Mon

Balranald Shire Council Councillor

Contact

Details

Mayor Cr Steve O’Halloran

0428 201 301

Deputy Mayor

Cr Lynda Cooke

03 5020 0471

Cr Ken Barnes

03 5038 2221

Cr Leigh Byron

0418 530 782

Cr Elaine Campbell

0447 271 086

Cr Trevor Jolliffe

03 5020 1597

Cr Jeff Mannix

0409 783 075

Cr Alan Purtill

0429 201 301

WHAT’S OPEN

Balranald Museum Open Monday, Wednesdays &

Fridays 10am to 12 noon

Balranald Library Monday & Friday 2pm - 5.30pm

Wednesday 9am - 5.30pm

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 Lisa 0428 995 489

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

ISS UE

December 2013

12

Balranald Shire Council Newsletter Issue 12, December 2013 www .ba lrana ld .nsw .gov .au

Coming Events NEWSLETTER

www .ba lrana ld .nsw .gov .au

Hospital Bus Dates All transport (Bus-HACC -Bus-a-bout and Aboriginal transpot) is closed from 23rd December until 14th January 2014 Contact - Hospital on 03 5071 9800

18 Dec Balranald Central School Break up

18 Dec St Josephs School Break Up

22 Dec Balranald Community Carols 6.00pm @ the Theatre Royal

24 Dec 25 Dec 25 Dec

Balranald Christmas Mass Times Catholic Mass at 6pm. Anglican Mass at 9am Presbyterian Mass at 9.30am

20 Dec 21 Dec 25 Dec 27 Dec 28 Dec

3&4 Jan 10 Jan 11 Jan

17/18 Jan 24 Jan 25 Jan

Euston Club Resort Entertainment

Viktor Brank The Hoffmans CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY Keira Smith David Routledge New Years Eve Entertainment The Poachers, Rock n Roll Band Daniel Reeves David Routledge The Hoffmans Rob Syme Shadow Duo Chris Street

Mondays Fri / Sun

Mon / Sat

Thursdays Thursdays

Fridays

Saturdays 21 Dec

Balranald Ex-Servicemen's Club What’s on at the Club Members Seniors Lunch Buffet’s - Friday night & Sunday lunch $10 lunch specials Bingo will resume early January Club Mega Member Badge Draw Smorgasbord meal deals Night Raffle & members draw (Permit # LTPS/13/02905) Poker - 6.30pm (if no entertainment) Louie's disco in the main bar 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 CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY

31 Dec Hutch Lawrie playing Old time Rock’n’Roll @ Homebush from 7pm

31 Dec New Years Eve Celebrations for the family @ Greenham Park from 7pm

18 Jan Robinvale Country Market Caix Square from 9am

21 Jan Euston Robinvale Historical Society Inc. Meeting 10am @ The Court House

COMMUNITY GENERAL INTEREST

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

Men's Shed Tues & Thurs 10am Heritage Park Take Off Weight Naturally Club at Multipurpose Centre (Hospital) Mondays 6.00pm Contact Kathy 0407 304 922

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 Meet fourth Thursday in each month @ 2pm Contact June Spinks (Secretary) 5020 1774

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 web www.keys2drive.com.au

Rubbish Tip Hours

BALRANALD

1st August to 30th April

Tuesday 5.00 - 7.00pm

Thursday 5.00 - 7.00pm

Saturday 10.00am - 1.00pm

Sunday 10.00am - 3.00pm

EUSTON

Effective 1st April 2011

Tuesday 1.00pm - 6.00pm

Thursday 1.00pm - 6.00pm

Sunday 9.00am - 3.00pm

Tip Tokens are

available from Councils office,

Visitor Information Centre and CC’s Diner and Takeaway

(Caltex, Market Street).

Council Website

www.balranald.nsw.gov.au

Council consider centre naming ideas

Looking at doing a course in 2014?

