Uranquinty News JUNE, 2021 KINDLY PRINTED BY ORIGIN ENERGY ENERGY Uranquinty Progress Assoc. News Ilsa Konrads and Kay Hull, member for Screen shot from new Origin Energy-sponsored website for locals launched! More Riverina, unveiling migrant memorial in 2001. info below. See story on page 8 for more about the Konrads who as migrants came to Uranquinty Winter has arrived so stay warm and enjoy the crisp, sunny days (when it where John Konrads learnt to swim. isn’t Frosty and foggy!). URANQUINTY WEBSITE • The website needed a complete update since it was First launched in What’s inside 2015, especially to make it more mobile Friendly. We were successFul in obtaining sponsorship Funding From Origin Energy and a local Uranquinty Progress Assoc. News.……….…1 Wagga web design team worked with us to bring out the new look Uranquinty Public School...…………….….…..3 aimed to be the best resource For visitors and For residents seeking Uranquinty Power Station Update………….4 inFormation about our community and services, with links to useFul Quinty Men’s Shed……………………...…………5 sites and the Facebook page. The site is being tweaked as we go to Community SaFety Group.……………..…….…5 press and should be on view as you read this. The address is the Hotel Social Club………………………….…………5 same: www.uranquinty.com.au. Uranquinty Pre School..............................6 Our sincere thanks go to Origin Energy For their willing support oF our Getting to Know Our Town • community. Without their sponsorship the new website would not Social News...………..…..………………...….7 have been possible. CraFt Fair And Garage Sale………………..7 Local History – John Konrads 8 St Patrick’s Uranquinty…….……………..……..9 Uranquinty Tennis Club………..………………10 Community Directory….…………..…….…….10 Local Business Services……….………....…… 10 1981 Views From the Silos…………....……..11 Wagga Nursery…….........................……....12 Continued on page 2 IssueJUNE #: [Date], 202 1 DolorPAGE 2 Sit Amet Uranquinty Progress News cont. FLOOD MANAGEMENT PLANS COMMUNITY HALL UPDATE • The Major Overland Flood Flow Study (MOFFS) and • We are beginning to hold events again at the Plan and the Village Overland Flood Flow Study (VOFFS) Community Hall. Thanks to everyone who has have been through their public exhibition phase and complied with our Covid SaFe Plan required by will now be considered by the Flood Risk Management Council. Make bookings via the Venue tab at Advisory Committee prior to submission oF Final the new www.uranquinty.com.au where there recommendations to Council. is also a link For event organisers to the saFety • A Few minor additions arose From public consultation. plan or email us For details to Once Council has accepted the Final report, it will start [email protected]. planning and seeking Funding opportunities to deliver • We are pleased to announce that the Hall will the recommendations. soon have access to WiFi courtesy oF the • Following negotiations with UPA, Council and the Wagga Wagga Revival Fellowship Church Uranquinty SaFety Group, Council work on urgently Group, who meet there regularly every restoring the Churches Plains levee was successFul and Sunday. This will be a major beneFit to users has now been completed For the protection oF Baker, of the Hall as relying on variable 4G mobile Uranquintry and Taber Street residents. reception For internet connection and computer presentations has been Frustrating. I should like to express our thanks on behalF oF everyone who uses the Hall, it is a terriFic asset. • UPA was successFul in applying For a Stronger Communities Grant to upgrade the Hall kitchen. We can now purchase a replacement oven, new stainless steel workbenches and a small Freezer. • We were also successful in obtaining a grant North levee before and after recent from Essential Energy For $200 towards hall Council maintenance. maintenance. DUNNS ROAD UPDATE • Bookings For 2021 continue to build. The Hall th st • Dunns Road is ready For tendering pending the Committee cannot accept 18 and 21 finalisation of agreements For acquisition oF land at the birthday party events, however, due to Olympic Highway intersection. numerous issues that have negatively • Transport For NSW has issued a conditional Works impacted nearby residents in the past. The hall Authorisation Deed For works around the highway but hirer is responsible For security measures and Council is still trying to conFirm TfNSW requirements For must ensure guests do not cause any the entry to the Model Aero Club. inconvenience to neighbours on the perimeter of the oval. Local police are advised oF events • Relocation oF electrical power lines also requires removal of some additional vegetation, in turn requiring but it is up to the hirer to ensure all measures additional environmental works. This has now been are taken to minimise disruption and ensure resolved. saFety For residents. We are looking at options to upgrade security where needed, costs to be • Given Council is now encroaching onto its Caretaker in addition