From my Desk

It’s been a big week across the Dubbo electorate, and may I lead off the column this week by thanking the brave people attached to the NSW Rural Fire Service and other emergency agencies for the work they are doing in battling fires across NSW. Firies from our region have been deployed to various locations to assist with battling the blazes, most notably in the Port Macquarie, Forster, Taree, Glen Innes and Coffs Harbour areas. Over the past few weeks I have been involved in a number of ceremonies with the RFS, including with a graduating group of cadets from […]

It was terrific to see some much-needed rain fall in the region on the weekend, and while there has been some widespread coverage of the falls in the media it is important for us to remember that this drought is not over. That is vitally important to note as we don’t want the important message of buying regionally this Christmas to diminish. The social media push to Buy From The Bush has gone gangbusters, and the NSW Government has acted the create a one-stop portal for our businesses to put themselves forward to those looking for the perfect Christmas present.

Years of work and dedication from the Gulgong community came to fruition on Saturday when the Holtermann Museum opening was held in the town. It was terrific to be on hand for the event, which is a terrific example of what can be achieved when local communities and the NSW Government work hand in hand. The museum is a wonderful nod to the rich history of Gulgong and its importance to the wider Mid-Western region. It features some wonderful photos taken in the 1870s of some of the buildings in the area, which have been in display in the State

First of all this week I’d like to congratulate Dubbo Chamber of Commerce and all of the businesses that were recognised at last Friday night’s Rhino Awards. The event was a wonderful celebration of the Dubbo business community, which like so many others is showing tremendous resilience through a really tough time. People often ask me why Dubbo continues to thrive through such an intense drought, and the answer I always give is the diversity of our businesses and those who operate them. While we live in a regional part of NSW we have so many different facets to our

It was an honour and a privilege last week to have the NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro visit Dubbo for the official opening of the Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitor Experience. And to say the DP was amazed by the facility would be an understatement. The NSW Government was among a long list of generous organisations that combined to make the dream of the visitor experience a reality, and I congratulate everyone involved on creating a truly wonderful facility that not only adds to our tourism offering in the central west but also is a tremendous recognition of the role