The region has no shortage of possible nominees  and what better way to give them a pat on the back than to honour and recognise them with a nomination for an Australia Day Award? I urge residents to really get behind the Awards by nominating a fellow resident and demonstrating what a community-minded place we live in. The 2017 Australia Day Award categories for Dubbo are: Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Sportsperson of the Year, Young Sportsperson of the Year, Services to Sports Award and Cultural Person of the Year. The 2017 Australia Day Award categories for Wellington are: Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Senior Citizen of the Year, Community Service or Achievement Award, Sportsperson of the Year, Junior Sportsperson of the Year, Community Event of Year. Nominations for the awards close at 5pm January 6, for details visit: www.dubbo.nsw.gov.au, Dubbo Regional Council Civic Administration Buildings at Dubbo and Wellington, Macquarie Regional Library, Western Plains Cultural Centre.

The Awards will be presented at the Australia Day celebrations in Dubbo at Victoria Park and in Wellington at Cameron Park on Thursday, 26 January 2017.

Do you know someone who is a little difficult to buy for at Christmas? Well now you can give the gift of choice while also supporting local businesses and keeping your money in Dubbo. The myDubbo card, launched on Monday, is being delivered by the Dubbo Ignite initiative in collaboration with businesses in the CBD and works like any other gift card or voucher-based system, the only difference is the money can only be spent in Dubbo at any of the 54 participating businesses.

It’s great to see so many different businesses already signing up to take part in this program and it is certain that the list will grow well into the future. The cards are available to buy at We Know Travel and Snare’s Newsagency and can be loaded up with any amount you wish up to $1000 but remember the cards cannot be redeemed outside of the participating business network.

It will be a busy time at Council’s sporting assets in the coming months with athletes from across the state competing at our pools and tracks. On the 18 , 19, 20 and 21 December the Dubbo Aquatic Leisure Centre will host the Water Polo NSW Under-14 Boys State Championships. Please note that the pool will be closed all day on the Sunday, Monday and Tuesday and until 4pm on the Wednesday.

On January 22 for the first time Dubbo will host more than 500 participants who compete in the full spectrum of track and field events in age groups from 10 years to 70 years plus at the NSW Country Athletic Championships held at Barden Park.

Then Wellington Aquatic Centre will see swimmers from all over country NSW make the journey to compete at the 2017 Swimming NSW Country Regional Meet on the 28 and 29 January 2017. 

It was with great pleasure that I unveiled the community Christmas tree at Wellington last week. The special laser-cut tree was sponsored by Brennan’s Welding with lighting done by Redfern Power Solutions. Located outside the Visitors Information Centre in Cameron Park the tree brings a great piece of Christmas cheer to the town. And don’t forget the Jingle on the Bell Community Christmas Party is on this Friday, December 16, in Cameron Park from 5pm.