Monthly Newsletter for the

Balranald Shire community and

friends

Balranald Shire Council Councilor Contact

Details

Mayor Cr Leigh Byron

0428 201 301

Deputy Mayor

Cr Alan Purtill

0429 201 301

Cr Steve O’Halloran

0429 619 880

Cr Elaine Campbell

0447 271 086

Cr Lynda Cooke

03 5020 0471

Cr Jeff Mannix

0409 783 075

Cr Trevor Jolliffe

03 5020 1597

Cr Ken Barnes

03 5038 2221

Rubbish Tip Hours

BALRANALD

1st October - 31st March

Tuesday 5.00 - 7.00pm

Thursday 5.00 - 7.00pm

Saturday 10.00am - 1.00pm

Sunday 10.00am - 3.00pm

1st April - 30th September

Tuesday 4.00 - 6.00pm

Thursday 4.00 - 6.00pm

Saturday 10.00am - 1.00pm

Sunday 10.00am - 3.00pm

EUSTON

Tuesday 1.00pm - 6.00pm

Thursday 1.00pm - 6.00pm

Sunday 9.00am - 3.00pm

Tip Tokens $10.00

are available from Councils office,

Visitor Information Centre,

Caltex, Market Street,

Café Cassaro

Euston Post Office & Takeaway

Fees start from $10

per one axle trailer or utility

Council Website

www.balranald.nsw.gov.au

ISS UE

January 2015

1

Balranald Shire Council Newsletter Issue 1 January 2015 www .ba lrana ld .nsw .gov .au

Coming Events NEWSLETTER

28 Jan 11 Feb 25 Feb

Hospital Bus Dates

Swan Hill Swan Hill Mildura

Bus-A-Bout has begun. Contact Beck at the Hospital on 03 5071 9800

26 Jan Australia Day Celebrations Balranald - Greenham Park Hall 8.30am. Free BBQ breakfast, address by Ambassador & presentation of Awards.

Euston - Recreation Reserve from 12.30pm. Free BBQ lunch, Citizenship ceremony, address by Ambassador & presentation of Awards

Mondays Fri / Sun

Mon / Sat Tue / Thu

Wednesday

Thursdays Thursdays

Fridays

Saturdays

Balranald Ex-Servicemen's Club What’s on at the Club Members Seniors Lunch Buffets - Friday night & Sunday lunch $10 lunch specials Bingo Tuesday 7pm, Thursday 2pm Social Bowls - 10am and 6pm

Club Mega Member Badge Draw Smorgasbord member meal deals Night Raffle & members draw (Permit # LTPS/14/02429) Free Poker from 7pm

22 Feb

30 Jan 31 Jan 6 Feb 7 Feb

13 Feb 14 Feb 20 Feb 21 Feb 27 Feb 28 Feb

28 Feb to 1 March

What's on at Euston Club Resort Win a Car promotion (ends 5 April 2015) International Buffet 6pm - 8.30pm Euston Club Resort Entertainment Blair Bildstein Kiera Smith Chris Street Brad May H2 OH! David Routledge Ron Herberte The Hoffmans Blair Bildstein Rob Syme Euston Club Resort Annual Grand Prix Triathlon. More info call 5026 4244

4 Dec to 31 Jan

Anne Frank Exhibition @ The Gallery from 10am to 5pm. Gold coin entry

14 Feb Robinvale Country Market from 9am Caix Square

WHAT’S OPEN

Balranald Museum Open Mondays, Wednesdays &

Fridays 10am to 12 noon

Balranald Library Monday & Friday 2pm - 5.30pm

Wednesday 9am - 5.30pm

Adult Day Care Monday 10am - 2pm

Thursday 10am - 2pm At the Day Centre at the Hospital

Phone Hospital 5071 9800

Seniors Club Meets every Friday 2pm

Senior Citizens Hall Phone Shirley 5020 1890

Hospital Auxiliary Meets 2nd Monday of the month

2.30pm at the Adult Day Care Centre Phone Dawn 5020 1311

Health Advisory Council (HAC) 4th Monday of each month

at 7:00pm Contact 5071 9800

Little Bunyips Playgroup Every Tuesday and Thursday 10am to 1pm - River Street

Contact Bridgette 0427 240 688

Balranald Child & Family Health Immunisation Clinic

2nd Monday of the month 9.30am - 11.30am

Contact Hospital 5071 9800 Clinic closed if Medical officer is

un-available

RMS Opening Hours Balranald

9.30am to 4pm Tuesday to Friday

Closed for lunch 1pm - 1.45pm

Euston 2nd & 4th Thursday of month

11.30am to 3pm Closed for lunch 12.15pm - 1pm

Call Centre 132 213

Newsletter Published by:

