Andrew Gee
Calare · Independent · Australia
“She also plans to engage medical, nursing and allied health students, giving them a unique opportunity to assist local patients while gaining invaluable 'community credits' for their participation. This initiative proves once again that the spirit of community care is alive and well in Bathurst.”
“There just aren't as many providers in country areas, and participants and providers often have to travel long distances in order to meet and get those services delivered—and to help country Australians on the ground. So I will be supporting these amendments. I think they are very important for the modern Australia that we live in.”
“I wish to support the amendments moved by the member for Fowler. They are important amendments not only for the member for Fowler's electorate but for all electorates across this country.”
“I rise today to celebrate a wonderful new community initiative in the Central West, the official launch of the Friends of Bathurst Hospital. Hospitals can be daunting, confusing and stressful places for anyone to navigate.”
“I want to say a big thank you to outgoing Rotary Club of Bathurst Daybreak president, Craig Ronan, for his leadership over the past 12 months and offer my congratulations to incoming president Erik Mol.”
“Volunteer coordinator Sylvia Gore so beautifully put it: Our health service and its staff do such important work caring for our community every single day, and the Friends of Bathurst Hospital is an opportunity for people to support that work but also help look after one another too.”
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“The museum wishes to buy the site to secure long-term tenure and its future in Lithgow; however, to date no sale of the site by Thales to the museum has been agreed upon. The Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum is truly unique. It not only contains a firearms collection but also contains UNESCO-listed archives and a huge machinery collection. If the museum does not reopen, the collection will be split up, and Australia and Lithgow will lose a key part of our history. I'm therefore urging all parties to redouble their efforts to conclude outstanding issues between the Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum and Thales. The community is extraordinarily supportive both of armaments manufacturing in Lithgow by Thales and of the museum, and it's vital for Lithgow and Australia that this issue be resolved as soon as possible.”
“I thank all of the museum's volunteers for their wonderful, dedicated work. The community really appreciates it. Last year there was a criminal break-in at the museum in which dozens of historic handguns were stolen. The museum has been closed since the break-in, pending essential security upgrades to the building. The closure of the museum has had a devastating impact on the volunteers and also on people around Australia who wish to visit the museum, including those who want to research the history of family members who worked at the small arms factory. Unfortunately, at present there appears to be an impasse over the museum's tenure at the small arms factory site. Thales has offered the museum a lease, but the volunteers have issues with the proposed terms.”
“The museum is iconic not only for Lithgow but for Australia. It's the keeper of the history of arms manufacturing in Lithgow and our country. Visitors come from all over our nation to visit the museum and learn about the arms being manufactured there. Some 10,000 people visit the small arms factory museum every year, and it's a key tourist drawcard for Lithgow and the region. Many Australians have a deep connection with Lithgow and the small arms factory. The museum is a real and tangible link with our history, and it's why so many people feel attached to it. The museum is run by a small group of volunteers and is funded through admissions and sales in its shop. The museum's hardworking executive includes President Donna White, Vice-President Adam Cullen, Graham Dixon, Joseph Abraham, secretary Kerry Guerin, Lynne Butler and Ray Bent.”
“By 1937, the factory had been making about 30,000 rifles each year, and by 1942, with the outbreak of World War II, employment at the Lithgow small arms factory had grown to 6,000 people, with a further 6,000 employed at various feeder factories around the region. Production had increased to 4,000 rifles per week at this time. Through the Korean and Vietnam wars to modern day conflicts, Lithgow has continued to make rifles for the Australian Defence Force. It is currently operated by world-wide defence and armaments manufacturer Thales. The community values and supports Thales and the crucial employment it brings, as well as its contribution to our national security. Defence manufacturing at Lithgow must continue. At the site of the Lithgow small arms factory is the Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum.”
“Since the First World War, the Lithgow small arms factory has been integral to our nation's security and cultural history. After the Boer War campaign, it became clear that, due to its geographic isolation, Australia required a sovereign arms-making capability. After Federation in 1901, it fell to the new Australian government to secure Australia's defence and make Australia's arms manufacturing a reality. The Lithgow small arms factory officially opened in June 1912, when the factory had 190 employees. This grew to 373 employees by June 1914. When the First World War broke out, the factory was still not up to its full production potential of 20,000 rifles per year. It's been manufacturing arms for our men and women in uniform ever since.”
