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Nominations are now being accepted for the 2022 Rotary Clubs and Districts of NSW Emergency Services Community Awards (NSW RESCA), which recognise frontline emergency services personnel for service above and beyond the call of duty. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said the annual awards, now in their eighth year, provide an opportunity for local emergency services personnel to be recognised at a State-wide level. “Whether they wear yellow, orange, white, or blue, emergency service personnel from our region travel across the state to help those in need, from the horrific 2019-20 bushfires, to the recent floods that devastated

Local event organisers are encouraged to apply for funding to make their events bigger and better than ever, or to help bring major sporting, musical or cultural events to town, as part of the $20 million Regional Events Acceleration Fund Round Two. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said the new funding round will provide a minimum $100,000 to help bring new major events to regional NSW and between $50,000 to $200,000 to increase capacity and enhance existing events. “Examples of eligible projects include extra seating for outdoor shows or sporting events, temporary fencing, accessibility infrastructure, providing additional stages

Aspiring shearers and wool handlers are mastering the latest industry techniques thanks to new state-of-the-art training equipment at TAFE Dubbo. Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens and Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said the NSW Government has invested $45,000 to purchase five new shearing machines and a wool press for the state’s leading training grounds. “This new equipment will not only set future shearers and wool handlers up for success with the latest skills but will help meet a surge in industry demand,” Mr Henskens said. “Shearer numbers have fallen by up to 30 per cent over

Dubbo’s highly anticipated $35 million cancer treatment centre has been officially opened, giving residents in Western New South Wales better access to critical healthcare services closer to home. The Australian Government provided $25 million for the state-of-the-art facility, with the NSW Government contributing $10 million. The Western Cancer Centre welcomed its first patients in September last year, with a number of services moving into the facility at Dubbo Hospital since then. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said locals now have improved access to the health services they need and deserve. “The Nationals

Not one, but three women from the Dubbo region have been named among the 24 recipients of the 2022 NSW Rural Scholarship Program. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders today announced Tomingley’s Amee Dennis, and Dubbo’s Georgia Campbell and Jemima Erskine have all been selected to take part in the program which aims to connect and inspire regional NSW’s future female leaders. “Women like Amee, Georgia and Jemima are the lifeblood of so many bush communities,” Mr Saunders said. “Amee’s an artist and agri-tourism pioneer whose Alpaca farm was recently recognised at the NSW Tourism Awards; Georgia’s a rising

Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders is encouraging locals to recognise seniors who make a difference in the community through the 2022 NSW Seniors Festival Local Achievement Awards. “Nominations are now open for the awards program which celebrates the work and achievements of seniors in the local community,” Mr Saunders said. “Seniors are invaluable to the Dubbo electorate as volunteers, carers and role models – even more so during our recent challenging years. “If you know a senior who helps make our community diverse, inspiring and active, then I encourage you to nominate them for acknowledgement of their contribution”.

Budding agronomists, livestock managers and farmers will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a two-year employment program to get a head start in the agriculture industry. Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders said the Agricultural Pathways Program targets recent school leavers to join the managing teams of the Department of Primary Industries’ 13,000-hectare research station portfolio. “Ag provides incredible career opportunities and a fantastic way of life, and we are looking forward to the next generation stepping into this space,” Mr Saunders said. “From precision agriculture to drone technology and finding innovative solutions for tomorrow, there has never been a

Small businesses that experienced a downturn over summer can now apply for a NSW Government support payment of up to $5,000 per week through Service NSW. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said the Small Business Support Program will provide cashflow assistance to help local businesses get through the current COVID-19 outbreak and keep workers employed. “Over the summer, Omicron meant many people chose to stay at home, which hit small businesses in our community hard, especially in the hospitality and tourism sectors,” Mr Saunders said. “Our Small Business Support Program is about making sure businesses that are viable

Sporting clubs in the Dubbo electorate are being encouraged to come to the crease with some big-hitting ideas for delivering mental health and wellbeing activities as part of a $2.8 million Mental Health Sports program. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said clubs can apply for grants of up to $150,000 from now until 6 March 2022 for activities that provide mental health, resilience and wellbeing benefits to individuals and groups across the local region. “Sporting clubs are the heart of our communities, helping to bring people together and forge a strong sense of place,” Mr Saunders said. “During