View this email in your browser

In this e-Newsletter:

CWLL Committee Meetings for 2018
Sustaining Landcare
Dick Richardson Grazing Naturally workshop at Trundle - 30/1/2018
Back Yamma Agricultural Natural Disaster Assessment Update
TITAN Mud Run Challenge - 24/3/2018
Australia Day Celebration details - Forbes & Parkes Shires
Tullamore Irish Festival
Jack Scoble Scholarship - Parkes
Community Funding Program - Forbes
Electronic Land Contracts
Cancer Council Healthy Lunchbox
Grants

CWLL Committee meeting dates for 2018. Click here to view our calendar.

SUSTAINING LANDCARE

While excellent progress has been achieved, the job is not done: Landcare is still not on a stable footing and further work is needed to build the infrastructure to support the grassroots movement at all levels.

Landcare staff and volunteers need certainty. Continued investment and support from the State Government will enable Landcarers to focus on doing the work necessary to protect and restore our precious natural resources for generations to come.

Sustaining Landcare – The Next Chapter sets out Landcare’s value and explains how we would like to see our partnership with the State Government develop into the future.

In partnership with NSW Local Land Services, Landcare NSW is implementing the NSW Local Landcare Coordinator Initiative (LLCI). This initiative started in 2015 and the funding ends in June 2019. Landcarers would like to see this program continue seamlessly into 2019-2020 financial year and beyond. For this reason Landcare seeks an allocation of funds in the 2018 State Budget.

While the NSW Government is Landcare’s primary partner, our future depends on diversifying our revenue sources. Landcare NSW has embarked on a journey to professionalise the organisation and create new funding sources for Landcare support.

Central West Lachlan Landcare are writing to our State and Federal members outlining the progress that has been made in their electorate and seeking an opportunity to meet with them to discuss the LLCI program and the successful undertakings in Parkes and Forbes Shires as a result of the program.

Dick Richardson will be presenting a Grazing Naturally Workshop at Trundle
Tuesday, 30 January between 9am and 4.30pm.
Morning tea and lunch are provided.
Refer for the flier for further information.
Do you need a lift out from Parkes? Marg will be heading out at 8am.
Contact her on 0418 611 053.

AGRICULTURAL NATURAL DISASTER ASSESSMENT APPLICATION

On 13 December Central West Lachlan Landcare submitted the final draft of an Agricultural Natural Disaster Assessment for Back Yamma and Cookamidgera, which is currently undergoing review by the Department of Primary Industries. The intention of this Assessment is to have the isolated hail incidents and flash flooding in November recognised as a Natural Disaster to allow access, through application, to funding provided by the State Government to provide for relief and assistance, particularly for those who lost significant yield in this event.

Due to this event being isolated to the Back Yamma and Cookamidgera area, many in the surrounding districts did not receive the significant rain and hail events that were experienced in this area.

Member for Orange, Philip Donato MP, submitted a written question to the Minister for Primary Industries, The Hon Niall Blair MLC on 21 November 2017 regarding the availability of assistance for farmers in this event. On 22 December, The Hon Paul Toole MP responded on behalf of Minister Blair. You can read this response on Mr Donato's facebook page here.

Central West Lachlan Landcare is grateful for this approach on behalf of landholders impacted by the event and are hoping for a successful outcome with the application. Please find more information on the event here.

Central West Lachlan Landcare (CWLL) are getting a Landcare Team for the TITAN Macquarie Mud Run and would love you to join us!

The run is on Saturday, 24 March 2018 at Dubbo.
We will be in the 10am - 11am Start Wave.
Not feeling as fit as you used to be? That's Ok! You have have two months to shape up!
You can find out more here.

Central West Lachlan Landcare have a commitment to encouraging Landscapes, Healthy People and Healthy Communities, but during 2018, we will have a special focus on these areas, acknowledging that one ties into the other and are looking forward to working with our communities to increase health in all of these areas.

One of our Challenges for 2018, will be the TITAN Macquarie Mud Run where we will be encouraging Landcarer's from across the Central West (and Central Tablelands) to challenge themselves and work as a team to complete the course with us. Check out the flier above for more information, or click here for the Mud Run website.

