Dubbo Photo News 09.03.2023

Pictured beneath

are (back) Milly, Ellie, (front) Annabelle and Elizabeth PHOTO: DUBBO PHOTO

A special event for Warren

By JENET STEWART

A UNIQUE and very exciting event is about to converge upon the township of Warren.

The Warren Chamber Music Festival group have built a relationship with Música Viva Australia who are one of the world’s leading presenters of chamber music. A free event will be held on March 23, at the Warren Catholic Church from 5:30pm, showcasing some of Australia’s finest vocalists.

Vocalists include Katie Noonan and the Australian Vocal ensemble.

"Instead of families needing to travel to Sydney or Melbourne to a concert hall with bad parking and expensive seats, they can pull up on a 16-metre-wide street, reverse angle park, attend the free concert and enjoy a sausage sizzle following the concert,” explained organisers of the unique event.

Another unique and exciting element of this event is the inclusion of two choirs from the Central West Cantando Sorelle from Dubbo, directed by Raelene Burn, and SING from Warren directed by Frances Evans, who will come together to perform two works with the Australian Vocal Ensemble.

"I am utterly convinced that this evening will be like none other. The beautiful voices making up this phenomenal all-Australian vocal quartet will leave the audience feeling inspired, spellbound… goose bumpy," Frances Evans, Artistic Director of the Warren Chamber Music Festival said.

My nickname is… Fardy

Where do you work? Bodyoptions Personal Training and Health Services

How long have you lived in Dubbo? A long time…

In my spare time I like to… I do everything that’s casual, bush walks, ride, dance, read and love watching my son play soccer.

My favourite Dubbo eatery is… Hanoi Corner, their laksas are amazing! What’s the best invention ever created? Theragun or UE BOOM.

My lifelong dream is to… help people and the community to fully embrace what it is to live a healthy lifestyle.

My words of wisdom are… bite off more than you can chew and then chew like hell.

You can either have results or excuses, but you can’t have both.

My favourite song is… “Watermelon Wine” by Tom T Hall, or “Bitter Sweet Symphony” by The Verve.

My goal for 2023 is… with the amazing committee and Dubbo Regional Council to fully develop Regand Park into an amazing nature and recreational area. This area is truly going to be sensational.

ROD FARDELL

PHOTO: DUBBO PHOTO NEWS/JENET STEWART

`PARTY’

Married country music duo prepare to in Dubbo

ot off the heels of winning three Golden Guitar Awards at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, Brooke McClymont and Adam Eckersley are headed to Dubbo.

As part of a 28-date national tour, the husband-and-wife country music stars will headline The Stock Route Country Music Festival at Lazy River Estate on March 11.

Mr Eckersley lived in Dubbo when he was younger and has a soft spot for performing here.

“Dubbo is always a fun town to play,” he told Dubbo Photo News

“It's full of awesome energetic country fans who know

By LYDIA PEDRANA

their upcoming album which is due to drop in May.

Explaining that they don’t have a set song writing process, the duo relies on honesty to get the job done.

“The process changes all the time, but we are pretty brutal with each other when we write which makes for a productive session because we don't have to dance around each other feelings,” Mr Eckersley said.

“If we think an idea stinks, we just call it as it is and move on.”

“We have a great time writing together.”

And it’s lucky they have a

the youngest ever winner of a Golden Guitar Award.

She won a gong for co-writing Song of the Year – Star of the Show - with her parents and friend, Dan Biederman.

“We are so proud of her, the excitement on her face when we were called as the winners was awesome,” Mr Eckersley said.

“We're not sure if she understands fully how big a deal it is but as she gets older it'll click, for now she is just loving having the award proudly sitting in her room.”

The Stock Route Festival lineup also includes country music rockers, The Wolfe Brothers, and five-time Golden Guitar winner, Amber Lawrence.

Tickets to the family friend picnic event are available via the Events page on the Lazy River Estate website.

Country music stars Adam Eckersley and Brooke McClymont are excited to party with locals at The Stock Route Country Music Festival this weekend.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED.

IMPORTANTEVENTINFORMATION

Onlineregistrationswillbeclosingon the15thofMarch.

EventcheckinwillbefromRegandPark (mudmania)Fridaythe17thofMarch 2pm-6pmandSaturday7:30am-10am. Youcanalsoregisterlatewithinthese times.Entranceislocatedatthebottom ofTamworthSt,nearthefootbridge.For directionsyoucansearchCRNofSouth andTamworthStreets.

EveryoneparticipatinginthisyearsTitan MacquarieMudRunwillneedtobring withthemasigned2023waiver(youcan findblankwaiversonourwebsiteunder eventinfo).Parentsandguardiansmake suretosignoffforyourkiddies.

Ateamcaptaincancheck-inyourentire teamIFtheyhaveallyoursigned waivers.

Thisisacoursetosuitalllevels.Youdo nothavetocompleteanyobstaclethat youfeeltoochallengedby.Therewillbe crossingsoftheriver,whichwillbe supervisedbyqualifiedvolunteers,but weexpectthatyouhavetheabilityto swim.

Bagdropwillbeunavailableforthe2023 event.Wewillprovideasinglekeydrop. Seethevolunteersatthefinishlineto dropyourkey.

Foodvendorswillbelocatedatthestart andfinishlinesforparticipantsand spectators.

Dubbo’s sustainable flower service

Flowers are those special occasion item that we all purchase at some stage in our life for family, friends, loved ones and to sometimes spruce up our office space. Of course, flowers like all living things can have a short lifespan and you’ll be back purchasing flowers a week or

two later which is not necessarily very sustainable with other higher priority wants and needs for both family and business.

That’s where Floral Image steps in as a super sustainable flower service for the Dubbo community. Take one look at these flowers and you’ll be hooked, line and

By JENET STEWART

sinker. The flowers are vibrant, lifelike floral arrangements and come in a huge array of styles and colours, you’ll have to touch them to check if they’re real, they really are simply gorgeous.

The visual impact of the flowers is stand alone and you can have a new design every month. “The

flowers provide a big visual impact for a small outlay, they have no pollens or perfumes which is ideal for allergy sufferers,” explained Nick from Floral Image.

The sustainable aspect of the flowers is that they lower the carbon footprint compared to fresh flowers and require

zero water, they’re allergy free as mentioned, mess free and are sanitised with ZOONO® for long-lasting protection. For more information on Floral Image, costing, sizing and their next visit to Dubbo, email Nick at westernsw@floralimage.com or phone him on 0401 221 304.

STOCK LIQUIDATION

Dubbo a great cycle city, but wider roads, and understanding, could make it better

By DAVID DIXON

LIFELONG cyclist Ben O’Brien believes that the vast majority of Dubbo drivers are fine with bike-riders on the road.

However, because less people grow-up riding the streets as kids like they once did in rural Australia, some car-owners have little understanding of the rights and experiences of cyclists on roads that are dominated by the motor-car.

He said that, as one of the great regional cities for cycling, Dubbo could be doing more to create shared traffic zones where bikes and cars can co-exist in harmony.

“I would say that, generally overall, they’re very good,” he said of local motorists.

“It’s a minority that’s the problem, say about one-and-a-halfper cent but, in a city of 40,000, that still ends-up a fair number of bad drivers,” he added.

Former president of Dubbo Social Cycling Club, he said that his group often have cyclists out on local roads, with relatively-open and flat Dubbo, a great town for fun and recreational bike-riding.

“We probably spend more time on the road than the Cycle Club, we’d have several groups out riding most days,” he explained.

“In Dubbo, we have three main routes, the town loop, the loop to the east taking-in the Golden

Highway and back again, and a loop to the west to the airport and the zoo, they’re all about 25–30km… we’re blessed we can do loops and not have to do ‘there and back’,” he added.

While the golden west is the ideal place for cycling, he added that this fact is not something that all local motorists are ecstatic about.

“Tuesday morning, there was four of us and a car went around us yelling abuse, and then came back and hit the brakes in front of us,” he recalls.

“It was still dark, in the early morning, but luckily, we saw his tail-lights as he stopped,” he said.

Ben added that, despite a common misconception about road rules and right-of-way, cyclists have as much claim to the road, as motor vehicles.

“We all have to follow the same road-rules the same roadrules and we have the same rights on the road as motorists,” he said.

“Drivers should remember that, we all have our licences and are drivers ourselves, we understand that people have to get to work and can get impatient, but it’s a misnomer that we don’t know what it’s like to drive on the road,” he added.

He said that, as a long-distancer traveller, cyclists can also do their bit by ensuring they are highly-visible with their

lights operating at times of low visibility.

“There’s been numerous times we’ve been hit by cars, a lot of cars don’t see bike riders, so it’s on us we make sure we’re visible,” he said.

“There was a recent incident where a guy parked on the road, opened is car door and a group of cyclists went down like dominoes,” he said.

He said that Dubbo Council can also do their bit by making the city and surrounds more cycle-friendly.

“Anywhere where they’re doing road repairs, they should look at widening the shoulder, the berm, to make it outside the line of traffic,” he said.

“Dedicated cycle lanes are also a no-brainer, but we obviously can’t have these everywhere,” he said.

He said that with fewer people coming from childhoods where tearing around on push-bikes was the norm and not the exception, many people have trouble seeing the road from the perspective of the cyclist.

“We’ve got a generation of kids who don’t know how to ride, a lot more people have never been on a bike.

“But that’s the thing about our club, we can give them that opportunity, it’s a great sport that you can do four your whole life,” Ben enthused.

Romani love of the open road

with gypsy fusion — Sarah’s Lolo Lovina

By DAVID DIXON

ROMANI gypsy perform-

er, Sarah Bedak, suspects that there is no musical group anywhere in the world, quite like Lolo Lovina.

Performing at the Macquarie Conservatorium this Sunday, March 12, her ensemble – whose name translates as “Red Beer” – is a unique fusion of traditional gypsy music and a range of western folk styles.

The group, which she started after taking time-off for motherhood, was a way of reconnecting with her musical and cultural roots.

“I had a child, a gap year of baby bliss, and I found a desire to create a band, I’d been  a performer, a dancer and acrobat so, in a way, it was something I had a background in,” Sarah explained.

“It was also a way of connecting to my father’s culture, he was a Romani Gypsy from Hungary, Budapest who was a circus performer, a trapeze artist. My father’s family were all musicians and I’d been inspired by it, he had escaped the uprising in 1956, and came to Australia,” she added.

While Sarah started the group as a one-off project, with husband Nenad Radic on guitar, they have now been touring Australia and the world for a decade and a half.

“I’d been feeling disconnected from my family, So I put this

long-winded ad in one of the street papers in Sydney looking for musicians, and it went from there,” she said.

“We’ve been going for 16-years, we’re a type of fusion music with a whole range of influences and styles,” Sarah added.

With the current fivepiece band (usually

seven performers) described as “an intoxicating brew infused with Swing and Balkan Gypsy beats,” the band has toured everywhere from the Sydney Opera House, Havana World Music Festival Cuba, SXSW in Austin, Texas, and throughout Europe.

“They’re all virtuoso musicians, we feature

guitars, a Ukrainian on button accordion, saxophone, drums, and more traditional instruments such as a cajon, a box you sit on and play,” she explained.

“We love travelling and performing, we’ve been to Dubbo before, but the last time we were there was about 10 years’ ago,” Sarah said.

One of their unique performative features (that won’t be used in the Dubbo concert) are traditional caravans that open-up for shows.

“We have these caravans that turn into stages, they’re kind of a fusion of the modern and traditional,” Sarah said.

“One’s a Viscount on the outside, but styled

inside with photos and ornaments of our ancestors…there’s a Turkish Gypsy style, another in English Romany… we’ve even performed on the back of a ute!” she said.

For people who are not just working musicians, but who also possess a deeply-ingrained, almost ancestral love of the open-road, the pandemic years were a difficult time, she admits.

“Lockdown was pretty awful, there was a feeling, ‘will we ever get to do that again? Do we have to abandon our careers?’ it was depressing and scary and existentially unreal,” Sarah recalls.