“So rather than pretend to ride in on white horses, as I've already indicated, the National Party should be apologising for the hurt and pain and conflict and uncertainty that the legislation which they have unleashed has created in our area. It's now up to all parties to get behind this bill. We need a sensible, balanced and workable energy policy that is fair for everyone. I commend the bill and the motion to the House, and I seek leave to table a copy of the bill and the explanatory memorandum. Leave not granted.”
“They have asked me to take this proposal, which is a legislative response, to Canberra. I'm very happy to do it because urgent action is needed. One of the common themes through the consultations that I've had around the area, particularly with respect to these state forests, is that the burden of these developments is falling disproportionally on country people rather than city people. They don't think that balance is fair, and they don't think that the balance is right. This bill rights the wrong that the New South Wales National Party inflicted on country communities around the Central West when they bulldozed their legislation through the New South Wales parliament to allow windfarms in state forests. It was their legislation, and they voted it in. It was National Party and Liberal Party legislation. You can't make it up.”
“You can talk about nuclear, but these developments will be up and running by the time that policy would even get out of bed. My bill would be the quickest and simplest way to stop them in their tracks. Many of our local residents around the Central West have been in these areas for generations. Many are elderly and many were shocked, as I was, when the Sunny Corner proposal was unveiled and they saw the scope of these turbines and where they were placed—so close to many residential areas. I expressed my concern to the developer when I saw that plan, but the consultation around the Central West at its very best has been very patchy. As I have stated, there are some wind farm developers who simply will not do the right thing. The residents of our area who are impacted by these developments in these state forests are looking for a voice.”
“To put it beyond any doubt, without limiting the definition of 'state forest', it includes the Sunny Corner State Forest near Portland and Lithgow, the Vulcan State Forest, the Mount David State Forest and the Gurnang State Forest—they are in the Oberon area—and also the Canobolas State Forest near Orange. But the bill and the operative clause are not limited to those named state forests; it's for any state forests. Also, I should point out that the constitutional power which is utilised in the framing of this bill is the corporations power. I've introduced this bill because we need some different thinking on this. These wind farm developments are coming at local residents like a freight train down the line. Local residents are very worried about it and they're very concerned about it, and there doesn't seem to be a way to stop the train.”
“But there is a way forward to clean up this mess. There is. We just need to take a different approach. I've come up with a new solution, which I mentioned at the meetings in Oberon and in Sunny Corner last week. My bill enables the federal government to use its constitutional powers to make laws to stop turbine developments in these state forests. This federal legislation would override the existing way-too-loose state law. This is the bill that I now present to the House. Clause 3 of the bill is the operative clause. Clause 3(1) states a constitutional corporation must not construct, install or commission a wind farm in a state forest.”
“Lack of proper consultation is a huge issue right across our region. I've been dealing with these issues for many, many years. There are so many developments that I'm being contacted about on an almost daily basis, and I almost lose count of them. I recently went in to bat for residents at Tallawang—which is near Gulgong—who are going to be heavily impacted by wind turbines. Through my advocacy with the company, the turbines were moved to another area. I've also worked with farmers in the Hill End and Sallys Flat area to get turbines moved away from farmhouses and get the scale of the development reduced. In one case a wind turbine was going to be constructed outside the kitchen window of a farming family who'd been working that land for generations. It's a very messy situation for residents and also for communities.”
“It's the same story with the creation of the New South Wales renewable energy zones and EnergyCo, the New South Wales government company that's building the power lines. The National Party put all of this in place without properly consulting with local communities and without passing laws which would clearly set out the rights of landholders. All the major parties are responsible for this. Planning laws need to be overhauled. There should be no developments on prime agricultural land. I would include residential developments in this as well. Australia needs food security, yet we are increasingly importing food from overseas. Added to this is the fact that we're often dealing with city-based windfarm staff who have no real idea about country life or how country people live and work.”
