Historic Barellan church to close
Val Hawker. The historic Barellan Methodist Church (now Uniting) will be closing soon and to the mark the occasion they will be holding a service of closure at 10am on Sunday December 19 at 10am. The land on which the church now stands was purchased by public auction in Narrandera in August 1909. The purchaser was Carl Reinhold Bauer a farmer of Barellan and the purchase price was eleven pounds ten shillings. Later the land was transferred to the trustees of the Methodist Church in October 1920.
Hooper to add class and experience to Blues
The Coleambally Blues have added a bucket load of talent to their A-Grade netball side with the signing of new coach, Sarah Hooper. The Former Coolamon Hooper and CSU netballer was named the Riverina League captain in 2021 and was the Riverina League best and fairest player in A-Grade in 2019.
Skywalk to replace bridge
The Narrandera Shire Council has approved an elevated walk (skywalk) and viewing platform as a replacement for the rejected lattice bridge project over the Murrumbidgee River bridge at Narrandera. The Council will reallocate $821,000 from the now cancelled Lattice Bridge walk project to the alternate project of an elevated walk and viewing platform, improved pedestrian access and lakeside deck.
Old church gets elegant makeover
Nicholas Rupolo. It’s the perfect blend of luxury and elegance. This old church built in 1890 was recently converted into a luxurious retreat by Melanie Absolom and her husband Kevin. The church features its original stained glass windows, an open and elegant living area and a mesmerising cache of history in its walls.
Travis awarded Dare to Dream scholarship
“When I got Penny, it was just after my third operation on my leg. I was sad and frustrated, but she gave me the motivation to start living my dream. I couldn't wait to get off my crutches and start riding again. Penny was being trained to be an Olympic dressage horse, but she sustained a leg injury that she meant could no longer be an elite athlete. After a rest, she is sound and can be ridden, so she is like me now": Travis Newman, 13, cancer survivor and scholarship recipient.
Major expansion at Fisheries
A massive expansion is underway at the DPI’s Narrandera Fisheries Centre courtesy of a multi-million Government investment in native fish breeding. The world class centre is Australia’s largest native fish breeding and research facility producing hundreds of thousands of fingerlings annually to stock dams and waterways in the Murray-Darling Basin.
Shearers Association, AWU, trade blows over Ag Visa
Nichola Rupolo. The Shearers Contracting Association of Australia has labelled the Australian Workers Union’s claims about the new agriculture visa as “illogical” and “unfounded”. The AWU says the federal governments new visa to entice overseas workers into the agricultural sector will undercut wages and conditions for shearers and put young women out of a job ... Experienced shearer from RPC Shearing in Temora Rohan Cockfield has seen labour issues in the industry for over a decade.
Action needed on farm worker shortages
Nicholas Rupolo. The NSW Farmers Association has grown tired of the state and federal government’s inaction on agricultural labour shortages ... The state’s grain harvest was forecast to be worth $6 billion to the state economy but harvest forecasts have been revised down as a result of worker shortages ... The inability to access labour is made worse by growing costs associated with harvesting that have proven to be a major issue.