“I think everyone was just terrified. By the time we go to the third lockdown, we thought, ‘will this ever end?’.”

Back now performing and enjoying the intimate interaction of live shows at small venues, Sarah has also returned to her side-projects including being an events coordinator and a personal stylist when not fronting her eclectic band of performers.

“I’ve done a few things that I’ve enjoyed, I suppose I have many strings to my bow.”

Lolo Lovina perform on Sunday, March 12 from 5.30pm at the Macquarie Conservatorium on the corner of Darling and Bultje Sts.

Sarah Bedak started Lolo Lovina as a one-off project, with husband, Nenad Radic... they have now been touring Australia and the world for a decade and a half. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

a long time.

What’s your favourite animal? A lion and a shark.

How do you get wool off a sheep? You shave it.

Can cows jump over the moon?

No, because cows have to sleep.

Who’s the most famous person you know? Reuben Would you prefer to be a mermaid or a pirate? I want to be Spiderman.

What’s the naughtiest thing you’ve ever done? Not listening.

Who do you love the most?

Mummy and Daddy.

Club fosters regional writing culture

By LYDIA PEDRANA

DUBBO’S Outback Writers’ Centre (OWC) is celebrating 14 years of existence this year.

The volunteer organisation was founded by the State Government in 1999 and is committed to building a vibrant writing culture in the Orana Region.

It does this by providing writers of all ages, stages, and styles with opportunities to develop their knowledge, understanding and practice of writing and publishing on a variety of platforms.

OWC Hub meetings are held on the first Saturday of every month at the Western Plains Cultural Centre, and members are given a theme to inspire a 300-word piece.

At the following Hub meeting, the group shares their work for feedback and critique.

They also meet on the third Sunday of each month for a WriteIn, which is a networking opportunity for writers to connect with others and provide a break from the solidary nature of writing.

Val Clark, president of the OWC and artistic director of the Dubbo Writers’ Festival, said the organisation isn’t just for experienced writers.

“We welcome emerging writers, whether they consider themselves talented or not,” the award-winning storyteller told Dubbo Photo News

“Creative writing is a skill, and the monthly Hub meeting is an inclusive, non-toxic place where writers’ work is discussed.”

of emerging writers.”

Ms Clark herself writes across several genres and ages, but particularly enjoys young adult fiction.

Her impressive resume of published and performed works includes plays, poems, reviews, articles, columns, short stories, and a novel.

With tertiary qualifications in Teaching and Creative writing, she also teaches short and longer form courses on a range of topics including how to create compelling characters, exploring the hero’s journey, uncovering creatives and credible stories, fantasy world building and writing the stories of your life.

Since joining the OWC as mem-

ber when she moved to Dubbo in 2009, even as a reputable writer, tively impacted her own work in several ways.

“The OWC has helped in building my knowledge, understanding and application of the craft of creative fiction and non-fiction writing, while also helping to connect me with agents, publishers and editors with whom I can discuss my work,” she said.

“I also get such valuable feedback from fellow writers at the monthly Orana Writers’ Hub.”

Later this month, the OWC is hosting an interactive popup workshop on website design, taught by local software engineer and OWC member, Daniel Budden.

Open to both members and non-members, creatives will

learn basic website setup, layout design, how to set up a blog, mobile friendliness and how to optimise the website for Google.

The OWC has applied for a Create NSW grant in the hope they can deliver a wider program of workshops throughout the year.

If the grant is successful, they hope to hold workshops on specialised themes including writing the 10-minute play, writing for wellness, and writing for LGBTQI+.

Ms Clark believes opportunities like these hold great value for regional creatives.

“The tyranny of distance has a huge impact on regional writers - attending workshops in coastal cities can be prohibitive,” she said.

“Writing NSW charges over $200 for day courses, then add transport, then add overnight accommodation, and the opportunity becomes prohibitive for most people.”

For now, the OWC relies on a partnership with the Dubbo Regional Council and private sponsorship to help keep costs down, with a yearly membership costing just $30 per financial year and the upcoming website workshop with Mr Budden just $40 (or free for members).

If you’re interested in joining the OWC or attending the workshop, visit 123tix.com.au and search Outback Writers’ Centre to purchase a membership or reserve your spot.

The next Hub meeting is scheduled for April 1.

Dubbo College DelroyYearCampus 10

Dubbo College DELROY CAMPUS

Year 10 students are currently investigating Australians at War, specifically WWI.

Last week they had the opportunity to get up-close and personal with real-life and replica artefacts and weapons as well as engage with photographs, maps and accounts thanks to Shane Blackman at WW1 Living History.

Bronte Cunningham, Dakota Gordon, Shae Pascoe

Rachel Tomlinson and WW1 Living History - Shane Blackman

Charley Elliot, Bhoomi Sagar, Katie Nissen

“Thank you!” APPRECIATION FROM KAREN CHANT

The Real Estate Chat

with Karen Chant from Chant and Co

Are You Thinking Of Selling?

Selling your home can be an exciting yet overwhelming experience. To make the process as smooth as possible, here are some things to keep in mind as you are getting ready to sell:

Estimate your home’s market value - This can be done via a professional real estate agent appraisal or by comparing similar homes in your area that have recently sold.

Prepare your home for sale - Declutter, deep clean, and make any necessary repairs to increase your home’s appeal to potential buyers.

Interview and appoint a real estate agent - A real estate professional will listen, guide, inform and educate you, market effectively, problem solve, negotiate with buyers and navigate the legalities.

Stage your home - Make your home feel welcoming and neutral by decluttering, rearranging furniture, and adding small touches like lush pot plants, fresh towels, cushions and throw rugs.

Price it right - Setting the right asking price is crucial. A home that’s priced too high may not receive any offers, while a home that’s priced too low may sell for less than its market value. By following these steps, you’ll be on your way to a successful home sale.

Want to know more? If you have any real estate related questions, contact Karen Chant on mobile 0448 191167 or email karen@chantandco.com.au.

To our absolute surprise we received this amazing basket of goodies, fruit, nuts, chocolate and savoury treats from Karen Chant and Co. The card attached thanked the Dubbo Photo News team for their support with the launch of Karen’s new real estate business. We are so humbled by Karen’s generous gift, thank you.

A gorgeous basket of goodies, fruit, nuts, chocolate and savoury treats from Karen Chant and Co.

BUSHFIRE BATTLE

on a hot, windy day

DUBBO awoke to the smell of bushfire smoke on Tuesday morning, but not in the same way as the biggest fires the region has endured over the past decade.

The "Cranbrook" fire near Toongi started during Monday's hot and windy conditions, and is believed to have been sparked by a lightning strike in the middle of pine forest.

Firefighters responded quickly, with multiple fire crews, aircraft and council teams working on containing the damage.

The Dubbo-based "Bomber" firefighting aircraft, pictured here, made multiple drops of retardant, assisted by the "spotter" jet also in our photo.

As at midday Tuesday, the Rural Fire Service was reporting the fire as "being controlled", having burnt through 847 hectares.

Mar 9: John Doyle, aka Rampaging Roy Slaven, 70. Juliette Binoche, French actress, 59. Tony Lockett, AFL great, 57. Emmanuel Lewis, played TV’s Webster, 52. Danny Green, professional boxer, 50. Lucas Neill , soccer player, 45. Matt Bowen, footy player, 41.

Mar 10: Chuck Norris, US martial arts man/actor, 83. Sharon Stone, US actress, 65. Prince Edward, royal, 59. Timbaland, US rapper, 52. Eva Herzigova , Czech model, 50. Carrie Underwood, US country singer, 40. Olivia Wilde, US actress, 39. Emeli Sande, British singer, 36. Mar 11: Geoffrey Blainey, historian, 93. Rupert Murdoch, media magnate, 92. Geoff Hunt, squash champion, 76. Sam Kekovich, former Australian rules football player/Lambassador, 73. Jerry Zucker, US filmmaker, 73. Bobby McFerrin, US singer, 73. Lisa Loeb, US singer, 55. Simone Buchanan, Debbie on Hey Dad!, 55. Adam Bandt, Greens politician, 51. Joel and Benji Madden, musical brothers, 44. Nikolai Topor-Stanley, soccer player, 38.

Mar 12: Barbara Feldon

A gent 99 on TV’s Get Smart, 90. Philip Ruddock , politician, 80. Johnny Young , hosted TV’s Young Talent

Time, 78. Liza Minnelli, US actress/singer, 77. Aaron Eckhart US actor, 55. Steve Price, league star, 49.

Mar 13: Neil Sedaka , US singer, 84. George Negus, journalist, 81. Joe Bugner, boxing champion, 73. William H Macy, US actor, 73. Dana Delany, US actress, 67. Adam Clayton, Irish musician of U2, 63. Candice Warner, ironwoman and surf life saver, 38. Emile Hirsch, US actor, 38. Aaron Woods, footy player, 32. Lucy Fry, actress, 31. Mar 14: Michael Caine, English actor, 90. Billy Crystal , US actor-comedian, 76. Prince Albert of Monaco, royal, 65. Bruce Reid, test cricketer, 60. Tara Brown, TV journo, 55. Lochie Daddo, TV presenter, 53. Jamie Bell, British actor, 37.

Mar 15: Mike Love, The Beach Boys, 82. Ry Cooder, US guitarist, 76. Ann Sanders, Channel 7 TV journalist, 63. Fabio, Italian model, 62. Terence Trent D’Arby, British singer, 61. Lester Ellis, boxer, 58. Christine Anu, singer, 53. Penny Lancaster, English model, 52. Eva Longoria US actress, 48. will.i.am, US singer, 48. Ben Hilfenhaus, cricketer, 40. Jai Courtney, actor, 37.

MEETING HEALTH NEEDS OF RURAL COMMUNITIES

ADRIAN ANDERSON has recently embarked on his journey to becoming a doctor, studying the University of Sydney’s Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree at the School of Rural Health in Dubbo. Adrian will complete the entire fouryear postgraduate degree in Dubbo with clinical training centered on the newly redeveloped Dubbo Hospital. Originally from Narromine, Adrian returned to Dubbo 18 months ago to be closer to family and to work as a paramedic with NSW Ambulance, all while following the development and growth of the Doctor of Medicine program in Dubbo. Adrian was attracted to the rural focus of the program, the opportunity to study where he has grown up and the small cohort size which offers a more personalised study experience with more face-to-face time with clinicians and tutors.

Adrian is passionate about developing skills to meet the needs of rural communities and has been encouraged by support from his managers, colleagues and his wife and parents on his decision to go back to study, as well as Dr Andy Caldin at Narromine Hospital, who has provided advice and been very supportive of his decision to study medicine.

“I have been working as a paramedic for a while now and wanted to further the care I can provide for patients. I don’t think I can single-handedly solve the rural doctor shortage, but I want to do my bit to improve the access of country people to medical services.

I have been watching the development of the full four-year program at Dubbo and saw it as a fantastic opportunity to pursue the dream,” said Adrian.

Adrian is part of the second cohort of students now

studying the University of Sydney’s entire four-year Doctor of Medicine program in Dubbo. Students in the Dubbo Stream study the same world-class medical education as their peers in Sydney, with the added benefits of living and studying in a regional location while gaining handson experience in rural and remote medical practice.

The Dubbo Stream is only available to students eligible for a Commonwealth Supported Place and pathways are available for First Nations students and those with rural backgrounds.

The School of Rural Health in Dubbo features state-ofthe-art medical education facilities including teambased learning studios, anatomy teaching lab, sixsuite simulation training centre, tutorial rooms and lecture theatre.

For more information on studying medicine in Dubbo visit sydney.edu.au/ medicine-health/

George Negus

dubbo

Adrian Anderson.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

PHOTO: DUBBO PHOTO NEWS/STEVE COWLEY

it, I lost. By the way,

what was the answer to your question?” The idiot hands over $5.

New broom

A company in need of a shakeup, hires a new hard-nosed CEO to get the place back into ship-shape fashion.

