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Friday, October 11, 2024
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Roadside warnings for central west motorists around harvest vehicles
Narromine is Dollymine once again as festival hits town
STORY: PAGE 16
STORY: PAGE 9
Col Hodges calls it again as Mungery celebrates 100 years of racing By SHARON BONTHUYS GLORIOUS weather was on tap for the centenary celebrations at Mungery Picnic Races last Sunday as 19-year-old Arthur Pollock steered Pacific Warrior to victory in the 1750-metre QUBE Agri Mungery Picnic Cup. The Cup was one of six races in the centenary program, all of which were called by veteran track announcer, Col Hodges, who notched up his 54th visit to the iconic racecourse 40 kilometres south-west of Narromine. “I still manage to get up the ladder,” Col joked, referring to his birds-eye view of the track from the tower opposite the winning post. Mr Hodges said what he had observed the most across the many decades he has called races at Mungery, was how the seasons have changed and the improvements that have been made at the racecourse. “There’s a magnificent crop of wheat out there in the centre,” he said, referring to the kneehigh spread of green across the circle inside the racetrack. It hasn’t always been that way though, with racing cancelled in 2022 when then the track was underwater following extended bad weather.
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A return to the regions: Country Press conference to be held in Dubbo STORY & PHOTOS: PAGE 3
New mayor Jones By SHARON BONTHUYS A PACKED public gallery watched on as Cr Ewen Jones was elected as the next mayor of Narromine Shire Council at the first meeting in the new term of local government on Wednesday night. Cr Jones, successfully returned in the council election last month, defeated the only other candidate in the mayoral race on the night, Cr Les Lambert, five votes to four. A veteran councillor of 25 years, Cr Lambert also nominated for the position of deputy mayor but lost out to newly-elected Cr Stacey Bohm by the same margin. Former mayor, Cr Craig Davies, did not nominate for either role. Cr Judy Smith successfully moved a motion prior to the voting for the councillors to vote on the positions with raised hands, in the interests of transparency. All three nominees for the leadership roles in the council had the opportunity to address the meeting before voting was undertaken. Cr Jones ref lected on his long and varied career, including significant time as a council staff member. Cr Lambert used an acrostic composition using the letters in the word “community” to ref lect upon his beliefs. Cr Bohm told the meeting she was running for the position of deputy mayor because the council
The nine elective representatives of the Narromine Shire Council (L-R): Lachlan Roberts, Stacey Bohm, Adine Hoey, Judy Smith, Les Lambert, Peter Howe, Ewen Jones, Brian Leak and Craig Davies.
Newly elected deputy mayor, Stacey Bohm, and mayor, Ewen Jones, will lead the Narromine Shire Council in its current term. PHOTOS: NARROMINE STAR.
and community deserved transparency, especially in decision-making. Director of Community and Economic Development, Phil Johnston, stepped in for General Manager Jane Redden, who was unable to attend the meeting. Mr Johnston acted as returning officer for the election, which was the second order
of business on the agenda after each elected representative delivered their oath or affirmation of office.
Straight to business FOLLOWING the election, Cr Jones took his place beside the council leadership team and proceeded to run his fi rst meeting as Narromine Shire
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Council mayor. Given the community interest from the full gallery, an item of business relating to a development application that was raised in the public forum ahead of the meeting (see separate article) was brought forward for discussion. Continued page 10