“It's simply not the country way. I spoke to one of our local Sunny Corner residents last week who told me that under the current proposal for the Sunny Corner State Forest she will have a turbine one kilometre from her house. She said she's hardly slept because of the worry and the strain. It's a classic example of country people bearing the burden of policies that are made in Macquarie Street and Canberra. Rather than pretending to ride in on white horses, the National Party should be apologising to local communities for the conflict they've created through their failure to do their jobs when they were in government. All the major parties need to take responsibility for their glaring failure to protect impacted residents. They have left others to pick up the pieces.”
“While I've had some success in getting wind farms moved or modified for local residents, I've experienced a number of companies who will just not do the right thing by local residents. To me, it's very clear that the controversies and conflicts that communities are having as a result of renewable projects is because of the failure in politics and politicians. The problem is that windfarms are regulated by state planning laws. In 2021, when the New South Wales National Party and their candidate for Calare passed a law to put wind farms in state forests, they did so without properly regulating and setting out the rights of impacted residents and neighbours. The result of this glaring failure to pass proper laws is conflict and controversy. You've got family members fighting family members over the fence and communities divided.”
“I am not against renewable energy, but reasonable, commonsense balance is needed. I have to say that I was very concerned by what I saw there. These turbines are very close to many residential homes—in some cases, a mere one kilometre away. I was surprised by how big the impact would be on these residents. It seems to me like the developer has placed the turbines at locations which will cost them the least but will impact local residents the most. It's the same around Oberon. I cannot support these developments. While the developers say that they will consult, the reality is that for these companies it's a business decision that is made in faraway foreign boardrooms. I've been working with local residents in other impacted communities on similar issues for many years.”
“I move: That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the following from occurring immediately: (1) the Member for Calare presenting a Bill for an Act to stop windfarms in state forests, and for related purposes; (2) debate on the second reading of the bill proceeding immediately for a period of no longer than one hour; and (3) any questions required to complete passage of the bill then being put without delay. Today I introduce this game-changing bill which would stop the building of wind farms in softwood pine plantations. The bill is aptly titled Stopping Windfarms in State Forests Bill 2025. Over the last few weeks, I have attended consultations and meetings in Sunny Corner and Yetholme in the seat of Calare, where the Sunny Corner State Forest wind farm proposal has been unveiled.”
“My question is to the Treasurer. Petrol prices in Mudgee have been disgracefully high for way too long. They're consistently 30c to 40c per litre higher than in other parts of our region, and sometimes even higher than that. The ACCC is not acting. Will you and your government take action to stop this outrageous price gouging that's being perpetrated by fuel companies in a cost-of-living crisis?”
“Mudgee's Sierra Escape, and owners, Cameron and Natascha D'Arcy, won gold in the unique accommodation category. Bathurst's Wilga Station, and owners, Mez and Hamish Keith, won silver in the unique accommodation category. Bathurst Visitor Information Centre won gold in the visitor information services category. These outstanding businesses do an amazing job contributing to our local economy, employing local residents and attracting thousands of tourists every year to our beautiful region. Our nation needs to support and value our small businesses and all they do for our communities. We warmly congratulate all of our wonderful local award winners in the NSW Tourism Awards.”
“Today I wish to recognise the outstanding small businesses that took out major honours in the recent NSW Tourism Awards. Orange's Oriana Retro Hotel & Resort, and owner, Espen Harbitz, won gold in the four- to 4½-star deluxe accommodation category. Well done, Espen. Balloon Aloft, which operates in Mudgee, won gold and was inducted into the hall of fame in the adventure tourism category, as well as winning gold for excellence in accessible tourism. Borenore's Black Sheep Inn, and owners, Helen and Andrew Napier, were awarded gold in the hosted accommodation category. Bathurst Regional Council took out gold and a local government award for tourism. Lithgow's Frankie's Restaurant and Bar, and owners, Chris, Michael, Sandra and Genna Inzitari, took out bronze in the tourism restaurants and catering services category.”
