With NSW Women’s Week on the horizon it is with great delight I congratulate local Wellington Showgirl, Geena Purcell for making history, being the first showgirl candidate ever to be selected to represent Wellington at the showgirl finals at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
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Rural women’s award
I am also happy to announce local Jillian Kilby from Dubbo is a finalist for the 2018 NSW-ACT AgriFutures Rural Woman’s Award. I am extremely proud that Ms Kilby who lives and works in our community, has been selected as a finalist in this prestigious award.
The award identifies and supports rural women who have the ambition, commitment and leadership potential to make a greater contribution to our regions. Ms Kilby’s project is to improve the commercial success of start- ups by increasing the capability, capacity and confidence of regional business owners.
Ms Kilby said the bursary would go towards developing the business concept and include conducting a Regional Start-ups Insight Study. The project lives within a bigger eco system to develop more effective space and service for new and growing business owners within Dubbo and the wider catchment. The award winner will be announced in April at Parliament House, Sydney.
The winner of the 2018 NSW-ACT AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award will receive a bursary of $10,000 along with the professional development opportunities.
The three remaining finalists will receive a $1000 Department of Primary Industries Leadership Bursary for skills and leadership development. The finalists will join a vibrant NSW-ACT Alumni group of over 40 past Award winners and finalists committed to making a difference to regional communities and primary industries.
Community building
This week I have also had the privilege of presenting much needed funds to community infrastructure projects in Wellington, Stuart Town and Mumbil under the NSW Government Community Building Partnership Program. The aim of the funding is to create more vibrant and inclusive communities and deliver positive social, environmental and recreational outcomes.
Wellington PCYC was presented with $5000 to build large storage cupboards for archery supplies and other equipment. Wellington Golf Club was successful in receiving $24,000 worth of funding for a new roof line.
The Stuart Town Advancement Association has received two grants under the NSW Government initiative. $6737 to construct a new disability approved ramp and construction of safety railings around the verandah, providing direct ramp access to the centre and $15,000 was presented for repairing and painting the exterior walls of the Ironbarks Creative Arts Centre.
The Mumbil Advancement Association was presented $32,208 for the construction of a fully furnished and equipped iron clad building at the existing oval.
Funding for preschools
I urge all preschools in the region to apply for funding as part of a $15 million injection from the NSW Government to ensure children attending preschools have the safest and most engaging learning environments.
This is yet another reminder the NSW Government is investing in the educational quality of preschools and helping to increase the number of children attending preschools in the Dubbo electorate. The funding is made up of the new $10 million Quality Learning Environments fund and the $5 million Capital Works Grants fund – both a product of the NSW Government’s Start Strong program.
The NSW Government’s $332 million Start Strong program was introduced in 2016 and has been extended until 2021 – this investment is more than ever before. Visit education.nsw.gov.au/early-childhood-education.
Until next week, Troy