The Sunraysia Institute of TAFE, in conjunction with Balranald Central School is running Certificate II in Engineering Studies. This course is suitable for people interested in wanting to learn welding as a hobby and/or wanting to have a career in engineering. Basic skills are developed in OH&S, use of hand tools, use of power tools, machine operations, fabrication techniques and engineering sketching and drawing. This part-time course is a combination of lock-stepped and self paced training, with a combination of theory and practical tasks, and staff will guide students through their studies. The course will begin in February, and run over 38 weeks from the Balranald Central School . To enrol or find out more information, please phone Devon Andrews on 0429 302 006 and quote Course Code 22019VIC

Christmas Office Closure

Balranald Council Office will close from 4pm Tuesday 24th December 2013

and will re-open at 8.30am Thursday 2nd January 2014 Report emergencies to 0418 322 902

Roads and Maritime Service Office will close from

3pm Tuesday 24th December 2013 and will re-open at

9.30am Thursday 2nd January 2014. Call 132 213 with enquiries

At the August 2013 meeting of Council, several naming options for the new interpretive centre were presented to Council for consideration. Following discussions, Councillor Jolliffe and Councillor Barnes requested that the community be asked to put forward their ideas. Council sought feedback for the community and a report was tabled at the November meeting with the following options being presented:

Community Christmas trees a

twinkle For the first time in many years Balranald and Euston have community Christmas trees as a result of a joint sponsorship between Balranald Shire Council and Essential Energy. The three metre Christmas trees have been decorated with baubles and lights and are located in Market Street Balranald and at the Euston Courthouse in Murray Terrace. Essential Energy contributed $800 towards the costs of the trees, lights and decorations and the staff of Balranald Shire have spent many hours decorating the trees and surrounds. On December 23 the Balranald tree will be the focal point of the Balranald Buy Local Promotion. Council take this opportunity to wish all residents and visitors a Merry Christmas.

Council has noted that some people have been jumping from the Swing Bridge into the Murrumbidee River.

Council would like to advise that this activity is extremely dangerous as the water depth can be very shallow and can contain a number of underwater hazards. This activity is illegal and is hazardous to your health.

Bridge jumping prohibited

Bidgee Hop in Centre, Bidgee Visitors Corner, Bidgee Active Centre, The Bidgee Friendly Frog Centre, The Bidgee Ridgie Didge Centre, The Bidgee Court House Centre, The Bidgee Do Drop In Centre, Balranald’s 5 Rivers Outback Discovery Centre, Balranald’s Gate and Twin Palms. The Balranald Local History Group also submitted a suggestion for the naming of the café – “The Historic Court House Café”. Original ideas included: Balranald Square, Balranald Headquarters (HQ), Balranald Junction, Balranald Waterhole, Balranald Riverbank. The Bidgee Discovery Centre - given that Balranald has already incorporated the word Bidgee in the naming of Bidgee Haven Hostel and the Bidgee Nature Trail (new swing bridge and trail). The name of the complex should be a marketable concept that generates curiosity and has the capacity to attract the attention of the travellers.

Council is asking residents to register their preference by: emailing

council@balranald.nsw.gov.au or by calling into the Council office in Market Street Balranald

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

Swimming Pool

Hours

The Balranald Swimming Pool

has opened for the season

Pool Opening Hours

12:30pm – 6:30pm Mon-Fri

11:30am – 6:30pm 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 $128.00

The NSW

Variety Bash

is back!

The NSW Variety Bash event is

on again in August 2014 and will

be coming through Balranald.

If you are interested in hosting

ralliers for a night, please

contact Cherie at Council by

phoning 5020 1300 or email

cmuphy@balranald.nsw.gov.au to

register your interest in home

hosting.

Balranald Shire Council Australia Day Awards nominations close on December 20.

Citizen of the Year

Young Citizen of the Year

Community Event of the

Year

Sportsperson of the Year

Young Sportsperson of the Year

Special Achievement (this may be in

sport or any field of endeavour)

Nominations must be in writing on the official nomination form and submitted to the Acting General Manager Balranald Shire Council 70 Market Street Balranald or PO Box 120 Balranald NSW 2715. Nomination forms can be obtained from the Council Office or the Euston Post Office. Nominations should be received no later than 5pm on Friday 20th December 2013.

Nominations close December 20

Leaving school and need a helping hand?

