sport p 21 Planning is in full swing for the McGrath Real US headlines p 21 Gundaroo Music ‘WEDGE’. Organisers Eateries p 23 are working to put together an Church services p 23 afternoon and evening show featuring a Kiara Jana Emergency & community contacts p 24 number of bands, which will include the (More photos on page 10.) Quotes for the month “The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.” George Orwell (Pen name of Eric Arthur Blair, 1903–1950) English novelist, essayist journalist and critic “In private, watch your thoughts. With your family, watch your temper. In society, watch your tongue.” in Manners, Culture and Dress … by Richard A Wells, 1890 The Gundaroo Gazette 1 October 2020 LOCAL NEWS Community Association President continues Gundaroo Community Association President, Moraig McKenna, will continue in that role following the GCA Annual General Meeting on 23 September – postponed since April until COVID restrictions were relaxed sufficiently. Other committee and office bearers elected until the next AGM are: Secretary – Sue Burns Treasurer – Gina Collins Ordinary Members – Nichole Hanlon, Maartje Sevenster, David Taylor, Sue Kominek, Emma Shadbolt. Highlights of the 2019 year reported by the President and Convenors of the store, takeaway and post office – believed to be having) some role in the GCA subcommittees (Arts & Culture, designed and created by Gundaroo chain of approvals and oversight. Memorials, and Police Paddock) resident Merrill Vellenoweth and The rapidly moving Facebook included: installed with the help of engineer ‘conversation’ was monitored by the • the successful Gundaroo Expo in Robyn Thorne. offices of Kristy McBain (federal MP for May 2019 Several other new interior features Eden-Monaro), Wendy Tuckerman • upgrade of the community have been installed since The Gundaroo (state MP for Goulburn), and Julie defibrillator, with a $500 donation Gazette ran its pictorial feature in April. Rogers (Yass Valley Council Director of from McGrath Real Estate If you are a rare visitor to this Gundaroo Planning and Environment). • submissions on the licence community hub, it’s time to find a All subsequently became and have application for the Kyeema reason for another visit. remained very engaged in efforts to Wastewater proposal, and on the resolve the issue. That pathway has also concept and design of the flood Solution in sight for the brought in the NSW Telecommunications mitigation scheme recent internet tower ‘issue’ Authority and the national regulator, the Australian Communications and Media • design and development of the It appears that a solution is now within Authority (ACMA). Gundaroo Community Website, reach concerning an agreed location of now launched a new internet tower to the north of With the eventual cooperation of YLess4U, work on the contentious site • five Fireside Chats, and three Gundaroo towards Bellmount Forest. has stopped and an alternative is being Concerts at the Courthouse, all The past month witnessed a robust sought, with every reasonable effort very well attended discussion on the Gundaroo being made to ensure the outcome • successful grant applications to Community Connect Facebook page doesn’t have adverse impacts on plant a commemorative avenue of about the precise location (different neighbourly and community relations. to that expected, and too close to a trees along the southern entrance This collaboration by our representatives to the village property boundary and an approved and officials in all three jurisdictions is • home building envelope) and the successful management of the construction of the concrete pad in continuing. All recognise the need to police paddock during the drought remove confusions in the approvals (now ‘broken’). advance of all necessary final processes, particularly in the face of the approvals. predicted future expansion of new After a year in development by a small The thread was removed after several working group led by Jed Johnson and towers in rural areas, including in Throttle Media in Queanbeyan, GCA hours, following escalating tension Gundaroo, where a similar example west and deteriorating civility in the posts. of the village has just been reported. has now become the official custodian It prompted the senior administrator of the website, www.gundaroo.org, which is live and welcoming more of the FB page to issue a timely Council considering road warning and reminder to page users. Gundaroo community groups and upgrade survey businesses to join. A new GCA The ‘issue’ arose following the initiation Yass Valley Council has acknowledged subcommittee has been formally of the widely welcomed objective of receipt of a survey of regular users of established to be responsible for the better internet connectivity in regional Back Creek Rd, Dicks Creek Rd and Yass website. NSW, announced in July by Minister for River Rd, and is considering its findings The next AGM is scheduled for March Regional NSW, John Barilaro. and recommendations. or April 2021. Gundaroo was listed as an area to As reported last month (The Gundaroo benefit from this, and rural wireless Gazette, September, pp2–3), residents Gundaroo Grocer gets its broadband carrier YLess4U was conducted and submitted a survey of the new facade contracted to deliver the service. steadily increasing personal, business and The events that precipitated the community road usage of these three The new façade for the Gundaroo community concern and reaction have roads, matched with recommendations Grocer and Cork Street Cellars (and subsequently been described by the for upgrades to provide all-weather post office) has now been put in place office of our new federal MP as being access for all properties, and for removal (pictured above right). The external caught in a grey area of overlapping of hazardous roadside trees. design matches the ‘period’ theme jurisdictions – with federal, state and featured throughout the interior of the Council had installed traffic counters, local governments all having (or several of which are still in place. The Gundaroo Gazette 2 October 2020 LOCAL NEWS Progress possible on Let’s all be considerate News Shorts southern flooding late-night drivers Mayor’s term extended The Gundaroo Gazette has had a Over the past year or so, The Gundaroo Following the NSW Government’s decision promising preliminary discussion with Gazette has received numerous to postpone local council elections until Council’s senior engineering staff about anecdotal ‘stories’ about Cork St September 2021 due to the COVID-19 how to reduce the increased intensity residents being disturbed very late at pandemic, Yass Valley Council voted at its of flooding of several properties in the night by rowdy patrons leaving our September meeting to extend for 12 Gundaroo South Flow Path, south of favourite watering hole in a state of months the tenures of Mayor Rowena the Harp St watershed on the Common. questionable sobriety. (No-o-o! Not in Abbey and Deputy Mayor Nathan Furry. Council is considering a site-visit to talk Gundaroo!) Update on the promised with affected landholders and to It may be timely to remind some of our improvements at the tip inspect evidence of changed flow happy pub patrons about two ‘other’ The Gundaroo Gazette is monitoring patterns since the overland flow from road rules (besides having too much progress towards the contruction of a the Common was redirected into a blood in one’s alcohol). typical transfer station ramp for users to channel along the eastern end of Lot St empty their rubbish into waste bins parked (reported in The Gundaroo Gazette in They relate to car horns and excessive below on a concrete pad.