The new boss is determined to rid the company of all deadwood and no-hopers. On his first tour of the facilities, he notices a young man leaning on a wall wearing casual clothes, chewing gum, and texting with his mobile phone.

The “new broom” sees his chance, to show everyone that he means business!

He walks up to the nonchalant-looking teenager, and asks: “And how much money, do you make in a month, young man?”

Undaunted, the young man looks at him and smiles, replying: “Ohh, I make about $2000, give or take...Why?”

The new CEO then very deliberately gets his chequebook out of his pocket, writes a personal cheque for $2000, and hands it to the lad who gives him a quizzical look. The new chief then says loudly and

with feeling: “Well, here’s a month’s pay, you can cash it at any bank, now get out of here now, and don’t come back!” The young man leaves with the cheque, shaking his head.

Feeling pretty good about how his first firing went, the CEO looks around the room at the staff and says: “He’s no great loss, didn’t look like he ever did a day’s work here!”

With a sheepish grin, one of the workers smiles and answers: “You’re

“Country practice” exposure increases bush GP numbers,

YOUNG trainee doctors who have experienced placement in country areas, are far more likely to later choose to work in the bush, a new study has found

Following the findings, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has now called on governments to facilitate more regional and rural placements for medical school students to encourage future doctors to live and work outside of major cities.

The study into more than 2000 University of Queensland medical students between 2011 and 2021 – who must all complete a sixweek placement in a smaller rural community in their third year – found that:

106 students chose to extend their rural placement beyond the initial six-week placement.

the students who also did two years of training in regional areas, were seven times more likely to choose to work in regional Australia, compared to their colleagues who did neither.

The study also found that, even those who just did the 12-week

placement, were three times more likely to work outside the major cities.

RACGP Rural Chair Associate Professor Michael Clements urged the nation’s leaders to heed the study’s results.

“This study backs what the Royal Australian College of GPs has

been saying for many years,” he said.

“As professor of rural and remote medicine Bruce Chater notes – two-thirds of students who undertake the 12-week placement and two years of training in regional Australia, end-up in a regional centre, and that is just what

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Young trainee doctors with compulsory placements in country areas, are far more likely to later choose to work in the bush, a Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Rural Chair, Associate Professor Michael Clements has said. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

“We must do more to fix the maldistribution of GPs in Australia that leaves many communities outside of major cities without adequate access to general practice care. A key to solving this problem, is encouraging and supporting future doctors to live and work in regional or rural areas and exposing them to rural general practice early on makes a real difference,” Assoc Prof Clements said.

As far as medicine is concerned, to know the country, is to love the country, he added

“There is evidence, that students who originally come from rural areas have a high return rate, especially if they are exposed to rural placements during their study at university.

“However, it’s also important to

note that the same applies for other students who work in a rural placement and report a positive experience. If students are placed in a nurturing, supportive training practice environment and embraced by the community - they will be inclined to return.

The RACGP Rural Chair urged all future doctors to consider a career outside of a major city.

“As the largest representative body for rural GPs, the RACGP is committed to driving the changes needed to ensure sustainable general practice care in every community,” he said.

“Ask any GP outside of a major city and they will tell you that as a rural or regional GP you are an integral and valued member of your community. Your skill set will soar early in your career because rural communities rely on their GP for the majority of their health and wellbeing needs, particularly when other specialist health services or hospital care is a long drive away,” Assoc Prof Clements concluded.

or grab one from our Gatehouse at Lot 11 Yarrandale Road, Dubbo NSW 2830

For more information contact 02 6801 3100

Securing top tech unicorn from the Central West

By LYDIA PEDRANA

DANIEL Budden adopted a remote working career way before COVID made it a thing.

He’s been working out of his home office in Dubbo for the last five years, first as a software engineer for a creative assets marketplace, and now as a security engineer one of Australia’s most exciting tech unicorns, Canva.

Growing up in Newcastle Mr Budden first studied a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering at Newcastle University and went on to work as a structural engineer in the rail and mining sectors.

But it wasn’t long before he made a pivot into software, and he completed a Masters of Computer Science via distance at University of New England while still working.

Once qualified, he did a stint as a developer in Melbourne but in 2018 Mr Budden and his Dubbo-born wife, Sarah, decided to move back to the Central West to start a family.

That’s when he landed his first work from home gig and continued building his skillset.

“That role was in a software engineering role, and over the next few years I developed an interest in software secu-

rity,” he told Dubbo Photo News

“I completed a lot of self-guide training and one certification to build my knowledge of security before applying to a number of remote security engineer roles, including my current role at Canva.”

Canva is an Australian graphic design tool used by individuals and corporations to create social media assets, marketing materials, videos, presentations and more.

The company’s latest valuation was $39 billion in July last year.

Now considered a specialist in software security, Mr Budden works in Canva’s Identity and Access team which focuses on internal company security for the company’s employees.

The father of two loves remote work and has a dedicated office space so his kids, Regina, 4, and Edgar, 2, understand that when the door is closed, Daddy is at work.

“My wife and kids are at home, and I spend my lunches with them, come out for a coffee break and get mobbed with cuddles,” Mr Budden said.

“I’m grateful that I’ve been able to spend a lot more quality time with my kids while they are young, a lot more than I would be able to if I was com-

OPPORTUNITY OF THE WEEK

Retail Sales Assistant - Total Tools Dubbo

TOTAL Tools Dubbo is looking for a Full Time Retail Sales Assistant, who has a real passion for tools and trades. This is an exciting opportunity for you to utilise your current skills and experience within a growing and diverse business.

This position will suit a motivated individual with strong attention to detail and a focus on customer service. Working with a variety of team members and customers, you will have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build solid, long-term relationships.

You will be processing sales transactions, providing advice and information on products, supporting customer que-

ries and offering solutions, maintaining store displays and ensuring a well-presented store, processing and maintaining customer orders.

You will have previous retail and/or trade, worked with, understands, and has a passion for tools, enthusiastic, highly motivated, and a phenomenal teammate, dedicated to providing exceptional customer service, comfortable with technology – computer literacy is a must.

Available for weekdays, weekends, and some public holiday work.

Phone: 0268349600 Email: dubbo@ totaltools.com.au

muting to an office, especially if I lived in the city.”

He admits that some days a tougher than others on the motivation front but relies on video calls to connect with his team to stay engaged and social.

Acknowledging that a working from home arrangement isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, he does believe there is scope for other sectors to adopt more flexibility.

“I think that remote working has a lot of benefits that other companies and sectors should consider it; we can reduce our carbon footprint by eliminating work commute and improve worklife balance.”

After studying several times himself, Mr Budden’s piece of advice to teenagers nearing the end of their schooling years, is to dip your toes into the industry you’re interested in before crunch time comes.

“At school there is a lot of pressure on students to succeed in the HSC and begin a career that they really know nothing about before they begin,” he said.

“Often this means three or four years at university before they even get to experience what that career is like.”

“I would encourage kids to try and get some experience in their chosen career path as early as possible.”

Kylie Hammond

Where do you work? Macquarie

Credit Union

What’s your job? Member Relationship Specialist

Why do you Love Your Work? I love helping members achieve their financial goals. There is nothing better than being able to assist someone with the purchase of their first home. I also love working for a business that gives back to the

Community. Most embarrassing/funny moment on the job? Hard to name one when there are so many “budding comedians” working here.

If you could work for a celebrity, who would it be, & why? I don’t think I could ever work for a celebrity – it can’t always be about “them”.

If you could work anywhere in the world, where would it be, and why? I love working where I am & doing what I do.

What was your first paying job? A secretary for an Insurance Company in Sydney.

Three words your friends would use to describe you... Stubborn, loyal & honest.

How would you spend a win of a million dollars? Invest it in an area that had the best return & growth at the time.

What actor would you have play you, in a movie about your life? Australian Actress, Abbie Cornish.

Father of two, Daniel Budden, works as a software security specialist for graphic design platform, Canva.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

MELANOMA FUNDRAISERS JOIN FORCES WITH DUBBO MACQUARIE CLUB

By JENET STEWART

AN enormous crowd gathered at Dubbo’s Macquarie Club on Friday, March 3 with fundraising activities throughout the evening being donated to the Melanoma March which is to be held this month on March 25. The funds raised from the evening will provide ongoing research into melanoma and assist the many patients diagnosed with the disease every

year in Australia. Many of the Melanoma March fundraising group have been touched by melanoma in some form and were humbled by the turnout on Friday evening at the club and the many donations received from the generous crowd attending the Macquarie Club fundraiser. Next Friday, March 10 the Melanoma March group will be fundraising at the Commercial Hotel.

MACQUARIE 2023 FINAL MLP FIELD DAY & DINNER

Genelle Reid and Ann Beggs, fellow Melanoma March fundraisers.

Sue and Daryl Green, Genelle and Paul Reid and Danny Pratt all enjoying the fundraising activities at the Macquarie Club.

Above: Emily Nettle, Tracy Davis, Toni McMillan, Ben Atkins and Aaron McMillan, Right: Wayne Stewart, Judy Firth and Sam Coyle.

Melanoma March fundraiser, Megan Atkins.

Melanoma March fundraiser, Kayleen Green.

Chantelle Warner and Aaron Semmler from

Art royalty returns to teach local workshop

CELEBRATED abstract artist Peter Griffen is returning to Dubbo for second time this weekend to hold a two-day workshop with eight local creatives.

The Adelaide-born Sydney-based painter has had more than 50 exhibitions around the world, and his work has been acquired for private, public and corporate collections both in Australia and overseas.

Mr Griffen’s works are bright and loose, influenced as much by the classical painting of the Renaissance as by the serendipity of abstract expressionism.

He also draws inspiration from Indigenous art and natural landscapes, but admits he never sets out to paint anything particular, instead letting the process run its course and seeing where he ends up.

“I’m inspired by the world around me, I just love making marks, it’s something I’ve always loved that I learnt from kindergarten, layering coloured paint

By LYDIA PEDRANA

and pushing it around and I never thought it was anything but loved it,” he told Dubbo Photo News

“My first teacher thought that my problem, that I loved painting but I didn’t know what to paint, which has kind of been something I’ve had a problem with for quite a few years now.”

“When I paint a picture, I don’t want to plan it, I like to let it happen and I think if you go into chaos, you can come out at the other end with something you couldn’t have done any other way.”

“In fact, I just finished painting what was supposed to be a landscape, but it’s turned out to be a bull with a blue head and blue leg.”

Mr Griffen lives, paints and runs a small gallery out of a warehouse in Sydney’s inner west alongside his wife, Denise Lithgow, a talented textile artist. He originally trained as a maths and geography teach-

er, but it wasn’t long before he traded in numbers and maps for paintbrushes, and school children for mature age students.

Forging a successful career combining his two greatest passions, teaching and art, Mr Griffen travels the country sharing his wisdom.

“I realised teaching kids wasn’t my thing,” he said.

“I didn’t mind maths and geography, but I just love art and I love teaching adults through these workshops.”

“They are just so enthusiastic about what they are doing and that helps, kids didn’t want to be there.”

For the second time, Dubbo artist Gill Pedrana will host Mr Griffen’s workshop at her studio – a converted grain shed - on the Macquarie River.

Mrs Pedrana first met Mr Griffen at the opening night of a joint exhibition she held with Jude Fleming, another local artist, in Sydney in 2019.

After hearing that Mrs Pedrana had hosted other citybased artists for workshops, Mr Griffen expressed interest in teaching one himself.

“It’s such an honour to have people like Peter travel to the Central West to share their knowledge and techniques with the regional art community,” Mrs Pedrana explained.

“I know those who come along get so much out of these weekends, and we all walk away feeling inspired, with new skills and new perspectives on our own work.”

Mr Griffen’s workshops are structured much the same as his painting style.

“I’m never absolutely sure in which direction we’re going, because that’s the way I like it,” he said.