BALRANALD SHIRE COUNCIL 70 MARKET STREET

(PO BOX 120) BALRANALD NSW 2715

OFFICE HOURS 8.30AM TO 5.00PM

MONDAY TO FRIDAY

PH: 03 5020 1300 FAX: 03 5020 1620

AFTER HOURS EMERGENCIES 0418 322 902

COMMUNITY GENERAL INTEREST

Sing Australia Meets every Monday evening at the Presbyterian Church @ 7.30pm - all welcome

Men's Shed Tues & Thurs 8am Heritage Park

Take Off Weight Naturally Club at Multipurpose Centre Mondays 6pm Call Heather 03 5020 1478

Optometrist (from Deniliquin) last Wednesday of the month, appointments @ Balranald Chemist

Balranald Wool Centre meet 3rd Friday of month, 11am till 3pm @ The Gallery. New members are most welcome to come and join in

Balranald CWA fourth Thursday of each month @ 4pm Contact Carla Steel (Secretary) 0497 114 957

Balranald Community Arts & Crafts 3rd Monday of month, 2pm @ The Gallery and the Painting Group meets each Monday at 10am

Balranald Hospital Auxiliary every 2nd Monday of the Month @ 2:30pm at Adult Day Care Centre

CanAssist Balranald Branch (& Bookshop) Every 2nd Mon of Month @ 4pm at 92A Market Street Karen 0404 842 037 or Kirstyn 0448 158 709

Robinvale & District Aeromodellers Club Each Sunday 9am Wewak Rd Robinvale

Narelle’s Driving School Ph 0402 782 597 email narellet08@y7mail.com

Balranald Harvest Christian Centre each Sunday at the CWA rooms in Market Street from 10.30am

Balranald History Group 2nd Tuesday of the month in Theatre Royal Ticketing office Market Street from 5pm

Aqua Fitness Tuesday & Thursday from 6.30pm at the Balranald Pool. $2.00 entry fee

www .ba lrana ld .nsw .gov .au

Disclaimer - Balranald Shire Council reserves the right to edit or

rewrite submissions for grammar, style and clarity or to conform to restrictions of space. Council makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of this information and does not accept responsibility for errors or omissions contained within this publication.

If you are aware of errors, please notify Cherie Murphy as soon as possible at cmurphy@balranald.nsw.gov.au or call 03 5020 1300.

Balranald’s new Discovery Centre gets rave reviews!

Also available at the Club- *Full TAB facilities, *Keno, *Coffee shop, *Pre-paid phone credit, *City Link passes *Fishing licenses, *Pre-paid Broadband vouchers, *Seniors Kiosk - connect with friends & family There is now an area within the main bar for under 18’s, who must be accompanied by a Parent/Guardian

Swimming lessons a success

Another successful round of swimming lessons at Balranald Swimming Pool was held over the school / Christmas break and enjoyed by all who attended.

Eight days of intense lessons were held, and instructor Laurel Stevens and her able assistant Bill Harben were very impressed with the outcome; an 88% attendance rate saw a total of 33 children participating, ranging from 18 months to 12 years.

Predominately the main (33m) pool was used for the lessons, although the indoor pool was also used - its great to have this heated facility to fall back on, especially when some of the children needed a little extra coaxing on chilly mornings.

Bill and Laurel’s encouragement made those who were unsure of the water (and the sometimes chilly start) confident to give it a go.

A big thank you to Laurel for being an awesome swim instructor and assistant Bill for all his help and encouragement towards the pupils.