CWLL CHALLENGE Parkes & Forbes Shire Landcarers to join our Team.
CWLL CHALLENGE other Coordinators and Landcarers from around the Central West to join us as part of a Central West Landcare Team.
CWLL CHALLENGE Central Tablelands Landcare to get a team together….and, yes, we are open to a counter challenge CT!

AUSTRALIA DAY EVENTS IN THE FORBES & PARKES SHIRES

Get out amongst it and celebrate the freedom that we have as Australian citizens!

FORBES
26 JANUARY – AUSTRALIA DAY
7AM Rotary Community Breakfast at the Apex Park
A community breakfast hosted by the Rotary Club of Forbes, including the presentation of the Rotary Citizenship Awards.
11AM – 2PM Diggers Family Swim and BBQ Lunch at Forbes Olympic Pool
5.30PM – 9PM Party in the Park at Lions Park
Join us for Australia Day Celebrations on beautiful Lake Forbes. Grab a blanket, pack a hamper and enjoy the sunset!
- Live music by Gabe Music and more
- Food stalls and bar
- Pedal boats
- Amusement rides
- Fireworks
- Forbes Citizen of the Year awards
- CWA damper cooking
- Inspirational ambassador James Pittar, vision impaired ultra-marathon swimmer
For more information, check out the Upcoming Events on Facebook

PARKES
25 January – AUSTRALIA DAY EVE
Australian Art Exhibition official opening on Australia Day Eve in the Coventry Room.
26 January – AUSTRALIA DAY
7AM Community walk starting at 7am from Cooke Park (incorporating the Indigenous amphitheatre), followed by a free breakfast at Cooke Park.
8AM-11AM Kites of all sizes and shapes including a giant whale will be flying high at Northparkes Oval.
10AM All Australian Car Display at Cooke Park.
10.30AM Live entertainment by the Parkes Shire Band at Cooke Park.
11AM Official Ceremony at Cooke Park including presentation of Community Awards and Citizen of the Year, address by Ambassador.
2PM-6PM Make a splash at the Parkes Aquatic Centre with free entry from 2pm-6pm.
7PM Enjoy the setting sun with harness racing and the infamous Annual Golden Yabby Race!
During the day....Mini Bowls Day at Parkes Bowling and Sports Club

BOGAN GATE
8AM Flag Raising Ceremony at Park followed by a cooked breakfast, competition and prizes and Memorial Hall.

PEAK HILL
7.30AM Community breakfast at Peak Hill Park.
8.30AM Official Ceremony including Welcome to Country, Prayer, Official Welcome, Flag raising and National Anthem, presentation of Australia Day Awards, Cutting of the Cake, Best Outfit/Colouring In Competition, free entry to pool from 3pm and sausage sizzle at 6pm.

TULLAMORE
8AM Community BBQ breakfast at Memorial Park.
2PM-6PM Make a splash at Tullamore Pool with free entry from 2pm-6pm.

TRUNDLE
7.30AM Community breakfast at Berryman Oval.
9AM Official ceremony including Flag-raising, presentation of Citizen and Sporting Awards, presentations made by Bush Tucker Day Committee.
2PM-6PM Make a splash a Trundle Pool with free entry from 2pm-6pm.

Make sure you hashtag #AusDay #AustraliaDay

TULLAMORE IRISH FESTIVAL
The Tullamore Irish Festival is just over two months away, with a plethora of fabulous activities and acts. Find out more on their website here or Facebook page.

The Festival are also hosting an Art Show. A prospectus can be found here.

Jack Scoble Scholarship - Parkes
$2,000 University Scholarships on Offer for Parkes students

Applications close on 25 January 2018 at 10am for Parkes Shire students who have completed the Higher School Certificate, in 2016 or 2017, to apply for a Jack Scoble Scholarship.

The Jack Scoble Scholarship offers local students the chance to receive up to $2,000, and is supported by the Parkes Shire Council and local community groups. The scholarship is open to students who completed the Higher School Certificate at a school within the Parkes Shire and undertaking their first year of full-time university studies in 2018.