“I set a guideline as to what we are going to do, but that doesn’t necessarily apply because I like to shoot from the hip, I like people to respond to me

being there and what I say, and I want them to do it in their own way.”

“At a workshop like this, it’s about getting people to start off in a purely abstract way and then start to use other things in the world around them and bring them into the paintings.”

“It’s an ideal situation to look at the landscape around us in Dubbo and let that influence the marks we make.”

In November, Mr Griffen is teaching another workshop at Rosby Vineyards in Mudgee, while Mrs Pedrana is hosting workshops with Tony Belobrajdic in May and Ken Tucker in September.

COUNCIL SNAPSHOT DUBBO.NSW.GOV.AU

VIEW AVAILABLE JOBS

Job opportunities are listed on our Dubbo Jobs website.

Keep up to date with current and future vacancies by following the link from the Dubbo Skills website.

View available jobs at dubboskills.com.au

STATE COMBINED

Dubbo Regional Council’s venue Barden Park was home to 2,700 participants, officials and spectators of the Little Athletics NSW Kumon State Combined Carnival on March 4 and 5.

The event was sponsored by Council’s Event Attraction Program, and saw an estimated return of $1.4M for the Local Government Area.

CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE: 6801 4000

Dubbo Regional Council are inviting the community to provide feedback on the Draft Wellington Street Tree Master Plan.

Submissions can be made until 9am Thursday 30 March 2023.

Share your thoughts at dubbo.nsw.gov.au/public-exhibition

Dubbo Regional Council are inviting the community to provide feedback on the Draft Ballimore Flood Study.

Submissions can be made until 5pm Tuesday 4 April 2023. Two information sessions will also be held at Ballimore Hall on Monday 25 March.

Share your thoughts at dubbo.nsw.gov.au/public-exhibition

Sy S dn dney ey arttis st Peter r Gr G iff ffen is s holldi d ng n a t w wo-dday a wor rks s k hop p in n Dubb bo this s we eek ekend. Mr r Griffen’n’s s wo work k is in nsppir ired ed by y th the naattur ural al lan a dsca cape pe and dn Ind n ig igen e ouus s innflflueuences s PHO HO H TOS TO T S : :SUPPUPPLIEEDD.

Lions Club volunteers at the Wellington secondhand book fair. Jenny Love, Colleen Lee, Chris Hardy, Christine Robinson and Pam Whillock

Wellington Arts members Tracy Parker, Gillian Ryan and Jan Payne

began.

Step Back In Time, Make New Memories

Welcome to our Back to Peak Hill Weekend event which invites you to visit or revisit us on 17, 18, 19 March 2023.

The home of the Wiradjuri (Bogan River) people, gold mining was established in 1889 as well as the gazetting of the town of Peak Hill. Unlike most mining towns of boom and bust, we are very much still here. Farming commenced in the district as early as the 1840’s and with modern technology Peak Hill continues to produce quality grains, fibre and food.

A treasure in the Central West. The original two-level unique verandah buildings still stand proud in the main street. Amongst them the famous Carrington, burnt nearly to the ground in 1997. It is a monument to the spirit and determination of the town to save it from demolition and celebrate its future.

Peak Hill is looking forward to the future with fabulous education facilities from pre-school to high school, sporting facilities, pony club, memorial swimming pool, arts and craft groups, famous sheep, cattle and goat studs and farming, the first upright silo in Australia, Bogan Weir picnic grounds, local agricultural show, and the magic of the Goobang National Park, much of which

is home to many endangered birds, animals, and plants.

The Back to Peak Hill Weekend 2023’s program is jam packed with events ranging from sporting event, reunions, open classrooms in all three schools, a behind the scenes look at the Alkane mine site rehabilitation and core yard tour, street busking, arts and crafts, karaoke, Riff Raff live band, sausage sizzle and book sale, the local football club providing egg and bacon rolls for breakfast, other food venues, Silo

FM live broadcasting and the official opening of the John van der Reyden Gymnasium. Great to see so many local organisations coming on board to support the weekend.

The Carrington building which has undergone significant restoration offers a rustic and eclectic venue to host the Back to Peak Hill Weekend event. The Carrington will be the hub for registration and information over the weekend, hosting a historical and memorabilia display.

With grant funding from the NSW Government’s Reconnecting Regional NSW Community Events program and the support of Parkes Shire Council the Carrington is offering many free events over the weekend. The free events kick off on Friday night with a ‘Catch up at the Carrington’ providing catering and live music – guitarist Bradley Edwards, followed by guest singer Keith Potger (yes, from the Seekers) at the Ex-Services Club. The weekend’s official opening will be held in the Carrington on Saturday, followed by morning tea. A twelve- piece band, ‘Sub Tonic Fusion’, will be performing at the Peak Hill Ex-Services Club on Saturday night. A guided cemetery walk and a free sausage sizzle, jumping castle, face-painting and an a dance group ‘Dyagang’ will perform Koori Aboriginal dance in the Memorial Park, both on Sunday. We are looking forward to greeting you and sharing the memories you have and the ones you will make over the weekend. ALL WELCOME!

View our program of events for times and locations and follow us on FB Back to Peak Hill Weekend 2023, or email –Carrington2869@gmail.com for further information.

PEAK HILL CARRINGTON ASSOCIATION INC PRESENTS

BACK

Inside the Carrington. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

IN FOCUS

THUMBS UP!

Thumbs up to Easy Living Bathurst for fantastic prompt customer service, replacing goods with out any problem. Thanks!

Thumbs up to the executives, management, reception and maintenance staff at Orana Gardens. You all make living at Orana Gardens a wonderful experience. Thank-you to all.

Thumbs up to my lovely acrossthe-road neighbour who, at 95 years young, delivers a copy of Dubbo Photo News to my door each and every Thursday morning. Thank you so much, and may you have many more trips across that busy highway to pick up your favourite reading matter in your mobility scooter.

Thumbs up to Dubbo Fire Brigade and Police for rescuing a little kitten stuck in a brick wall in the Myer building.

Thumbs up to Emily at Officeworks. She never fails to help me without a smile. She is always down for a chat while helping me out. She is just hands down amazing and my favourite worker to deal with.

Thumbs up to Roxy at the IPTAS department at Dubbo Base Hospital. She does a great job, always with a smile. Makes arranging travel for medical reasons much easier.

Thumbs up to the Men’s Choir at St Brigid’s Church, and their choirmaster. Fantastic! Well done.

Thumbs up to the fabulous staff at Dubbo RSL. They had the function centre set up for us with all that was needed. They were also willing to make last-minute changes and dealt with us in professional and courteous manner. Thank-you for the delicious lunch and hot scones for morning tea.

Thumbs up to Wade at On A Good Day Photography, for the fantastic job he did on the photos he took on my wife’s special birthday. The beautiful coffee table books that Wade produced with photos from the night are a lasting memory for our family. Great workmanship.

•••

 Send your Thumbs Up via email to photos@dubbophotonews.com.au, mail to Level 1, 178 Macquarie Street Dubbo NSW 2830, or phone 6885 4433.

Photo specs: A technical note for photo contributors

Donna's Groovy Booby Bus continues to share the message

FORMER Dubbo Photo News sales manager and women's health advocate Donna Falconer continues to take her personal message on the road around Australia. She checked in with her old workmates with this report last week. After seven weeks on the road, Donna has clocked up some 4000 km in her Groovy

She left Dubbo in January and travelling to the ACT where she was accompanied by her 8-year-old grandson Charlie. She then travelled on to Geelong in Victoria to catch the Spirit of Tasmania, before spending the next month flying the bras around the Apple Isle – and starting the conversation about being breast

When Donna purchased the Groovy Booby Bus seven years ago, her mission was to fly the bras in every Australian state, promoting breast awareness, the importance of early detection, and that all women over the age of 40 are eligible for a free mammogram in any Australian state through BreastScreen. The BreastScreen number is the same Austral-

goal of visiting every state. She had previously documented her experience in her book “My Time: Through Breast Cancer and Beyond" which she is leaving with people she meets on her travels. Now back on the mainland, Donna travelled the Great Ocean Road, and is heading into South Australia next.

Clockwise from top left:

 Donna with grandson Charlie.

 Breast care nurses Venessa and Margie pinked up to farewell Donna.

 Tasmania has cute street book exchanges everywhere, like this one in Penguin. Notice Donna’s book is front and centre!

 Co-pilot Charlie checking the map

 Groovin’ around Bruny Island.

 Where the bus has flown the bras in the last seven years.

 Donna met Dubbo couple Denyse and Lindsay Walker while visiting Penguin in Tasmania.

 Donna met up with friends Jenet and Wayne Stewart while travelling the Great Ocean Road.

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED



We welcome your photos via email for publication. Please send each photo as a high-resolution jpeg image – at least 1MB per photo. Don’t let your Operating System/Windows/ iOS/phone etc downsize the image before emailing because these images are usually too small to print.

We would like to acknowledge and pay our respects to the Traditional Custodians of the land we operate on, the Wiradjuri people. Australia

Photo

is a member of Country Press NSW which has been representing the state’s regional news papers for more than 125 years.

are also a member of Country Press Australia.

Wordfind

Drop Down

No. 074

Crossmath

Insert

LEO: Your leadership will help you reach a long-term agreement at work . Your sense of initiative will help you resolve a conflict.

VIRGO: You’ll have to make many compromises at work and home to regain harmony You’ll have to muster all your patience to address a confusing situation.

LIBRA: You may feel stressed about your financ ial situation. Consult a professional to gain sufficient clarity. If you don’t, you may become more anxious.

SCORPIO: You feel dynamic and enthusiastic this week, which will help you increase your income and find joy. You’ll have the means to spoil yourself and be pampered. A week-long holiday will be memorable.

SAGITTARIUS: Carefully review all your bills to avoid unpleasant surprises regarding your finances. A mistake could cost you a large amount of money.

CAPRICORN: It’s always wise to take a moment to ponder your decision before embark ing on a new adventure that could change your life. You’ll be presented with new possibilities over the next few days.

AQUARIUS: This week, you’ll find yourself in a frenzy of social engagements or work mee tings. Don’t forget to take some time for yourself, if only to relax.

D

I A L E C T

Starting with the seven-letter word, drop a letter and form a six-letter word. Continue in this manner until you reach the single letter at the bottom. You can rearrange the letters in each step, if necessary. There

PISCES: At work or home, you’ll be designated to organise an event that brings many people toge ther. Your community requires your involvement, and you can’t refuse.

The luckiest signs this week: Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces.

1 An acre is how many square metres: 4047, 4247 or 4447?

2 Video game storefront Steam is owned by what company?

3 The ‘evil Santa’ Krampus has the horns of what animal?

4 What is the title of Susanna Clarke’s 2020 fantasy novel?

5 What is the heaviest organ in the human body?

6 The world’s oldest tree, a bristlecone pine, is located in which US state?

7 The condor is the common name for which two species of bird?

8 Which of the following authors does not have a Nobel Prize: Alice Munro, Peter Carey, Albert Camus or Gabriel García Márquez?

9 Justice Smith and Herizen F. Guardiola (pictured) starred in which musical drama Netflix series?

10 Which former Hawthorn player has the most AFL Premierships?

Quick Crossword

ACROSS

1 Conclude (3,2)

4 Aquatic home (9)

9 Chocolate tree (5)

10 Artifice (9)

11 Animal that gives birth to live young (6)

12 One who exaggerates a danger (8)

14 Teaching tool (10)

15 Exclamation of surprise (3)

17 Born (3)

19 Extremely angry (10)

23 Reveres (8)

24 Fisher (6)

26 Backtracking (9)

27 Yens (5)

28 Self-indulgence (9)

29 10th US president (5)

Edgeword

No.

Place each of the tiles of letters into the blank jigsaw below to create four six-letter words going across and down.