“I'd like to pay tribute to the chair of Little River, Don Bruce; vice chair and long-term board member, Allan Nicholson; the secretary, Mel Kiel; the treasurer, Belinda Reynolds; and also Phoebe Gulliver, who is the CEO of Little River Landcare. Lastly, I'd like to pay tribute to the hardworking team at Burrendong arboretum. The Burrendong Botanic Garden and Arboretum is situated on 164 acres just outside of Wellington and Stuart Town and Mumbil. It is basically a native flora reserve. It's a plant bank, and it currently houses over 50,000 specimens covering 2,000 species. The Friends of Burrendong Arboretum do a wonderful job in caring for it. I'd like to pay tribute to Alice and John Newton for their decades of service and also to Rachel MacSmith from the Burrendong Botanic Garden and Arboretum for the wonderful work they all do.”
“I also wish to pay tribute to the hardworking team from Little River Landcare, which is based in Yeoval in the Cabonne shire. Their mission is to engage, empower and support the Little River community to manage and restore natural environments and to improve the sustainability of agricultural activities within the catchment. To date, they have successfully delivered $10 million worth of projects since 1998, one of which is the very successful Soil PET project, which stands for 'people, education and technology'. It's a pilot project involving soil testing right around the Little River catchment and beyond. It's designed to ensure that farmers are getting the best out of the land in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way, and it has been wildly successful.”
“The sanctuary was almost destroyed in the devastating Black Summer bushfires, but, thanks to a number of state and federal grants, the sanctuary is being protected and revitalised with a new wildlife hospital and rehabilitation centre; a new cultural community and visitor centre; repairs to the sanctuary, which was damaged during the Black Summer blazes; and also upgrades to the camping facilities. I also want to thank Trevor Evans and his family—he is the founder and owner of the Secret Creek Sanctuary—for his wonderful work. It's a passion. I want him to know how grateful the community is. It was an honour for the member for Bathurst, Paul Toole, and me to recently attend the sanctuary for a pre-opening of the new community centre.”
“I pay tribute to some key organisations in the electorate of Calare doing such a huge amount of work to protect and care for our flora, fauna and land. Firstly, Secret Creek Sanctuary—Secret Creek is situated just on the outskirts of Lithgow on the edge of the Blue Mountains. It was set up to provide a feral-animal-proof enclosure where endangered native species are protected from predators. The sanctuary is best known for the reintroduction of the eastern quoll to New South Wales in 2001, and it's also home to brush-tailed rock wallabies, potoroos, Tasmanian devils, tiger quolls, dingoes, koalas and a growing colony of endangered mountain pygmy possums.”
“That's why last year I launched the Gee Tree Challenge, where we threw down the challenge to schools, community groups and not-for-profits to tell us what they'd do with 24 native trees in 2024. The winners were Deb Porter and her wonderful team from the Bathurst Early Childhood Intervention Service and the team from St Joseph's Catholic Primary School at Manildra. We've already had a wonderful community tree planting at the Bathurst Early Childhood Intervention Service that involved students, staff and parents and the team from Charles Sturt University, and we'll be going out to St Joey's to do their planting soon. I thank Ian and Sue Rogan from the Millthorpe Garden Nursery for their support in this important initiative.”
“We take many things for granted in this country. One of them is our freedoms; we take it for granted that we'll always have them. Our national prosperity is taken for granted all too often. Another thing that's often taken for granted is our environment. We just take it for granted that we'll always have fresh air to breathe, that the rain will always fall when we need it and that our land which has always sustained our regions and our country will always provide for us. But, like our freedoms and prosperity, we can't take our environment for granted. My parents ran a wholesale and retail nursery; I grew up working in them and valuing our trees, native shrubs and native flora. They're so crucial in providing shade, stunning beauty and homes and food for our native wildlife and also in combating global warming.”
“So I commend this motion to the House and I urge Australians all over our great nation to get behind this bill and lobby their members of parliament to support this bill to preserve the use of cash in our society and in our economy. Many Australians are feeling marginalised by the move to a digital economy, they feel that they are being left behind and they feel that their voices are not being heard. They want to keep cash king in Australia. So I would urge all members to back this motion and keep cash king in Australia.”
