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Warren
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
PROUDLY SERVING WARREN, NEVERTIRE, COLLIE & OUR SHIRE
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Fun Warren Youth Fest — get your glow on this Friday night!
Collie Hotel: beloved local watering hole up for sale STORY: PAGE 5
NAB to close Warren branch; Gil, Wello, and Condo, also!
STORY: PAGE 4
Wonderful event, as Warren Central School celebrates new Yarning Circle STORY & PHOTOS: PAGE 6
Fun of the fair, a wonderful Warren Show Day, it was!
By HARRIET GILMORE IT’S a story all-too familiar for hard-hit country communities, one of the “Big Four” banks pulling-up stumps in the bush, while enjoying record profits off the back of high interest rates… The NAB (National Australia Bank) advised its customers via a letter last week, that it will be closing the Warren branch in August, leaving the Commonwealth Bank as the community’s only dedicated banking branch. NAB branches at Gilgandra, Wellington, and Condobolin branches are also closing. NAB Retail Customer Executive for Greater Regional NSW, Allison Baker, has defended the decision, claiming that closing branches is never done lightly. She argued that, a decline of in-person transactions, and an increase in online banking, is to blame for the move. “What we’ve seen, is a steady decline in over-the-counter transactions, and an increase in the usage of digital banking options at Warren. “The Warren branch had been averaging five cash withdrawals per day in 2022, a decline of nearly 50 per cent in two years,” she said. “Meanwhile, close to 90 per cent of Warren customers who are registered for online banking, are active users of the mobile app, internet banking and/or telephone banking. “The team at Warren, are now helping customers who need additional support with digital banking, and also introducing them to the Bank@Post team down the road on Burton Street” Ms Baker said. Continued page 3
Competitors take to track in the Lawn Mower Races. PHOTO: WARREN STAR. By HARRIET GILMORE GREAT weather, a solid turn-up, and the fun of the fair, were all highlights of last weekend’s annual Warren Show. A balmy 25 degree winter’s day and lots to see and do, enticed a good crowd to the 143rd version of the lo-
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cal agricultural event. There was plenty of agriculture displays, whip cracking, horse events, the pavilion was packed with hand-crafted wares and cooking, a circus display, lawn-mower racing, and the ever popular, QuickShear competition. President of the Warren
P&A Association, Justin Sanderson said the wonderful weather helped to attract a great crowd. “All in all, it was a really great day. Considering the circumstances this year, we were very pleased to still have such a good crowd come along for a great day out.
“We thought numbers would likely be down, but our gate donations were on par with last year, which was fantastic,” he said. ‘Man’s best friends’ were particularly popular, he added. “The dog trials this year were a real hit. “We had triple the entries compared to last year, and the Poultry Pavilion run by chief steward, David Cleasby, won the President’s Award,” Justin said. He said that this traditional district event, continue to grow. “All our feedback so far, was it was one of our better shows, which is always great to hear. “Every year, it seems to get bigger and better,” he added. Its success, however, was a real group effort, he emphasised. “That wouldn’t be possible without the hard-working team of committee members and volunteers. “A huge ‘thanks’ goes out to them who continue to put on a fantastic event year after year,” Justin enthused. Continued page 12