DOWN

1 Pitch tents (6)

2 Numbered by tens (7)

3 Ordinary; unromantic (of writing) (7)

4 Entertainer (4)

5 Shaky (10)

6 Went into (7)

7 Continuing (7)

8 Fruit (plural) (8)

13 Digestion (10)

16 Responded (8)

18 Inconsistent (7)

19 Stuck (7)

20 Pipe (7)

21 Contrary to law (7)

22 Rubber (6)

25 Illness (4)

9-Letter

Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and each letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural words ending in “s”.

THE TOONS’ VIEWS

TIME WARP

Dubbo Olympic Pool

circa 1935-36

By Jenet Stewart

Thanks to Steve Hodder for providing this wonderful image and historical information on the Dubbo Olympic Pool.

Dubbo Council determined at a meeting in January 1935 that it would build an Olympic standard swimming pool for the town. The people of Dubbo, up to that time, had been using a section of the Macquarie River behind Riverdale for their recreational and competitive swimming.

Dubbo Council applied to the national Unemployment Relief Council for £15,000 to fund the project, which eventually blew out to £20,000 on completion.

Wallace and McGee, a well-known local business at the time, were contracted to

manage the project and oversee the unemployed workers from the government relief scheme.

Work commenced in March 1935 and took nine months to complete.

The new pool opened to the public on Saturday, November 30, 1935, but according to local folklore, the paying customers were water.

Local boys Doug Sadler and Kep Enderby, both aged nine at the time, climbed over the fence the night before to claim bragging rights pool.

Doug Sadler went on to become a highly respected teacher and journalist, and his mate Kep Enderby became a High Court judge and

Think Property

Think Orana Conveyancing

Australian AttorneyGeneral.

Steve explained that the library’s caption on the picture says it was taken in 1938, however it shows the grandstand without a roof. The grandstand’s tiled roof was completed in December 1936.

The pool opened late November 1935. Construction of the grandstand roof did not start till August 1936. There are children at the pool in this photo, indicating it was probably taken some time during the 193536 swimming season.

Some interesting features in this photo behind the diving tower and three-metre board at the end of the pool, the old Dubbo wheat silo in the background, and the temporary canvas shelter over the western end of the grandstand.

Dubbo’s Olympic Pool opened on Saturday, November 30, 1935.

Photo: Macquarie Regional Library/Contributed by Steve Hodder

Happy golden 50th wedding anniversary!

Contributed by BERYL MILLER

Allan and Beryl Miller recently celebrated their golden 50th Wedding anniversary with family and close friends at the Pastoral Hotel in Dubbo. Guests travelled from near and far to attend the event and it was all smiles with previous wedding attendants posing for a current day photograph. Allan and Beryl were married on February 10, 1973 at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Wingewarra Street,

Nyrie May Todd

Born 20/9/22

Weight 7 pounds 11 ounces

Length

Parents Fraser Todd and Lane Bermingham of Parkes

Siblings Kane, Axle and Ivy

Grandparents Robert and Robert Darlene Bermingham of of Batemans Bay, and Steve and Jennifer Todd of Bribie Island.

CONTRIBUTED BY ALANNA

Contribute

Allan and Beryl Miller cutting their 50th anniversary cake

Terry Miller, Carol and Cyril Gold, Allan and Beryl, Geoff and Ellon Gold and Bill Koch

The original wedding party: John Howey, Terry Miller, Alan Hood, Allan and Beryl Miller, Gwen Gold, Helen Goss and Ellon Gold

50th Anniversary Bridal Party: John Howey, Terry Miller, Sue Hood (standing in for Alan Hood), Allan and Beryl Miller, Bill Koch (standing in for Gwen Koch), Helen McLean and Ellon Gold

PHOTO:

COMMUNITY GROUPS

Women NSW Dubbo Violence Prevention

Dementia – Art workshop

Can-Assist Dubbo branch

Multicultural Festival

Dementia Alliance

Melanoma March

Pink Angels Inc

ARTS

Macquarie Conservatorium

Opera at Dundullimal

Wellington Arts

New Years Eve Fireworks

Dubbo Motorbike Rally Country Hope

Little Big Day Out Quinn’s Quest

Tie Dye Project Big Blue Table

OF THECOMMUN

Orana Support Service

Uniting Care fun day

Tradies in Sight

Little Wings

NOT FOR PROFITS SPORTS

OVER $100,000 IN ADVERTISING SPACE GIVEN IN 2022.

Macquarie United Football – My time to shine

Pickleball – Molly’s Mission

Macquarie Raiders

Dubbo CYMS RLFC

St John’s Rugby League – 50 Year Celebration

Titan Mud Run

Regional Sports awards

Queen will, Queen will... rock you!

Contributed by DRTCC

“Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody” was a big hit with the audience at Dubbo Regional Theatre on Saturday, February 25. Just to show how far and wide people are happy to travel to Dubbo for an entertaining night out, Dubbo Photo

News has been told that one couple who live in Bathurst buy theatre tickets for Dubbo shows six times a year and like to make a weekend of it. For them, it’s like a date weekend to ensure they get away from the hustle and bustle!

Robert Jackson and Ann Brennan

Mark and Margaretha Roche

Leanne Hopkins and Catherine and Patrick Emblen

Patricia and Collin Dudley

Lucy Phelan and Lanie Kilsby

Lorraine Forrest and Charmaine Cubillo

Jane Barrett and Chris Ansoul

Tania Moody and Nick De Brun

Sheldyn Briggs and Ella Bandur

Mary and Anthony Stanton

Rebecca and Jason Parker

Women with Altitude speaking out!

By JENET STEWART

Women from a large cross section of the community attended the Women with Altitude event on Thursday, March 2. Attending the event were businesswomen from a cross section of the Dubbo and surrounding communities.

The direct message for the event was to “lift women up,” but once this group of women began speaking, they had a whole lot more to say. The event began with an introduction of all attendees who gave an interesting insight into their business and its direction, from financial advice, psychology and massage, right through to photography.

The group also listened attentively to the guest speakers for the event led by Andrea Turner-Boys from Women with Altitude. Andrea posed questions to prospective guest speakers, Rochelle Olsen and Melissa Woodward which provoked much conversation and insight throughout the group. Morning tea was provided by Amy Rutherford and was set in the garden area of her café in Darling Street. For more information on upcoming

The Women with Altitude group participating in the women’s networking event at Amy’s Dubbo

Andrea Turner-Boys, Melissa Woodward and Rochelle Olsen

Nathan Fisher, Monica Bellotti and Jessica GoughAlice Mitchell and Kirin Khatra

Kirsty McKinnon and Jessica BurnettGabby Benkovich and Liza Twohill

HAPPY HOLI

PHOTOS BY KEN SMITH

Betty, Sharon, Robert and Robert Jnr

Chandra and Vaishali

Rabin, Sumana and Samita

Saroj, Makunda and Dev

Hemant and Hema

Raman

“Hold still mummy...” Diana, Tom and Joey

Bindy, Navarda and Jannaya

DJ Suren

Kiragi, Lata and Manali

Lynton, Lisa and Sandy

THE DIARY

THURSDAY

Above Board Gamers: SECOND and FOURTH

Thursday of the month, 6pm, upstairs at the Devil’s Hollow Brewery, February dates, 9th and 23rd, contact Alan 0432 278 235.

Akela Playgroup: Scout Hall, 4 Akela St., 9.30am, Sharna 0438 693 789.

Badminton: Delroy High School Auditorium, East Street, West Dubbo, 7.30pm-9.30pm, $5 to play ($3 for school students) $22 yearly insurance ($15 for school students). All are welcome.

Chris 6887 3413.

Bingo - South Dubbo Veteran’s & Community Men’s Shed: 11am-12.30pm, West Dubbo Bowling Club. New players welcome. Contact Barry 0439 344 349.

Coffee, Craft and Chat: 9.30am-12pm, Gospel Hall, Cnr of Boundary Road and Taylor Street. Contact Anne 0428 425 958.

Croquet: 8.15am, Muller Park Tennis and Croquet courts, Brisbane St, North Dubbo, new players of all ages are welcome. Tricia 0428 876 204 or Margaret 0427 018 946.

CWA Dubbo: FIRST Thursday of the month, 9.30am to 11am, Oaktree Retirement Village Peel Street, Dubbo. New members welcome Marion 6884 2957.

CWA Wongarbon Handicraft: SECOND Thursday of the month, enquires to Liz 0401 174 883.

CWA Wongarbon: FIRST Thursday of the month, 10am, Wongarbon CWA rooms. Marjorie 6884 5558.

Digital @ Dubbo: 10am to 1pm, Macquarie Regional Library, 45-minute session for your internet or technology questions, FREE, bookings essential, contact 6801 4510

Dubbo Anglican Church DNA Youth

Group: 7pm-9pm, Anglican Church Hall, 158 Brisbane St., during school terms.

Dubbo Anglican Church Trinity Kids

Playgroup: 10am-12pm, Anglican Church Hall, 158 Brisbane St., during School terms. Contact 6884 4990.

Dubbo Community Men’s Shed Inc: Mondays 9am to 1pm and Thu/Sat 1pm to 5pm. Small joining fee after three visits. All men are welcome, Kevin 0427 253 445.

Dubbo RSL Day Club: 10am and 2pm, Orana Gardens

Family History Society (Dubbo & District): 1pm to 4pm, volunteers on site during these hours, Western Plains Cultural Centre Community Arts Centre, Cnr Wingewarra & Gipps Street

Heart Support Walking Group: 12.30pm, (also Tuesdays), Ollie Robbins Oval, Cnr of Bligh Street. Supports gentle exercise promoting healthy hearts, contact Ray 0437 541 942 Line Dancing: 9.30am to 12 noon, at David Palmer Centre, Cobbora Road. Kathy 6888 5287 or Lynn 6888 5263.

Macquarie Masons Dubbo: SECOND Thursday of the month. All visitors are welcome, John O’Brien 0405 051 896.

Outback Dragons Dubbo: EVERY Thursday, 5.45pm (in summer), Sandy Beach amenities block. Come and try dragon boating, your first five paddles are Free. Newcomers are always welcome, email info@outbackdragons.com.au or call Robyn 0427462504.

Wellington Arts and Crafts: 10am-3pm, Small Hall in the Anglican Church grounds, Wellington, variety of crafts, activities and workshops offered. Contact Lynne 6845 4454.

FRIDAY

Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings: 7pm (1.5hrs) - ID meeting, Dubbo Community Health, Palmer Street, Dubbo. Contact Dee 0417 422 750, 1300 222 222 or www.aa.org.au, for meeting information.

Alzheimer’s & Dementia Support Group:

THIRD Friday of the month, 2pm, Anne or Jeanie 6881 3704.

Central West Makers Place: 12pm-6pm, South Dubbo Veterans and Community Men’s Shed, corner of Palmer and High Streets, Dubbo. 3D printing, basic electronics, robotics, silk screening and pottery. Adam 0431 038 866.

Communion Service (Dubbo Anglican Church): 10am, Brotherhood House chapel, 158 Brisbane St.

Community Kitchen: FIRST Friday of the month, 6.30pm, Holy Trinity Hall, Brisbane St, free meal.

CPSA (Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association): SECOND

Friday each month, 10am, Dubbo RSL Club. Discuss issues, guest speaker. Monthly meeting will be held on Friday March 10. Further Information Barb 0427251121 Dubbo Nepalese Christian Fellowship: 6.30-8pm. Contact Cyrel on 0416 826 701 or Kabita 0452 406 234.

Dubbo Parkinson’s Support Group: FIRST

Friday of each month, 10.30am, Horizons village, Minore Road, Dubbo. People with Parkinson’s and their carers are welcome. Lorna 0416 240 626.

Dubbo VIEW Club: Cards & Games afternoon will be held on Friday, 17th March at Dubbo RSL, commencing at 1.00PM. Enquiries please phone Shirley on 0427-822-874

Lunchtime Prayer Group - Dubbo Anglican Church: 1-2pm in Brotherhood House, 158 Brisbane Street. All Welcome. Bring your lunch.

Narromine Food Barn: 9am-11am, Low-cost groceries and FREE fruit, vegetables and bread with any purchase to people in need. Contact Ken Rumble on 0414 477 365.