“What the government is proposing simply is not strong enough. If the government is serious about keeping cash in Australia, it should be backing my bill. That's why this bill needs to be discussed and debated in this House and passed as a matter of urgency. Australians should have the confidence to carry cash in their wallets knowing that they can use their legal tender to make a purchase anywhere at any time As I've said, there are many people in our community who are crying out for action on this, and they haven't received it from this parliament. That's what my bill remedies. I would urge all members to support this bill. I think that this bill is vital to protect the right of Australians to choose how they will pay for their transactions. That's not a choice that should be made for them by financial institutions or businesses.”
“I think, speaking frankly, it's a second-best approach that acknowledges that the community wants action to keep cash, but I don't think it will be effective. I don't think it will stop businesses phasing out the use of cash. I don't think it will keep cash king in Australia. I think it will only end up applying to big businesses and, while it may force the supermarket giants and big fuel companies to keep cash, it won't go much further. I think Australians around our nation who still want to use cash for everyday transactions will be disappointed by the government's response to this issue. In country areas there are many people who don't buy their food and groceries from major supermarket chains, and they use cash to buy a whole range of goods and services which won't be caught by the government's so-called mandate.”
“It should be their choice, and they should have the right to use cash if they want to. This bill is not about imposing burdens and regulations on businesses; it's about striking a balance between innovation and inclusivity and preserving the essence of choice in our financial transactions and in our economy. It's about the freedom of Australians to choose how they will pay for their transactions. I note that the government has responded to my Keeping Cash Transactions in Australia Bill by stating that there is a plan to make cash transactions compulsory for essential services. I accept the Treasurer and the member for Fenner have worked on this with the best will in the world, but unfortunately I don't think it is the approach that most in our communities would support.”
“During natural disasters like fires or floods, connectivity can be disrupted for many days—sometimes longer—rendering electronic payments unusable. As I've said, many Australians prefer cash as a means of managing their budget so they can physically see the money and it can be allocated to different expenses. I ask you: how can we teach our children about the value of money and budgeting if they don't actually know what it is? Other Australians worry about privacy and the risk of fraud associated with using cards. Many Australians have been victims of fraud and unauthorised transactions relating to cards and accounts linked to them. Privacy is another reason some Australians prefer to use cash over cards. And some people simply don't like or want corporations knowing every single thing they buy.”
“It's been estimated that Australians are losing more than a billion dollars a year in surcharges when they pay by card and not by cash. I've had feedback from local businesses about my Keeping Cash Transactions in Australia Bill. Many businesses actually want to keep cash as well; they don't want to switch to being solely digital. But, like many in our community, they are worried there may be an agenda either by governments or by large corporations to phase cash out. In country areas, we also need to consider the practicalities of internet connectivity. In many regional and rural areas reliable internet access does not exist, and cash remains a dependable means of exchange that does not rely on electricity or internet access. The bottom line is that cash transactions are unaffected by digital failures.”
“Many Australians find managing accounts and cards online to be a very stressful experience, and they find it confusing. Many Australians, particularly older Australians, don't want to use online banking or online accounts. I should point out, coming from a rural and regional area, that cash is often used in rural areas by individuals who don't have ready access to banking services. Many constituents in the Calare electorate are also worried that, if they are forced to switch to cards, they will face additional fees in the form of bank surcharges—and that is a very good point. Many Australians are now waking up to the fact that banks and financial institutions charge merchant fees for card transactions which can then be passed on to consumers. It's an insidious tax that is added to transactions just by tapping a card.”
“It defies belief that cash can be legal tender in this country but businesses are not obliged to accept cash for transactions. All they have to do is make it known to a customer that cash is not accepted and they don't have to accept it. This is causing a huge amount of anxiety and grief in our communities, particularly our country communities. Many senior Australians do not want to use cards for their transactions. The Reserve Bank of Australia has found that Australians over the age of 65 are the heaviest users of cash. To many older Australians, cash is not just a convenience; it's a lifeline. In these times of economic uncertainty and rising costs, cash is actually an essential tool for managing finances and sticking to a budget.”
