A lot has changed in the world since last week's column, with businesses and individuals affected in a variety of ways as we battle COVID-19.
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A number of measures were announced by the Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday night that will have significant impacts on all of us, but we all need to take responsibility to ensure we get through this together.
I am doing my best to provide regular updates and critical information to constituents via my social media channels and website (www.dugaldsaunders.com.au) however the messaging remains simple - we need to use common sense and abide by the restrictions put in place.
More information on these measures, and ways to slow down the spread of the virus, can be found by visiting preview.nsw.gov.au/covid-19.
Relief given
Prior to the implementation of these new measures, I spent last week in electorate during the week and made some positive announcements, which came as a relief given all the bad news in the world at the moment.
On Tuesday I visited Mudgee to announce $200,000 in funding to complete work on a shared loop pathway around the town.
The pathway connects Mudgee's town centre around Walkers Oval, across the Cudgegong River through to Glen Willow Regional Sporting Complex, and out to the Putta Bucca residential area, the Putta Bucca Wetlands and around to the Mudgee Racecourse before returning to Mudgee's Olympic swimming pool, Lawson Park and the CBD.
It promotes a healthy lifestyle and complements recent funding that will allow Glen Willow to become a real community sporting hub once we get through the COVID-19 crisis.
Stronger Country
On Friday I was in Wellington to announce $400,000 in Stronger Country Communities funding for the installation of an education facility at the recently-opened Wellington Caver visitors centre.
The funding will allow Dubbo Regional Council to proceed with the installation of an interactive exhibition zone in the centre, which will appeal to families and, when the COVID-19 situation dissipates school groups will also be able to make use of it.
The Wellington Caves are one of the most unique tourist locations we have in the Dubbo electorate, but aside from that it is one of our most important environmental areas and having a facility that tells of its history is an important project and one I'm proud to be able to make a reality.
Tireless work
In between those events I made a special trip to Wellington to announce Pip Smith as the Dubbo Electorate Woman of the Year.
Pip has been a tireless worker for a number of organisations in her home town, and it was lovely to be able to formally recognise her contribution to the community.
Until Next Week, Dugald