This is a great opportunity to learn to swim locally. For more information about learning to swim, go to

www.dsr.nsw.gov.au/swimandsurvive

Balranald’s new Discovery Centre was

officially opened on Friday 19th December by

the Hon. Sussan Ley, Federal Member for

Farrer, and has since received wonderful

reviews both by visitors and local residents

with many claiming the centre is a real WOW

factor for Balranald. Council has also

received positive feedback and 5 Star ratings

on the Balranald Discovery Centre social

media page.

The opening proved a great success with

many community residents within the

Balranald Shire attending, along with visitors

from surrounding townships.

This community event was supported by

music from the Paul DeAraugo band and also

Kinja, jumping castles, free sausage sizzle, a

rock climbing wall and face painting.

The Balranald Discovery Centre is a $1.5

million, state-of-the-art tourist complex that

comprises three buildings; the Interpretive

Pavilion, the Visitor Information Centre and

the Discovery Café. The precinct also

includes a newly built bus shelter, playground

for the children, the newly restored Men’s

Shed, historical sites including the Museum,

Old Gaol and Wintong School, and stage 1 of

the Balranald Skate Park.

Standing tall and proud outside the Balranald

Discovery Centre is a magnificent wedge-tailed eagle

made from recycled metal which has a wing span of

2.5m hovering over a nest perched high on a 3.5m

post. This artwork was created by recycled metal

artist Stuart Taylor from Deniliquin.

The Interpretive Pavilion is a great place where all

the senses will be treated to a multi-media and

interactive historical interpretation of the Shire’s

history and the Shire’s connection with wood, wool,

wheat, the rivers, the wetlands and the indigenous

community.

Early figures are very encouraging

Figures gathered since the opening on the 19th

December to the 12th January 2015 show a 195%

increase of visitors to the Information Centre, and

142% increase in income generated by the Visitor

Information Centre when compared to the same

period last year.

There are exciting times ahead for tourism in

Balranald and Council is committed to growing the

tourism industry within the Shire and thereby

generating income for the community. The new

Discovery Centre will play a significant role in helping

achieve Councils tourism goals and desired

outcomes.

The Hon. Sussan Ley signing the Visitor’s book at the official opening

The magnificent wedge-tailed eagle, nestled in the grounds of the Discovery Centre

Balranald

Visitor

Information

Centre

Cnr Market and River

Streets

Open Daily

10.00am to 4.00pm

Phone 03 5020 1599

CountryLink tickets and

fishing licences can be

purchased from the

Visitor Information Centre

Welcome to the first edition of Council’s Newsletter for 2015.

I would like to wish you a Happy New Year and hope you all had a lovely Christmas spent with friends and family.

The opening of the Balranald Discovery Centre including the Visitor Information Centre, Interpretive Centre and Café proved to be a huge success, with so many positive comments received. Although it was a warm afternoon, it was wonderful to see so many in the crowd.

I wish to thank those involved who assisted in getting the complex up and running, including Council staff, contractors, volunteers and business people. As a resident, I urge you to promote this wonderful facility.

The 2014 New Year’s Eve celebrations at Greenham Park proved to be another fun, family night full of enjoyment by all who attended.

Activities included a giant slide, laser tag, a jumping castle, spinning wheel, music and barbecue and concluding with the spectacular fireworks display. Appreciation goes to Kylie Jolliffe and her small group of helpers who work tirelessly throughout the year to ensure an event such as this continues to occur each year.

I look forward to what 2015 brings, and wish you all a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Euston Robinvale Ski Race 2015

Council wish to advise the

residents of Euston Township

that the Robinvale / Euston Ski

Race will be held on 7th and

8th of March 2015.

Time trials and some events

will be held on Saturday the

7th and a full day of major

event racing on Sunday 8th.

Residents along the river

please note that boats will

emit a higher than normal

noise level whilst racing

over this two day event.

Swimming Pool Hours

Pool Opening Hours are:

3:30 – 6:30 Mon-Fri

11:30 – 6:30 Sat-Sun

Please note: the pool will not

open if the temperature is

less than 26° although will stay

open later on hot days

Entrance Fees: All Users $2.00

Season Tickets Single $80.00

Family $130.00

Calling all Seniors in the Shire

Balranald Shire Councils

Senior’s Week event will

be held in March 2015.