“It does this by legislating that businesses operating in face-to-face settings must offer to accept and, crucially, must accept cash payments for transactions that do not exceed $10,000. The bill provides for maximum civil penalties of $5,000 for individuals and $25,000 for companies—and it should be noted that they are civil penalties as opposed to criminal penalties. The bill also provides some important and practical exemptions to these requirements. They include that offering to accept cash would pose a reasonable security risk; that it would be contrary to another law of the Commonwealth or a law of a state or territory; that it would be contrary to the Commonwealth, state or territory health advice such as advice provided during a pandemic; and that cash in the form of change is needed but not readily available.”
“I move: That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the following from occurring immediately: (1) the Member for Calare introducing the Keeping Cash Transactions in Australia Bill; and (2) debate on the second reading of the bill proceeding for a period of no longer than one hour, after which any questions required to complete passage of the bill then being put without delay. Since I introduced the Keeping Cash Transactions Bill to this House, I have been overwhelmed with the response not only from around the electorate of Calare but also from around our nation. The response has been so positive and so forceful because people are worried that cash is going to be phased out. This groundbreaking legislation preserves the use of cash in our national economy.”
“Action is needed on both sides of the aisle, and I call on all members of this House to support this motion. I commend it to the House.”
“One Mudgee resident suffering from end-of-life emphysema and asthma said, 'It's like living in a third-world country.' When asked how this made her feel, she responded: Well, my end might be coming a bit quicker. While I've had constructive conversations with the Minister for Health and Aged Care and also the assistant minister, I again bring this issue to the House because urgent action is needed now. This rural doctor shortage crisis is a disgrace. Country people are being treated as second-class citizens. Immediate action is needed, and I call on this House to take it as a matter of urgency. I'm very pleased that the member for Mayo is joining me to second this motion because she knows how devastating this crisis is for country patients and country communities.”
“This was extremely disappointing, particularly with respect to the National Party. They say they want action to get more doctors to the bush but don't vote that way in parliament. My bill would have given country areas the same priority for overseas trained doctors that they had before the 2022 election. In other words, it was the previous Liberal and National parties' policy, and they still refused to vote for it in this House. It's yet more proof of a party losing its way. This unfolding rural health crisis secured further national attention when, on 17 December last year, A Current Affair aired a story on the crisis. We heard from local Mudgee GP Dr Edward Lee, who said: It is at a crisis level. It's a disaster for the patients of Mudgee and the surrounding regions.”
“In November last year, I again raised this issue in question time, where I highlighted the unfolding crisis and asked the minister when this appalling situation would be fixed and if he would come to the region to meet with local doctors and concerned residents to see the shocking effects this crisis is having. On 25 November last year, I introduced my Doctors for the Bush Bill 2024 in the parliament. This bill was simple and straightforward and would have once again ensured that country areas had priority for overseas trained doctors, who would have to work there for up to 10 years. It would have alleviated the rural doctor shortage crisis, ensuring equitable health care for rural, regional and remote Australians. Unbelievably, the National Party, the Liberal Party and the Labor Party all failed to support the bill.”
“In October last year, I started the End the Rural Doctor Shortage Crisis petition, calling on the Australian government to immediately fix the rural doctor shortage crisis and deliver more doctors to the bush without delay. The petition quickly gained over 13,000 signatures. On 10 October last year, I rose in question time to inform the Minister for Health and Aged Care about smaller towns in our electorate, such as Gulgong, that are being left without doctors and those that are closing their books to new patients. Book closures are happening in smaller communities, such as Molong and Canowindra, but also larger ones, such as Mudgee, Orange and Bathurst. The waiting time to see a GP in Wellington is now about two months. The pressure on our doctors, emergency departments and communities is immense.”