Rhymetime: 10.30am - 11am, during school term only, suits 0-2 years and families, stories, song and movement. Macquarie Regional Library. Spinning and Weaving: 10am, at Dubbo Arts and Craft Cottage, 137 Cobra Street. Lorraine 6887 8371.

Tai Chi at U3A: 10am, at the Community Arts Centre, Western Plains Cultural Centre, 76 Wingewarra Street. Richard 6888 5656. The churches of Dubbo: Will come together as one ecumenical community on Friday March 3rd to celebrate the World Day of Prayer. At St Bridgid’s Church Dubbo commencing 10 am. All are most welcome.

Join us for morning tea after the celebration.

The News Café: 10am - 12.30pm, for lively conversation about current news and affairs. Free, no bookings required. Dubbo Library.

Urban Tribe: 2pm, with dancing, music, singing, caring and sharing. Everyone is welcome and let’s do it. 0459 762 702.

Wellington Lions Preloved Book Fair: Thousands of good quality preloved books, Cds and DVDs, now also Jigsaw Puzzles! Open every Saturday 10am to 2pm in the Western Gallery opposite Cameron Park.

Western Plains Trefoil Guild: SECOND Friday of each month, 10.30am, Dubbo West Guide Hall. Everyone is welcome. Please confirm the meeting will be on. Dorothy 6884 6646.

SATURDAY

Beekeepers Inc - Orana: SECOND Saturday of the month, 9.15am, Narromine Tennis Club rooms, unless other arrangements are made. Contact orana.secretary@beekeepers.asn.au

Bridge Club - Dubbo: 1pm until approximately 4.30pm, Bultje Street. $7 members, $9 non-members. Libby 0428 254 324.

Croquet: 8.15am, Muller Park Tennis and Croquet courts, Brisbane St, North Dubbo. New players of all ages are welcome. Tricia 0428 876 204 or Margaret 0427 018 946.

Cumnock Market: The next Cumnock Market will be on Saturday 18th February from 9 am to 12 noon.

CWA Gilgandra Market: FIRST Saturday of the month, 9am-1pm, Cakes, fruit, pickles, plants and more! New stall holders are welcome. $5 per stall, proceeds to CWA. Hilda 6847 1270.

Dubbo Anglican Church Vigil Communion Service: 6pm, 158 Brisbane Street. Contact 6884 4990.

Dubbo Bridge Club: 1pm, Bultje Street (Tennis Courts), Dubbo. $7 members, $9 non-members.

Libby 0428 254 324

Dubbo Community Men’s Shed Inc: Mondays, 9am to 1pm and Thu/Sat 1pm to 5pm. Small joining fee after three visits. “All men are welcome.” Kevin 0427 253 445.

Dubbo Slot Car Racing Club: 4pm, FIRST and THIRD Saturday of the month, Seniors (15+), old Scouts Building, 189-191 Talbragar Street, across from Aldi. Terry 0408 260 965.

Embroiderers - Dubbo: 10am-3pm, (also see Tuesday listing), All are welcome, Macquarie Regional Library, Contact, Ruth 0422 777 323 Family History Society (Dubbo & District): 10am to 1pm, volunteers on site during these hours, Western Plains Cultural Centre Community Arts Centre, Cnr Wingewarra & Gipps Street

Outback Writers Centre Hub Meeting:

FIRST Saturday of the month, (Feb-Dec), 10am1pm, Western Plains Cultural Centre, Community Arts Centre, Music Room, 76 Wingewarra Street, Dubbo.

Outback Writers Centre Write-in: THIRD Saturday of the month, (Feb-Nov), 11.30am1.30pm, Macquarie Regional Library, Cnr Macquarie & Talbragar Streets, Dubbo

Patchwork and Quilters Group: 9am, SECOND and LAST Saturday of the month, at the Dubbo Pipe Band Hall, Corner of Darling and Wingewarra Streets, Dubbo. New members are always welcome, and we happily support anyone wanting to learn. Further enquiries to Charlene on 0408 825 180.

Parkrun - Dubbo: 8am every week, FREE timed (with barcode), 5km run, jog or walk, starts at Sandy Beach, dogs, prams are welcome. Email dubbohelpers@parkrun.com to help!

RSL Tennis Club:12:30p.m. Paramount Tennis Club courts for enjoyable social tennis. All welcome 0437824743 Saturday Art: 10am, at Dubbo Arts and Crafts Society Cottage, 137 Cobra St. Pam 6885 1918. Seventh-day Adventist Church: 9.30am, small group bible study (Sabbath School) and children’s/youth Sabbath School, and 11am, Divine Service. Cnr Cobra and Sterling Streets. dubbo.adventist.org.au

Talbragar CWA: first meeting for 2023 will be Saturday March 4 commencing at 2.00pm in the CWA Hall, 45L Boothenba Road, Dubbo. Planning for 2023 will take place at this meeting. Guest Speaker for this meeting will be Felicity Lochhead about recycling, please bring along

Diary entries need to be 40 words or less, and are only for not-for-profit community groups . Placement will be at the editor’s discretion and subject to space availability – because Diary listings are free! Please include your daytime phone number and/or address when submitting details. Entries close 10am Tuesday for that Thursday’s edition.

items which you are not sure if able to be recycled. For more information about the meeting please contact Ronda on 68885231 or Linda on 68827351.

Western Plains Cultural Centre

Smokescreen Film Season: FIRST Saturday of each month, 4pm, February to November. Tickets $10, Season pass, $70.

SUNDAY

Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings (Steps and Traditions): 7pm (1.5hrs), ‘Steps and Traditions’ meeting, Dubbo Community Health, Palmer Street, Dubbo. Ph: Jack 0418 605 041, Sally 0427 829 807, 1300 222 222 or www.aa.org.au for meeting information.

Australian Kite Flyers Society: SECOND Sunday of the month, 10am, Jubilee Oval. All welcome to come along and see how to build and fly modern (and old) kites. David 0476 223 342.

Bicycle User Group Social Ride: 9am, at Wahroonga Park. Mick 0437 136 169 or Sam 0429826076, dubbobug.org.au

Dubbo Acoustic Musicjam (DAMjam): SECOND Sunday of the month, 2pm to 5pm, Milestone Hotel, upstairs. All are welcome. Join us for this acoustic session with other musicians or just listen. Peter 0457 787 143.

Dubbo Anglican Church Traditional Communion Service: 8am, 158 Brisbane Street. 6884 4990.

Dubbo Anglican Church: 10am, Trinity Kids Sunday School and family Communion service.

Dubbo Baptist Church: 6pm, at 251 Cobra Street (next to Spotlight), during school terms. Come along and discover if church is still relevant in today’s world. Everyone is welcome. 6884 2320. Dubbo Baptist Church: 9.30am, 251 Cobra Street (next to Spotlight). Everyone is welcome. 6884 2320. Dubbo Pistol Club: 12.30pm, 143L Old Dubbo Road, 6882 0007.

Mindful Crafting for Adults: 12.3pm-2pm, crafting group learning new or improving existing crafting skills. Experienced and beginners. For the next session date, contact Dubbo Library on 6801 4510.

Orana K9 Training Club INC: 9am daylight savings time, 10am, Eastern Standard, Katrina Gibbs Field Macleay St, Dubbo. New class intake is FIRST Sunday of each month, dogs MUST be vaccinated and certificate sighted at first class. Contact Reg Parker 0428 849 877, Dianne Acheson 0429 847 380

Orana Pistol Club: 9am, Hyandra Lane, Dubbo. Sundays only, 6887 3704.

Traditional Catholic Latin Mass –Rawsonville: SECOND Sunday of the month, 9am, Rawsonville Soldier’s Memorial Hall, Rawsonville Road. 0429 920 842. Transcendental Meditation (TM): Free introductory talks via www.tm.org.au. Maharishi Foundation Australia scientifically proven benefits of TM. Contact David 0424 252 834.

MONDAY

Alcoholics Anonymous (Daily Reflections Meeting): 12pm (1.5hrs), ‘Daily Reflections’ meeting, St Brigid’s Catholic Church meeting rooms, 198 Brisbane St, Dubbo. Please contact Jack 0418 605 041 or Sally 0427 829 807, 1300 222 222 or www.aa.org.au for information.

Amnesty International Dubbo: SECOND Monday of the month, 5.30pm-6.30pm, St Brigid’s meeting room. The group will provide a platform for people passionate about human rights and

social justice to discuss these issues and take positive action in their local community. Contact Sandra Lindeman amnesty.dubbo@gmail.com or 0419 167 574.

Anglican Women’s Association: 5.30pm, at Holy Trinity. Dorothy 6884 4990.

Australian Air Force Cadets: 6pm-9.30pm, at Army Barracks (Cnr Kokoda Pl and Wingewarra St). NOW recruiting, 13 to 18-year-olds prepared for a challenge and to undertake fun and rewarding activities. Come down to your local unit, 313 “City of Dubbo” Squadron.

Dubbo Bridge Club: FOURTH Monday of the month, 10am-1pm, Bultje Street. $7 members, $9 non-members. Libby 0428 254 324. Dubbo City Physical Culture Club: 4.30pm onward, Wesley Community Hall, 66 Church Street, Dubbo. Fun affordable dance class for girls and ladies, 4yrs and up, of all fitness levels. Email dubbocityphysie@live.com.au for information.

Dubbo Community Men’s Shed Inc: Mondays, 9am to 1pm and Thu/Sat 1pm to 5pm. Small joining fee after three visits. “All men are welcome.” Kevin 0427 253 445.

Dubbo Multicultural Women’s Group: THIRD Monday of the month, 10am, St Brigid’s Meeting Room in Brisbane Street. Women of all backgrounds are invited. 1800 319 551.

Dubbo VIEW Club: The next lunch meeting will be on March 13 at the Dubbo RSL club, commencing at 11.30am. Guests are always most welcome. Enquiries please phone Beth on 0419-827-557 by 10am Thursday 9th March.

Macquarie Women’s Bowling Club Card

Afternoon: SECOND Monday of the month. $7 per person, includes lucky door prizes and afternoon tea. Contact Rosslyn 6882 4989, 1300 222 222, www.aa.org.au for information.

Patchwork: 10am-3pm, at Dubbo Arts & Craft Cottage, 137 Cobra St, contact June 6882 4677. RFDS Dubbo Support Group monthly meetings: FIRST Monday of the month (except Public Holidays), 5.00pm at RFDS Visitor

Experience, 21 Judy Jakins Drive, Dubbo Airport.

President Jeanette Hamilton 0429 673 366. Rotary Club of Dubbo: 6pm-8pm, Westside Hotel, Whylandra Street, West Dubbo. Contact Lyn Wicks, 0428 342 374, Carla Pittman, 0418 294 438 or email dubborotaryclub@hotmail.com.

Sing Australia Dubbo Choir: 7pm-9pm, Bridge Club, Bultje Street. NO auditions, no requirements to read music and no singing experience necessary. Contact Michele Peak 0428 680 775.

Tai Chi 10 Form: 2.30pm-3.30pm during school terms at U3A, Community Arts Centre, WPCC, 76 Wingewarra Street Dubbo. Beginners are welcome. Laney 6882 4680 or laneyluk@gmail.com.

TUESDAY

Aboriginal Elders Walkabout Ministry Group: 9.30am - 2pm in Holy Trinity Church Hall, 158 Brisbane Street

AllAbilitiesDanz: 9.45am, Dubbo RSL Club. Classes are low impact, work on heart health, flexibility, mobility, coordination and strength. Tracy 0416 010 748 for a free trial or to join the free class

Book Club: FIRST Tuesday of the month, 2pm, share, discuss and review books, or start your own book club. Register your club with the library to access a wide range of book club titles to borrow, read, discuss and enjoy. For more information contact Dubbo Library, 6801 4510 Croquet: 8.15am, Muller Park Tennis and Croquet courts, Brisbane St, North Dubbo. New players of all ages are welcome. Tricia 0428 876 204 or Margaret 0427 018 946

Dementia Sing Out Choir: 11am-12.30pm, David Palmer Centre at Old Lourdes Hospital site, entry on Cobbora Road. Lunch included, contact Anne Gemmell or Jeanie Cronk on 6881 3704 Depression Recovery Group: 10.30am, at the Catholic Parish Meeting Room, Brisbane St. Norm 6882 6081 or Bill 6882 9826.