If you are a senior (60 years

and over), and have not

previously been part of

these celebrations and would

like to be involved, please

contact Cherie Murphy at

Council office 70 Market

Street Balranald, telephone

03 5020 1300 or email

council@balranald.nsw.gov.au

to have your details registered.

Another successful New Years Eve celebration was enjoyed by all who attended Greenham Park for the festivities.

Entertainment included laser tag, jumping castle, giant slide and glow sticks, whilst the not so young tried their luck on the spinning wheel with great prizes on offer generously donated by local businesses. Great music and a barbeque added to the festivities at the park and at midnight a spectacular fireworks display completed the night and saw in the new year.

Balranald Shire residents will have the

opportunity to celebrate Australia Day at

Balranald and Euston on Monday

January 26, 2014.

The festivities will begin at 8.30am at

Greenham Park Balranald with a free

barbeque breakfast followed by the

official ceremony and Award

presentation.

Euston celebrations at the Recreation

Reserve from 12.30pm include a free

barbeque lunch, Citizenship and official

Australia Day ceremony and Award

presentation.

A highlight of the celebrations will be the

address by the Shire’s Australia Day

Ambassador Mr Peter Hadford OAM,

(pictured right).

Peter Hadfield was, for ten consecutive

years, Australia's champion in the highly

demanding Decathlon.

He captained both the Australian and

Oceania Track and Field teams and

represented at two Olympic Games and

two Commonwealth Games, winning a

silver medal behind world record holder

Daley Thompson. He was voted NSW

Athlete of the Year on four occasions and

is currently the President of the Olympians

Club of NSW.

Peter's voice may be familiar – he has

worked as a commentator at seven

Olympics and seven Commonwealth

Games.

He currently works with Sydney Water as

their Senior Media and PR Advisor.

Peter has a Bachelor of Economics, he

has written a book - "How to Get Fit While

You Watch Television" and was awarded

an Order of Australia Medal in the

Australia Day Honours in 2006.

This year marks 20 consecutive years of

Peter being an Australia Day Ambassador.

So, please come along, meet Peter and

join in while Celebrating Australia Day.

Australia Day celebrations From the

Mayor’s Office

Mayor Leigh Byron

Australia Day Parade Calling for

Expressions of Interest

The Australia Day Parade committee are calling for expressions of interest for new committee members to assistance with an Australia Day Parade in 2016.

Members of the community have expressed interest in having another parade after the success of the last one held, and assistance is needed to get this up and running.

If you are interested in joining the committee or assisting the committee, please contact one of the original committee members, Hutch Lawrie, or Cherie

Murphy at Council during normal business hours on 03 5020 1300.

It would be terrific to have the opportunity to host this event, however your help is needed to accomplish this.

Men’s Shed gets a facelift and signage

Recently the Balranald Men’s Shed received a welcome facelift. Initial work included a garage addition and makeover.

Bidgee Lifestyle Buildings from Hay completed the refurbishment, providing labour and supplies as well as producing the signage for the Shed. The completion of the refurbishment included a very generous contribution of $5,000 by way of sponsorship provided by Fair Dinkum Sheds.

Craig and Tiem Wilson, owners of Bidgee Lifestyle Buildings, Hay said that it is a policy of Fair Dinkum Sheds to support Men’s Sheds across Australia.

Fair Dinkum Sheds encourage their distributors to get involved and inturn support their local and regional Men’s Sheds.

Pictured above Tiem and Craig Wilson of Bidgee Lifestyle Buildings and Greig McIvor and Bill Hargrave, members of Balranald Men's Shed

Do you host a

Community

Event

Council is continually

updating the events calendar

on Councils website.

If you hold an event, either

weekly, monthly, annually

or at other times of the year

and wish to advertise in the

events calendar on Councils

website, please contact

Cherie at Council on

5020 1300 with your

event details.

Burning off within Town limits

Banned

Balranald Shire Council

wishes to remind the public

that it is an offence to burn off

within the Towns limits.

Fines may apply if found

undertaking this act.