It certainly was a big morning for our local library last Thursday when the improvements from the state government grant of $150,000 were recognised.
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This coincided with the 75th Anniversary of the State Library Act, which started it all.
Congratulations to our local library manager and staff for the very user-friendly way they manage our local library with the services provided certainly being enhanced by these recent improvements.
It costs council $200,000 annually to run our local library, a service we gladly fund from our rates and other sources of income. However, it becomes one of our unfunded “mandates” when the state government only provides $22,000 towards this cost.
Worthy of mentioning is the “Mate helping Mate” gathering at the Rugby Union Clubhouse last Tuesday afternoon.
Speakers highlighted not only the need to recognise and address mental illness and depression but also how diet and obesity can contribute to these conditions.
Community-based help and the need for any avenues to assist people to talk about these conditions is essential in treating this problem.
However, if drought and the impact it has on farmers were recognised as natural disasters and immediate accessible assistance was available once droughts had reached major levels, this would treat one of the major causes of these conditions.
Commendable government assistance for drought preventable measures, like preparation to try and prevent fires and floods all help, but when nature really flexes its muscle and droughts erode all reserves and preventions, frequent visits by the Prime Minister, premiers, ministers and treasurers hardly help.
A better understanding by politicians and bureaucrats that droughts are not man-made or caused by overstocking, and how the difficult decision to either sell or continue to feed and increase debt levels, is unique to this industry and is a major cause of the conditions discussed at this meeting.
Thankyou to those who organised the guest speakers and the information provided.
Council’s auditors were in town recently and have given our financials from last financial year a commendable tick as council continues to be in a sound financial position.
Our audited financial statements, together with an executive summary, will be available for comment at the council chambers and library for 28 days.
Some councillors at our meeting last week asked about the situation regarding nose-in parking, and who should give way when backing out, again to be clarified.
It is the responsibility of the driver of the vehicle backing out from nose-in parking to give way to any traffic driving along the road or street.
If somebody backs out into the flow of traffic along the street, and causes a collision then they are at fault.
Work should recommence this week on the reconstruction of the section of the Mitchell Highway east of Nyngan.
A lengthy delay eventuated after one of our semi-tippers rolled onto its side while tipping gravel, and fell on the back of one of our utes.
Fortunately no one was inside the ute, and our driver of the truck was not seriously injured. RMS and Workcover have been investigating the accident.
It is good to hear our students and teachers from Nyngan High School are home safely after their trip to Tongling City in China.
They are due to come to our December council meeting to tell us about their trip, however, I am sure they would be glad to tell anyone about their experiences if you see them about.
Two well-known identities turning 80 about now. Happy 80th birthday to former shire president John Hoare and former State Governor Rear Admiral Peter Sinclair AC, AO,KStJ.
RL Donald
Mayor