to hire Fees. timeFrame, it has taken the opportunity to investigate black spot Funding to construct the Holbrook Road • UPA will advise a date For the working bee to roundabout. give the Hall a clean and would welcome any help From the community to keep the Hall If successFul it maintained. All bookings and management oF would enable events and maintenance oF the Hall is carried completion oF out by volunteers. Your assistance would be some works very much appreciated, no matter how small. to a higher standard than the original grant submissions. COMMUNITY STREET LIBRARY Uranquinty Public School and UPA are working with the Men’s Shed to organise bookshelves at the Deb Bewick, President, Uranquinty Progress Association school and rest area so that visitors and community 2 M: 0427 007 261 E: [email protected] members will be able to be part oF this worldwide W: www.uranquinty.com.au project. IssueJUNE #: [Date], 202 1 PAGE 3Dolor Sit Amet TERM 2 had Cross BOOK PARADE AND BOOK FAIR Country, Students and staFF got into the swing Athletics of dressing up as their Favourite book and some characters For Book Week recently. Gala days. There was lots oF excitement and Fun Our relay on the day talking about our Favourite team has books. Many parents and Friends were made it to generous in donating books to our the Riverina school library and buying giFts at the Athletics Book Fair, where nearly $800 worth oF Carnival books were sold. and Audrey AUSTRALIA’S DEADLIEST ANIMALS Lewington Our students travelled to Ladysmith PS has made it to the State Cross recently to attend a show about deadly Country. animals. There were lots oF new Facts PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITION to learn and Our school has recently completed a the children Public Speaking Competition at enjoyed school. We sent three representatives seeing these ofF to Tarcutta PS to compete against creatures up the other Small Schools. close in a saFe Congratulations to Martha, Charlie environment. and Audrey who spoke beautiFully and put a lot oF work into preparing SPORT their speeches. A big congratulations Term 2 is to Audrey Lewington who was always a busy sporting term. We’ve awarded the Stage 3 winner oF the competition. 3 IssueJUNE #: [Date], 202 1 DolorPAGE 4 Sit Amet Uranquinty Power Station (UPS) is owned and operated by Origin Energy. The station comprises four gas turbines with a total generating capacity of 640-megawatts (MW) using natural gas. Station Update Uranquinty Community Committee Your community representatives are currently Peter Lord, After a slow start to the year, operations have increased Lyle Salmon and Cathy Crick, but we are seeking coming into winter as the station continues to support the Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from Uranquinty Community National Energy Market (NEM). members interested in joining our committee. Please contact Tania Carlos, Senior Community Relations Business Partner Demand is primarily due to lack of generation within the for more information on 0400 035 434 or network on the back of planned and forced outages including [email protected] the recent issues at a large coal fired station in QLD. With flooding in Victoria and ongoing ‘winter conditions’, Community Investment increased volatility within the electricity market means the Uranquinty Public School: Our ongoing partnership with the station would expect to operate more regularly. school is going well and our contribution has enabled the recruitment of additional resources and fully funding the During May the station was audited by the Environmental Bluearth Wellbeing program. Protection Agency (EPA). This audit was part of a requirement to undertake 5-yearly Licence Integrity Reviews with the EPA. "Origin Energy's support has meant the world of difference to We are pleased to advise we received a very positive our small school. We have been able to employ a temporary outcome. Student Wellbeing Officer/Youth Worker two days a week to support students in the class and playground who need some Regardless of electricity generation requirements, the team extra help. The students and parents have commented on the will be busy going into summer with rolling High Voltage value of this position for the student’s mental health. With Transformer testing outages planned for late in the year. Origin's support we are also able to provide extra assistance Close inspection and testing of gas and pressure equipment in the classroom with part-time Student Learning Support will also be carried out at this time. Officers who also support students with specific needs in the playground. If you have any questions or concerns relating to the station or its operations, please do not hesitate to contact Tania Carlos. Our Bluearth program is fully funded by Origin and provides expert coaching each fortnight to focus on Healthy Body/ Paul Olsen – Plant Manager, Uranquinty Power Station Healthy Mind and Team Building skills from Kinder to Year 6.