Edward River News Issue 2 : January 2017 Page 2 Council recruiting new GM Page 4 Park tribute to local hero Page 6 More groups benefit from Stronger Communities Fund Edward River Christmas Fair The weather was ideal and the setting delightful when a again the wonderful talent in our community. There was large crowd gathered in Waring Gardens for the Edward food available to feed the hungry hordes, and various River Christmas Fair. Residents from across the Council other activities which were enjoyed by the young (and region gathered for the Christmas festivities. They young at heart). enjoyed musical entertainment including traditional The annual Christmas Shopping Promotion major draws carols from the Edward River Concert Band, Deniliquin also took place. In the interests of encouraging everyone High School Band and talented local singer Anna Bowie. to shop locally, Edward River Council was major sponsor Santa’s Grotto returned to the Multi Arts Centre, and as of the promotion this year. Congratulations to everyone usual he was a popular jolly fellow. Lots of parents took who participated, in particular the two big winners, Lyn the opportunity to snap a photo of their youngsters with Rose and Audrey Dunbar who took home the $2,000 and Santa. Young dancers were also popular, highlighting $1,000 shopping voucher prizes respectively. Message from the Council Administrator recruiting Welcome to the second Edward new GM River Council newsletter. I hope you enjoy our colourful format and the Edward River Council has started wide range of information about the process to recruit a new General Council activities. Manager. A priority of the new Council since it We are seeking a highly qualified was established in May has been to and skilled person to lead our ensure we have open and effective Council through the final stages of communication with our residents the merger transition process, then and ratepayers. If you have queries position our community to face the or concerns about any Council challenges of building a strong and matter, please do not hesitate to prosperous region. talk to members of our team at the administration centre in Civic A leading Sydney company Place. We now have all staff from which specialises in finding senior the former Deniliquin Council and executive staff for local government Conargo Shire Council working has been appointed to assist with together at the one site, so whether the recruitment. you live in town, on a farm or in a A recruitment panel has also village, that is where you go to have been formed and includes the any Council questions answered. Administrator Ashley Hall, former It is going to be a busy year for Edward River Council. We have started Conargo Shire Mayor Norm the recruitment for a new General Manager and are looking forward to Brennan, former Deniliquin Mayor having our first full-time appointment ‘on deck’ in coming months. This Pat Fogarty and Managing Director will help with the ongoing process of merger transition and developing a of CT Management Mike Courtney. framework around which to build future stability for the organisation and our community. This panel has immense experience across our community and local In September we will have the first Edward River Council elections. There government, and as such is will be a lot more information provided about this process in the coming well placed to find the GM our months, but I would encourage all interested residents to consider organisation needs. standing for Council. It is a very rewarding experience and will allow those elected the opportunity to play a vital role in building a strong, There will be further local input vibrant community. from Council’s local advisory committee which will have input One of our biggest events in the early part of the year is always our in development of the successful Australia Day celebrations. This year we will welcome Ambassador applicant’s Key Performance Susanne Gervay OAM and I trust large crowds will attend our functions in Indicators. Deniliquin’s Waring Gardens and at Conargo. The overwhelming support from Again, I hope you enjoy reading about Council’s activities in this current senior staff, including Interim newsletter. For more regular updates I encourage you to visit our website, General Manager Barry Barlow, www.edwardriver.nsw.gov.au and sign up to Council’s e-newsletter, or to the decision to seek a full-time ‘like’ Edward River Council on Facebook. General Manager on a five year or Until next time. similar contract, has been welcomed Ashley Hall by the Administrator. Administrator We hope to have our new General Manager ‘on deck’ in the first few months of 2017. Page 2 | Edward River News | January 2017 Australia Day Ambassador SUSANNE GERVAY OAM Australia Susanne Gervay is an award winning Day author, daughter of post war refugees, and recognized for her Celebrations writing on social justice for youth & Edward River Council’s Australia adult literature. Day