Digital @ Dubbo: 10am to 1pm, Confused, worried, stumped or frustrated by the internet or tech? Book a free, 45-minute one-on-one session with our team who can assist with your technology queries. Contact Dubbo Library, 6801 4510

Digital Skills for Seniors: Free one-on-one help to use your smartphone, tablet/iPad, or laptop. Need help going online or do you have some technology questions? Connecting Community Services, 31-33 Church Street. To make a booking, phone 1800 319 551.

Dubbo City Physical Culture Club: 5pm onward, Holy Trinity Hall, Brisbane Street, Dubbo. Fun, affordable dance class for girls and ladies, 4yrs and up, of all fitness levels. Email dubbocityphysie@live.com.au for information.

Dubbo and District Computer Club: 7pm, Akela Place Hall, contact Daryl 0408 284 300.

Dubbo Chess Club: 7pm-9pm, at Dubbo RSL. Juniors welcome. Don 0431 460 584 or Sandy 0408 200 564

Dubbo City Ladies Probus Club: 2ND Tuesday of the month, 10am, February and March (AGM after March), Masonic Village Hall, Darby Close, Contact Annemieke Neville 0432305103 or Liz Lamble 0432369500.

Dubbo Embroiderers: 9.30am - 3pm, SECOND and FOURTH Tuesday of the month, (also see Saturday listing), Dubbo Bridge Club, Elston Park. All are welcome, Contact Ruth 0422 777 323. Dubbo Lions Club Inc: FIRST and THIRD Tuesday of the month, 6.30pm, Club Dubbo. PO Box 285 Dubbo, Lois on 0428288325 or dubbolionsinc@gmail.com.

Dubbo Men’s Probus: FIRST Tuesday of every month, 11am, Masonic Hall, contact Bob Ellis 0428217752

Dubbo Prostate Support Group: 10am, Tuesday, February 7, Dubbo Memorial RSL Club, contact Elizabeth 0408 682 968 Dubbo RSL Euchre Club: 7pm, for 7.30pm, Dubbo RSL, contact Glen 0419 179 985 or Doreen 6882 6163

Family History Society (Dubbo & District): 1pm to 4pm, Cnr Wingewarra & Gipps Sts, Western Plains Cultural Centre, Community Arts Centre, volunteers on site during these hours.

Girls Brigade: During school term, 6pm to 8pm, Orana Baptist Church, 4 Palmer St. For all school aged girls. Enjoy crafts, games, camps, stories, songs, cooking and much more. Julie 6882 4369 Heart Support Walking Group: 12.30pm, (also Thursday), Ollie Robbins Oval, Cnr of Bligh Street. Supports gentle exercise promoting healthy hearts, contact Ray 0437 541 942 Orana Physical Culture: 4pm onwards, starting with the 2-4 years Sparkles class in the Auditorium at St Mary’s Primary School. New members are always welcome. For other class times and information see the Orana Physical Culture Facebook page.

Rotary Club of Dubbo Macquarie: 12.30pm2pm, Westside Hotel, contact Peter McInnes 0417 140 149

Rotary Club of Dubbo South: 6pm, at South Dubbo Tavern Silver Craft: THIRD Tuesday of the month, 10am, at Dubbo Arts and Crafts Society Cottage, 137 Cobra St. Julie 6884 4919 Smart Recovery (Behaviour Change

Support Group): 5pm, online or in person.

Contact Rob on 0417 497 187.

South Dubbo Veteran’s & Community

Men’s Shed: 9am to 12pm, Cnr of High and Palmer Streets. New members welcome

Storytime for children: 10.30am - 11am during school terms at Macquarie Regional Library, for children aged 3 to 5 and their families. Free session filled with stories, songs, rhymes and activities. To book visit www.mrl. nsw.gov.au

Toastmasters Club: FIRST and THIRD

Tuesday of the month, 7pm-9pm, Dubbo

RSL Club, Brisbane St., Gain confidence in speaking and leading skills. There are club, area and district competitions to participate in. Sharon Allan 0408 156 015 or email sallan@rhdubbo.com.au.

WEDNESDAY

Akela Playgroup: (also see Thursday listing), 10.30am, Scout Hall, 4 Akela Street, contact Sharna 0438 693 789.

Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings: 7pm, (1.5hrs), ‘Topic’ meeting, St Brigid’s Catholic Church meeting rooms, 198 Brisbane Street, Dubbo, contact Jack 0418605041 or Sally 0427 829 807, 1300 222 222 or www.aa.org. au, for information.

AllAbilitiesDanz: 10.30am, West Dubbo

Primary Community Centre. Kids, 0 to 5, an interactive class, music, props and movement. Gold coin donation per family.

Blood Cancer Support Group: FIRST

Wednesday of each month, 10.30am-12pm, Venue changes each month. Louise or Emma 0412 706 785.

Brain Training: 2pm to 3.30pm, Macquarie Regional Library, Dubbo, puzzles and interactive games to improve memory, concentration and problem-solving skills. Spaces limited; bookings required. Contact 6801 4510

Breast Cancer Support Group: FOURTH

Wednesday of every month, 10am, Baptist Church, Palmer Street, Community Health 5853 2545

Bric-a-brac sale, weekly - South Dubbo

Veterans and Community Men’s Shed: 10am-12pm, Corner of Palmer and High Streets. Contact Barry on 0439 344 349

Coffee, Craft & Chat: FORTNIGHTLY, 10am-12pm, Gospel Chapel on Boundary Road. Contact Anne 0428 425 958.

CWA Dubbo Evening branch: FIRST Wednesday of the month, 7pm, 3 Frith Street. New members welcome. Contact Barb 0409 159 556.

CWA Narromine: SECOND Wednesday of the month, 5.30pm, USMC. New members are welcome. Contact Carolyn 0427747478.

CWA Terramungamine: SECOND

Wednesday of the month, 10am, Dubbo RSL Club. New members are most welcome. Contact Barb 0427 251 121.

Dementia Friendship Group: SECOND

Wednesday of the month, 10am, Western Plains Cultural Centre, Creo Cafe (formerly The Outlook Cafe), Wingewarra St. Contact Anne Gemmell or Jeanie Cronk on 6881 3704

Digital @ Dubbo: 2pm - 4pm, Macquarie

Regional Library, Dubbo, Learn about video calls, online privacy and shopping, internet and technology questions, Free, 45-minute, one-on-one session. Contact 6801 4510 Digital Skills for Seniors: Free one-onone help to use your smartphone, tablet/ iPad, or laptop. Need help going online or do you have some technology questions?

Connecting Community Services, 31-33 Church Street. To make a booking, phone 1800 319 551.

Dubbo Arts and Craft Cottage: 10am4pm, 137 Cobra Street. A large range of hand-

crafted gifts made by members available. Contact 6881 6410.

Dubbo Bobbin Lacemakers: THIRD

Wednesday of the month, 10am-3pm, Arts & Crafts Society Cottage and Craft Shop, 137 Cobra Street. Visitors, new members are very welcome. Contact Judy 6882 5776.

Dubbo Bridge Club: 9.45am, for 10am1pm, Bultje Street (Tennis Courts), Dubbo. $7 members, $9 non-members. Libby 0428 254 324

Dubbo Community Garden: 9am-12pm, 4 Palmer Street. A time to garden with others, learn more skills and grow friendships. All are welcome. Contact Denise 0433 623 842 or Julie 0428 821 829

Dubbo Electric Vehicle Interest, Owners, Users & Supporters (DEVIOUS) group: 12pm to 1pm, FIRST

Wednesday of each month, Western Plains Cultural Centre café. Anyone interested in learning about EVs is welcome to join. Chris 0409 321 470.

Dubbo Garden Club: 10am, FIRST

Wednesday of each month, Garden gatherings with morning tea. Contact, President, Annette Storer, 0429 828 882.

Dubbo Ratepayers and Residents

Association: 6.30pm, every SECOND

Wednesday of each month, RSL Coffee Shop.

Jenny 6884 4214 or Merilyn 0458 035 323.

Dundullimal Dubbo Support Crew Inc: 10am, FOURTH Wednesday of each month, Dundullimal Homestead. We support the operations at the Homestead, guiding, tours, gardening, and helping in café. Fun, friendship, learn as you go! All are welcome. Contact 6884 9984 or dundullimal@nationaltrust.com.au

Gamblers Anonymous: 6pm, Baptist Church, Dubbo. Victor 0407 799 139.

Geurie Craft Group: 9am-2pm, Geurie Bowling Club. Everyone is welcome. Shirley 6887 1251

Learning Meditation for Health and Wellbeing:First Wednesday of each month

Starting Wednesday 8th March 10am to 11:30am Buninyong Community Centre

(Next to Buninyong Public School) Myall St

Dubbo

Join us for monthly meditation instruction and practice run by Monastics from Wellington Buddhist Centre.

Line Dancing: 6.30pm to 9pm, David Palmer Centre, Cobbora Rd. Kathy 6888 5287 or Lynn 6888 5263.

Lodge Allan Stuart 416: SECOND

Wednesday of every month, Geurie Masonic Centre. Please email secretary@lodgeallanstuart416.org.au

Macquarie Intermediate Band: 6pm, during school terms, Band Hall, Boundary Rd. Players of all ages wanted for the concert band. Conservatorium 6884 6686 or info@ macqcon.org.au or Dubbo District Band on 0422 194 059 or email at dubboband@gmail. com.

Walter T. Grant Seniors Social Club: 9am-2pm, Number 1 Oval, Club house. $6 per day. Please bring your own lunch. Cards and games are played before lunch, after lunch is Bingo. New members welcome. Contact Jan Miller 0418 255 217 West Dubbo Rotary: 6pm, Club Dubbo, Whylandra Street West Dubbo. Wriggle and Rhyme and Storytime: 10.30am-11am, during school term, 0-5 years and families. Free. Movement, rhymes and stories. Bookings via www.mrl.nsw.gov.au

Zumba Kids: 4.15pm, West Dubbo Primary Community Centre. A FUN dynamic class that keeps young bodies active, for kids aged 5 to 12. Gold coin donation per family.

Rugby League and Rugby Union in The Astley Cup

This fascinating article by Patrick Bourke of the Bindyi Club, describes a fascinating time in the Astley Cup with debates over what should be the main football code played, rugby union or rugby league.

It mirrors a sporting clash that was repeated throughout NSW and Queensland throughout the first half of the 20th century which continues to this day, the constant backand-forth between traditional Rugby, and its upstart challenger, rugby league.

•••

ACCORDING to lists of players that were in the Astley Cup football teams, that were published in the local newspapers in the early years, it looks like rugby league was the usual football code played in the Astley Cup as the names in the football team lists numbered 13 players.

One can see from newspaper reports, that in the early 1930s that there was a push by the rugby union groups to have rugby union as the football code in the Astley Cup.

On 13 April 1932, the Dubbo Dispatch and Wellington Independent reported the visit to Dubbo of the Australian rugby union international player, Jack Ford. He would give a lecture to Dubbo High School students about rugby union. It was believed that in 1932, rugby union would be the football code played in the Astley Cup as both Bathurst High School and Orange High School had strong rugby union teams. http://nla.gov.au/nla. news-article226899902

The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate reported on 22 March 1934, that Dubbo High School was urged to follow Bathurst and Orange high schools and make rugby union the football code played at the school as rugby union will be the football code played in the Astley Cup. http:// nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131587293 From the local newspapers, it looks like rugby union was the football code played in the 1934 Astley Cup.

