It was great to see some widespread rain across the region last week, and there is little doubt that the vibe around our electorate is changing.
While we need to be mindful that the drought isn’t over, and there are still some places that aren’t receiving as much as they need, we need to celebrate these falls and what they mean for our communities.
As I write this column, Burrendong Dam is sitting at 6.4 per cent of capacity which is up considerably from 1.5 per cent a month ago.
This means the planned transfer of water from Windamere Dam to Burrendong won’t take place for several months, and hopefully won’t be needed at all if we continue to receive regular rainfall.
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Another Mudgee Show has come and gone, and it was great to be on hand to celebrate with the community for the 175th edition of the event.
Local teacher Jessica Emeny was crowned the 2020 Showgirl, and it was great to see so many people on hand with smiles on their faces after the recent rain.
A special presentation was also made to Barry Nott, who received life membership as a result of his contributions over the past 45 years or so, particularly in the cattle section.
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International Womens Day was held on Sunday, so last week in Parliament I chose to use my speaking opportunities to recognise some of the wonderful women in our electorate who do great things for their communities.
The likes of Jess Skinner, Lottie McCutcheon, Kim Goldsmith, Terri Milgate, Tina Reynolds, Joy Harrison and Grace Toomey fly under the radar to some extent, but their contributions make the towns in our region great places to live.
Their areas of expertise also cover a broad cross section, including art, business, sport, Indigenous affairs, mental health awareness, domestic violence support, agriculture and local government.
Being able to speak about people and their achievements on the floor of Parliament is one of the honours of the job, and I thank each of these ladies for the work they do.
Until next week, Dugald