Getting an extra financial boost can make tertiary education more accessible for regional young people.

Applicants must:
1. Be residents of Parkes Shire who have completed the Higher School Certificate at either a) a school within the Shire; or b) a school outside of the Shire as non-boarding students
2. Be entering their first year of full time university studies either a) immediately after graduating high school; or b) after a gap period of no longer than 24 months
3. Demonstrate academic merit
4. Undertake studies that will offer a benefit to the wider community

Scholarship guidelines and application form are available on Council's website.

Applications close: Friday 25/1/2018 at 10am. For more Information please call Shellie Buckle on 6861 2338.

Community Funding Program - Forbes
Forbes Shire Council is calling on all not-for-profit organisations, community and sporting groups to apply for Community Funding Program for the 2018-2019 financial year.

In alignment with the Forbes Shire Community Strategic Plan 2017 – 2027, all community funding will be allocated annually to fit in with the council’s budget cycle.

A CFP drop-in session will be held on Wednesday, February 14 for Council staff to assist with applications.

Community Funding Program application forms can be collected from Council and copies will be distributed at the information night. Forms can also be downloaded from the Forbes Shire Council website, by following the quicklink on the left hand side. Forbes Shire Grant Funding page on Facebook also has a link to download the application form.

Applications will close on February 28, 2018. Find our more on the FSC website here.

In alignment with the Forbes Shire Community Strategic Plan 2017 – 2027, all community funding will be allocated annually to fit in with the council’s budget cycle.

A CFP drop-in session will be held on Wednesday, February 14 for Council staff to assist with applications.

Applications will close on February 28, 2018. Find our more on the FSC website here.

ELECTRONIC LAND CONTRACTS
The Office the Registrar General invites feedback on ways that digital technology and electronic signatures can make land transactions more efficient and secure.

NSW is transitioning to an electronic system for settling conveyancing matters and for the lodgement and registration of land dealings.

Some parts of a property transaction still rely heavily on paper, with some contracts and agreements needing ‘wet’ signatures.

The government wants to help industries involved in the conveyancing process to move into the digital environment. It is exploring ways to overcome perceived barriers to a completely paperless process while ensuring consumers who want to sign electronically are protected.

The Office of the Registrar General has released a discussion paper examining ways to harness new technology in land contracts and to enable complete electronic property transactions. The paper looks at removing legal obstacles for digital transactions and providing more certainty around electronic signature and witnessing requirements.

Click here to find out how to have your say by 16 February 2018, or find out more information.

Cancer Council Healthy Lunchbox...

Are you feeling the parental anxiety of the back to school lunchbox pressure already? Maybe you are looking for some new ideas for yourself....Cancer Council NSW has launched a brand new website that will make the task of preparing a healthy school lunch for the kids a whole lot easier. The Healthy Lunch Box website includes simple, tasty recipes and ideas for lunches, healthy snacks and family meals.

It features an interactive lunch box builder that enables parents and their kids to plan a healthy lunch box at home, or on the move with their smartphone or tablet.

With only 7 per cent of children eating enough vegetables (what?) and 22 per cent of children overweight or obese, adding fruit and vegetables to the lunch box every day is a simple way to ensure children get the benefits of eating a healthy and balanced diet.

The Healthy Lunch Box website is a great tool to get even the fussiest eaters enthusiastic about eating healthily.

Visit healthylunchbox.com.au and pack a tasty healthy lunch box today!

A couple of extra GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
ABORIGINAL REGIONAL ARTS FUND
The Aboriginal Regional Arts Fund supports arts projects that celebrate and promote Aboriginal cultural identities in regional NSW and, by doing so, make the rich and diverse Aboriginal cultures of regional NSW more visible and accessible.
Individuals and organisations can apply; $5000 for individuals and up to $20k for organisations.
Online application at the link above. Guidelines are also available on this link. Closing 26 February 2018

ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NSW FOUNDATION
The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Foundation (RASF) Community Kitchen grant is still open RASF are giving rural and regional NSW community organisations the chance to win funding and appliances worth more than $20,000 to create a community kitchen. Find out more here.
Closing 4 February 2018