It was reported in the local Sydney newspapers in July 1934, that the ex-Australian international rugby player, Bryan Palmer, who was coaching in Sydney, would leave Sydney

to go to Dubbo, after the death of his father. http:// nla.gov.au/nla.news-article104572814 In March 1935 Bryan Palmer became the President of the Dubbo Rugby Union (Club). http:// nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131291420 It was stated in The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate on 14 March 1935, that: “he will throw this weight behind the code in Dubbo.” http:// nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131288351 That same year, Dubbo High School adopted rugby union as their school’s football code.

In 1936 Dubbo High School again adopted the rugby union code during the football season for House and inter-school

matches. The main reason given for the decision to adhere to union was that Bathurst and Orange high schools, who took part in the Astley Cup with Dubbo High, played rugby union as their school’s football code. Dubbo had to be governed by the majority of the schools in the Astley Cup. http://nla.gov.au./ nla.news-article131596827

In 1935, rugby union was the football code played in the Astley Cup and this continued until 1946.

In 1935, the Orange Rugby League was not happy with rugby union being “forced on the juniors competing in the Astley Cup” and they wrote to the Dubbo Rugby League

requesting that Mr Astley, the donor, be interviewed re: the rules of the Astley Cup. At the Dubbo League’s meeting, it was pointed out that the code of football was decided by the majority of the towns competing and both Bathurst and Dubbo agreed to Union in preference to League this season. At the Dubbo League meeting, a motion was carried instructing Dubbo League to interview Mr Astley, the donor of the cup, on this subject mentioned by Orange League. http://nla.gov.au/nla.

news-article159813925

In July 1938, the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team visited Dubbo. Bryan Palmer, who completed his Intermediate Certificate at the Dubbo District School & then went to Newington College as a boarder (191516), took the All Blacks rugby team to Dubbo High. The students welcomed the All Blacks rugby team players with their school’s war cry and the All Blacks replied with the Maori haka. http://nla.gov.au/nla. news-article132269133

It is interesting to read in the Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate on 19 December 1944, that the NSW Rugby Union was a Dubbo High School benefactor, donating 16 pounds to the school in 1944. http://nla.gov.au/nla.

news-article133234419

In 1945 Clive ‘Nip’ Ward was appointed to Dubbo High School as a Mathematics teacher. He would remain at the school until 1951. During this time Ward would also be the Sportsmaster at Dubbo High. Ward was a keen sportsman. He was very strong supporter of rugby league, having been a firstgrade player in Sydney and administrator. In the country, Ward refereed rugby league matches in Groups

11 and 20. With the support of Mr Ron Learmouth of Bathurst, he was able to have rugby union replaced by rugby league as the football code in the Astley Cup.

(Source: Clive Henry ‘Nip’ Ward’s obituary written by Ainslee Small and printed in the 1969 Bindyite, the Dubbo High School yearly magazine).

Rugby league returned to the Astley Cup in 1946 as reported in the Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate on 13 July 1946. http://nla.gov.au/nla. news-article132955801

By that time, Bryan Palmer was the state organizer for the NSW Farmers and Settlers’ Association and would have been busy moving around the State motivating members and recruiting new members. He gave a stirring speech at the Leeton Branch of the Farmers and Settlers’ Association on 23 July 1946. http://nla.gov.au/nla. news-article156169829

In recent years, boys’ and girls’ soccer have been added to boys’ rugby league as the football codes that are played in the Astley Cup.

 Patrick Bourke, February, 2023

PS. Two of the stars of the 1946 Dubbo High School football team, John Vincent and Bryan Palmer Jnr, would later become NSW rugby union representatives. Bryan Palmer Jnr in May 1950, http://nla.gov.au/ nla.news-article229201292 and John Vincent in July 1952, http://nla.gov.au/ nla.news-article248651241. Also, in 1954 Bryan Palmer Jnr’s brother, John, another member of this 1946 Dubbo High School football team, represented NSW in rugby union, http://nla.gov.au/ nla.news-article47611788.

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

Rhonda earns green-and-gold paddle for dragon boating

ONE of the foundation members of the Dubbo-based Outback Dragon Boating Club, has earned a spot in the national team to compete in the World Championships in August.

Rhonda Betts has worked extremely hard to make the team, and says it is a dream come true.

“I never thought in a million years I would achieve Australian honours,” she said with genuine surprise.

‘When I started-out with some friends, it was a bit of fun on the Macquarie Wambuul river. I never dreamed it would lead to the adventures we’ve had. Travelling around the region, all over the state and AUstralia and to many overseas countries has opened my eyes to the world and now I am hungry for more.”

As always, the proud grandmother took time to

praise her club mates and those who have created pathways.

“It has been unbelievable to see how we have grown over the years. People come and go through the city but there are very few who join us that ever leave,” Rhonda smiled.

Dragon Boats are an ancient ceremonial and now sporting phenomenon and paddlers from countries across the globe participate.

“It requires coordination, discipline and a willingness to work through stiff muscles in the initial stages but leads you to chalk up many milestones you may not have thought were possible.”

Rhonda will be joined by several other western region paddlers when they slip into the seats in Thailand.

We will be beating the drum for you, Rhonda!

Auroras from Western Region: Warren Edwards (Reserve) Forbes, Elly Ireland - Forbes, Rhonda Betts - Dubbo and Kerry Madden - Orange.

Three Dubbo clubs enter battle for the Pennants season

Contributed by ‘PISTOL

PETE’

AGAINST the backdrop of thousands of young Touch football enthusiasts in the city just over a week ago, the three Dubbo Clubs entered battle for the Pennants season.

In a hotly-contested challenge played over a six-week period, 16 of our Combo bowlers were proudly-off representing our RSL North Dubbo Sporties Pennants to create opportunities for 24 other enthusiasts who rollup on a Sundee morning.

Last Sunday as Daylight Saving imposes seemingly never-ending early morning darkness, the Combo bowlers emerged for more friendly competition. This round there were 34 on the greens with just six regular members flying the Pennants.

Therese Gaio made her

first appearance, leading Ken Whittaker and Eric Satchell in what was one heck-of-a game against Chris Castlehouse, Vicki Hummel, and Pete Ruzans. They led after the first couple of ends but a four on end three to Eric’s side put them into the lead they maintained until the 15th. Pete’s team then assembled a five to regain the upper hand and take the lead a 16 to 12 win.

Terry Millar, Gary Huggins, and Phil Knight were forced to do the chasing in their game against Leo Balstad, Steve Kelly, and Rob Pfeiffer. The latter kept the pressure up as they led the first eight by three shots and with consistency, they bowled themselves to a 14 to 10 victory over a winning 10 ends.

A disappointing second eight ends left Doc Livingston, Gordon Lummis, and

Matt Quill in the doldrums while Chris Strojny, Colin Teale, and Col Cottee worked their way to a masterful 12 end to four lead and an eventual ‘team of the morning’ 26 shots to six performance.

Di Hildbrant, Julie Brown, and Mel Giddings drew eight ends each with Ron McCauley, Allan Stratford, and Gaye Cottee. A couple of fours helped Gaye’s side run to a five-shot lead at the turnaround. Mel’s side used the second eight ends to mount a comeback, getting within three shots with one to play. They needed three for a draw or more for a win, but could only post a double and went down 19-18.

Mary Perry, Pat Sherwin, and Gordon Scott tried hard but Sue McCauley, John Kennedy, and Roger Sherwin were scoring more shots. Their efforts saw

Duckling Lucas shows oldstagers how it’s done!

them turn a first half deficit into an 18-11 win. The recovery was built on a couple of quads.

Pete Bennison and Trish Gosper were on fire for the first eight ends; Ray Strawhan and Chris Crisante trying to find something without success. The second half was different however, rattling up 11 shots to six. Unfortunately, it was not enough to stop Pete and Trish from claiming a 17-14 win.

The ‘Bowler of the Year’ award commenced last week and will continue on for the next 39 weeks. It is always keenly contested. Players earn a point for playing each week, a point for winning the game and a point for being part of the best team of the morning.

Come along and enjoy Sundee bowls. We are a completely unBIASED group!

A YOUNG veteran "Duck" swimmer gave the grey-feathered ones, a quacking lesson last Sunday.

Lucas Salmon clocked an almost perfect.04 seconds off his nominated time in the 25-metre Freestyle event to claim the Jokers Ink March Monthly Trophy.

A huge roll up of 28 swimmers had poured into the pond for the meet.

“It was great to see so many new faces joining us at the wonderful club,” Life Member, Judy Walsh, glowed.

Lucas went on to win the final after Mia Uebergang put-out the challenge. Unfortunately, the little flyer broke her own time in the process!

“Another of our juniors, Harry Gardiner came in second place. His brother Euan wasn’t to be outdone either. He swam 0.83 seconds off his time to claim the 50-Metres Backstroke,” Judy added.

Club stalwart, Brian Schloeffel, also had a welltimed swim in the Closest to Time 50m Freestyle, touching the wall a mere 0.18 seconds off his nominated time with Marg Ross coming-in second place at 0.58 off her time.

Another of the stalwarts, John Wherritt, got the nod in the Closest to Time 50m Breaststroke, a scant 0.17 off his time from Judy Walsh on 1.43.

“It was a very tight finish in the final of the Two x 25m Breaststroke Brace relay. Peter Allen and Norm Bahr suffered the misfortune of breaking allowing Roger Mackay and Mark Scullard to get the goods from Brian Schloeffel and Mia Uebergang,” Judy said.

This Sunday is the start of the Club Open and Aged Championships, starting with Butterfly and Backstroke and running over the next few weeks.

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

Steve skins Macquarie

By GEOFF MANN

Photos by MEL POCKNALL

Newtown all-rounder Steve Skinner batted his team to a defendable total of 160 and then spun them to victory in Friday night’s T20 Grand Final against Macquarie.

Skinner (31 run-out) and brother Mat (45 not-out from 22) set-up the win and then combined to claim four wickets and seal another night cricket title.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Newtown we’re known as the “black-and-gold moths” because they won a number of night cricket titles. The joke was the “Townies always came out at night”!

Lachlan Strahan (Macquarie) and Mat Skinner (Newtown)

Skinner

Umpires Dave Murray and Phil Leonard

MORE SNAPS FROM the Delroy Campus Swimming Carnival

Didge Stone

PHOTOS: CONTRIBUTED

Champions:

 12 Years girl: Lucy Turner

 13 Years girl: Tahlia Crowley and Olivia Walsh

 13 Years boy: Nate Long

 14 Years girl: Sophie McAneney

 14 Years boy: L ance McGregor

 15 Years girl: Addison Rufus

 15 Years boy: Jack Long

 16 Years girl: Tully Pittock

 16 Years boy: Declan McGregor

Addison Rufu

Declan McGregor and Denim Auld

Declan McGregor, Harry Edwards, Harmony Cranston, Laila-Maree Sherring, James Turner, Charlie Pollock

Gracie Edwards and Emily Weber

Olivia Walsh - Year 7

STATE ATHLETICS

Barden Park Dubbo

MEAT RAFFLES

Tickets on sale from 6pm each night, with draws commencing at 7pm.

Trays are provided by BOURKE STREET BUTCHERY and BLUES MEATS

Photos by Mel Pocknall

Ella Penman adds adds faster, stronger, better, 400m and 800m titles!

By GEOFF MANN

Photos by MEL POCKNALL

OUR middle-distance running champion, Ella Penman, added State 400 and 800 metres age titles to her long list of achievements two weeks ago and then backed-up in the NSW Opens at Barden Park last weekend.

In a performance that had her coach/father Mark smiling, the 17-year-old was placed fifth in the 800m after being out-

classed in the 400m where she was 17th out of a field of 30.

Ella’s incredible work ethic, her dedication to self-improvement and hard yards in the gym and on hill and track courses, have seen her overall strength improve and her rankings from junior to senior competition continue to rise.

Ella was joined on the podium at the NSW titles by talented all round sportsman, Max McAneney, who won the 400m.

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