The Balranald Country Education Fund has opened its annual grants round for all young people living within the Balranald Shire. If you are transitioning from school to your career, are aged 21yrs or under and need some financial support in meeting your career goals then download an application online at http://cef.org.au/cef/cef-foundations/nsw-foundations/balranald-country-education-fund/ or call email Rachael Williams 50200645 rachael@locallogicplace.com.au Applications close 5pm Friday 24th January 2014. Please send completed applications to Rachael Williams, Paika, Balranald NSW 2715. Grants are made possible with financial support from the Balranald Shire Council.

Next Ordinary

Meeting of

Balranald Shire

Council

Tuesday

18 February 2014

(Please note:

there is

no meeting

in January)

Christmas Message from the Mayor

Christmas is a special time, and as Mayor of Balranald Shire Council I extend to residents and visitors alike my best wishes for the Festive Season. Christmas always heralds a time for quiet introspection, to reminisce over where we have been and what we have accomplished during the preceding year. It is also a time for reflection; contemplation; and of establishing aspirations and goals for the year to come. If we are each allowed a Christmas wish mine is that we are able to work in partnership with our community as we strive to achieve a community where individual differences are valued, voices heard and contributions meaningful. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to the many volunteers and committee members within the Shire who work tirelessly year after year to make our community a more enjoyable place to live. And to those of you travelling over the festive season, take extra care on the roads, and arrive at your destination safely. On behalf of the Councillors and staff of Balranald Shire Council, I would like to wish you and your family a safe, peaceful and joyful Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Mayor , Cr Steve O’Halloran

Fruit Fly Fruit Fly is still rampant in and around Balranald. Fruit Fly can destroy the fruit & vegetable industry in Australia so we all need to stay vigilant and be responsible for our own backyards!! There is no State Government Assistance for control measures at this time.

SO, WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO? If you suspect you may have fruit fly in your fruit…. YOU MUST:

Pick up ALL fruit that has fallen onto the

ground immediately

Bag it up - put it in an intact plastic bag,

tie the top and then leave it in the sun for at least three days then bin it through your usual rubbish collection service

Also, a fruit fly prevention trap can easily be made by hanging a simple lure in your trees.

How do I build a lure? Wash your PVC milk or drink containers and cut a hole in the upper side approximately the size of a 20c piece. Place equal amounts of approximately ½ cup of fruit juice and cloudy ammonia in the bottle. Using a wire or string, tie around the replaced lid to fix it to a tree branch. Remove, clean and refill your lures each week.

As part of the Balranald Bucks Shop

Local Promotion, businesses will stay

open for late night shopping on

December 23.

Do your last minute shopping, catch up

with friends, grab some great bargains

and then stay on for the festivities and

major draw.

Photos with Santa

Free jumping castle

Donuts

Fairy floss

Gift wrapping

Sausage sizzle, and

Much more

The Balranald Retailers Association wish

to thank all the businesses involved in

supporting the Shop Locally promotion,

and wish all residents and visitors a very

Merry Christmas and safe happy New

Year.

In January, Arts Mildura in conjunction with Balranald Shire Council will present a Murray River International Music Festival performance at the Theatre Royal on January 28. Sergio de Pieri, awarded an OAM for his contribution to music, will embark on his annual pilgrimage to Mildura bringing with him a marvellous selection of virtuosi from Italy and other parts of the world. Musicians perform with many string instruments including the violin, viola, harp and guitar in venues ranging from riverside settings to inland gardens, wineries and select regional arts studios. The program provides world-class entertainment and opens with a traditional performance in one of the most amazing settings in regional Australia, Ampelon Gardens in Gol Gol NSW. Performances will also take place throughout the region, commencing in Ouyen on 20th January, followed by Mildura for one week, before moving onto Balranald, Swan Hill, Cohuna and finally Shepparton, as guests enjoy gourmet foods and local wines.

The 2014 Murray River International Music Festival promises to be yet another vibrant cultural festival, bringing widely-acclaimed musicians together for performances in beautiful locations. To find more information on festival events, ticketing and musician biographies, please visit the new Arts Mildura website www.artsmildura.com.au.

Balranald to host international musicians