celebrations will be held in Susanne will be the Edward River Deniliquin and Conargo. Council Australia Day Ambassador The traditional Waring Gardens’ for 2017. ceremony in Deniliquin will She is also widely published in start with the famous Rotary Australian literary journals and breakfast from 8am. anthologies. Her narrative ‘Days of Before the official ceremony Thailand’ is included in the Picador entertainment will be provided Indian-Australian anthology ‘The by the Edward River Concert Fear Factor, Terror Incognito’ with Band and Sing Australia Choir. David Malouf, Sir Salman Rushdie and Thomas Keneally. There will be an official welcome at 10am, after which She is part of the Kiribati Pacific the Australia Day address will be Calling Fact Finding Delegation with Jack’ carries the yellow daffodil on its cover. Her ‘Jack’ books are given by Ambassador Susanne Patrick Dobson father of indigenous Gervay OAM. reconciliation, and she was invited in development as a feature film to represent Australia with her story directed by the award winning This will be followed by ‘To East Timor – from Australia’ in director Nadia Tass. presentation of the Australia an IBBY and UNESCO sponsored Susanne’s acclaimed picture book Day Awards including Citizen illustrated anthology Peace Story ‘Ships in the Field’ gives a voice to of the Year, Sportsperson of the that includes 22 countries, 22 the children and parents of refugees Year, Young Sportsperson of the authors and 22 illustrators to be and celebrates us all as Australians. Year and Community Event of launched at Bologna Book Fair. the Year. Susanne Gervay is a national and Recently she was flown to New At Conargo, the annual international speaker who addresses York to speak at the World Burn Australia Day cricket match on social justice through her literature Congress about her young adult the Conargo Oval will start at at festivals and conferences from novel ‘Butterflies’, recognized as 9am. Outstanding Youth Literature on New York, Delhi, Ubud, Byron Bay, The Australia Day ceremony, Disability. Beijing Literature Festival to Bologna Book Fair. Her books are widely read including an address by Her Jack books include ‘I Am Jack’, and studied throughout Australian Ambassador Susanne Gervay a rite-of-passage fiction on school schools. OAM, starts at noon in the bullying adapted into a play by Conargo Hall and will include premiere theatre company Monkey She is head of SCBWI Australia East & the Sing Australia Choir, plus Baa. ‘Super Jack’, endorsed by Life New Zealand, and chairs The Sydney poetry reading by Alex Allitt. Education, addresses blending Children’s Writers & Illustrators Presentations will be made families. ‘Always Jack’ has been Network at The Hughenden. She has to Citizen of the Year and awarded the Australian Family been awarded an OAM for Children’s Sportsperson of the Year. Therapists Award and reaches young Literature. She is patron of Monkey people, families and community Baa Theatre for Young People, Edward River Council dealing with breast cancer. It is Ambassador for Room to Read, encourages residents to get the first time the Cancer Council Director of the Kids and Young Adult involved in Australia Day nationally and the National Breast Literature Festival at the NSW Writers celebrations. & Ovarian Cancer Centre have Centre and mentors Australian validated youth fiction. ‘Always writers and illustrators. | Page 3 New Park tribute to local hero The construction of Edward River lease for Council’s newest park is underway. A tribute to the late Manny Pottinger, Conargo’s resident windmill repair Crossing man, Pottinger Park is in the first stages of construction. Completion is expected to coincide with planting Café of the garden beds in time for this year’s autumn break. Since The Crossing Café was developed in the Peppin Edward River Council has been working with community Heritage Centre complex representatives and Liesl Malan almost 20 years ago it has Landscape Architects to develop become a favourite meeting a strong design for the site on the and eating place for locals and corner of Conargo and Carrathool visitors alike. roads. Edward River Council is The park will include a striking pleased to have negotiated windmill as a tribute to one of the an extended lease with Leo village’s favourite residents. It will be and Karen Benbow, who this dedicated to the unsung heroes of year will celebrate a decade as the wool industry, with Manny at the lessees of ‘The Crossing’. forefront. Joyce and Manny Pottinger. The lease was approved at Although he never owned a sheep Council’s December meeting. in his life, he played an integral role As part of negotiations it was across the stations of the area. For agreed The Crossing Café will over half a century, he climbed the get a facelift that will include rungs of almost every windmill painting inside and out, plus in the district to ensure a reliable new floor coverings and air supply of water for stock.