“The situation can only be described as catastrophic, and I will continue to speak on this crisis until immediate and real action takes place to fix it. Country people have shorter life expectancies than city people. It's both tragic and utterly unacceptable, but it's true, and there is no end in sight as this health crisis worsens every day. On 29 May last year, I raised this crisis as a matter of public importance, calling on the urgent need for the government to immediately address the shortage of doctors in rural and regional Australia and deliver better health services for all Australians regardless of their postcode.”
“I move: That this House: (1) acknowledges the: (a) disgraceful rural doctor shortage crisis unfolding across rural Australia; and (b) devastating impacts this crisis is having on the health of country Australians; and (2) resolves to: (a) take urgent action to end the crisis and get more doctors practising in rural, regional and remote communities; and (b) deliver equality in access to doctors and medical services to country residents and country communities. Sadly, this is not the first time I have risen in this House to put a national spotlight on the rural doctor shortage crisis that is having such a shocking impact on the health of residents in the Central West region of New South Wales and country communities around Australia. Put simply, our communities are at breaking point.”
“While time doesn't permit me to mention all of them today, I will honour them in a further speech to this House. They all make an invaluable contribution to our region and nation, and we are very grateful to them all.”
“In Bathurst, well done to Citizen of the Year Karla McDiarmid, Living Legends Garth Dean, Paul Hennessy, Nola Ryan and Carol Smith, Youth Arts Award winner Paris Masters, Community Event of the Year Bathurst Gardeners Club Spring Spectacular, Destination Event 155th Royal Bathurst Show, Hall of Fame Event Mount Panorama Punish, New Event of the Year Natural Capital: Trees as an Alternative Crop conference, Joe Ross Memorial Award recipient Bernadette Wood and National Trust Award recipients the Bathurst Sisters of Mercy. In Manildra, Citizen of the Year went to David Press, the Young Citizen of the Year is Claire Miller, and Community Group of the Year went to Manildra Swimming Club. Congratulations to all of our local Australia Day award winners and all of the nominees.”
“In Mudgee, well done to Citizen of the Year Carol Jones, Young Citizen of the Year Grace Pearce, Community Event of the Year Mudgee Lions Eye Health Program for children, recipient of the Glen Johnston Memorial Award (Music and Arts) Tyrolin Puxty, Sports Award recipient Chelsea Mottershead and Volunteer Services Award recipient Lorraine Stewart. Congratulations also to Wall of Reflections inductee David Lester. In Blayney, Citizen of the Year was awarded to Maree Farr, Young Citizen of the Year went to Sophie Bannerman, Sporting Achievement Awards went to Jim Jeffery and Emma Grey, and the Volunteer of the Year is Deirdre Molloy. Community Event of the Year went to Newbridge Winter Solstice Festival, and Appreciation Award recipients were Kevin Radburn, Lyndall Harrison and Jan Dickie.”
“In Orange, Citizen of the Year went to the great Chris Colvin and Young Citizen of the Year to Anabelle van Wyk. Orange Running Festival received Community Event of the Year, and the Community Group of the Year is Blue MOTO. The Environmental Citizen of the Year is Neil Jones, and the Local Legend award went to Merrilyn Mendham. In Wellington, Citizen of the Year went to Peter Lewsam, Senior Citizen of the Year was awarded to Marion Trounce, the Young Citizen of the Year is Mason Hill, and Young Sportsperson of the year went to Maddy O'Brien. The Services to Sport award went to Rod Pedron, and Community Event of the Year went to Wellington Amateur Theatrical Society for The Last Noel .”
“Right around the Central West of New South Wales, Australia Day celebrations were held with great pride. While I couldn't get to every Australia Day event in the Calare electorate, I attended celebrations in Oberon, Blayney, Bathurst and Portland before finishing the day in Yeoval. Across Calare, three extraordinary Australians were recognised with Medals of the Order of Australia. Our warmest congratulations to Millthorpe's John Mason OAM, Gulgong's Beryl Hayley OAM—who, at 98 years young, is the oldest recipient in this year's general division—and the family of the late Yvonne 'Toot' Keegan OAM of Orange. They've made remarkable contributions to our communities and nation. I also wish to acknowledge and thank all of our local Australia Day award winners and nominees.”