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Know a local or organisation who needs to be recognised? Nominations for Aus Day Awards open now
Burrima Boardwalk is officially opened
By HARRIET GILMORE
Contributed
KNOW some worthy locals and groups in our community who deserve recognition? Nominations for the annual Warren Shire Council Australia Day Awards — which celebrates and recognises the outstanding achievements of citizens and organisations within our community — are now open. Local Australia Day Committee Chair, Warren Councillor Kevin Taylor, said the awards were a wonderful way to recognise the accomplishments and successes of members of the community, whether it’s in sport, academic, volunteer committees, events or just generally as outstanding Warren citizens. Cr Taylor said that although award nominations have been open all year, it’s a timely reminder to get the nominations in now and to ensure that nomination forms are properly completely. “You must make sure you list all of the achievements and contributions of the person or organisation you are nominating,” Cr Taylor explained. “Last year, we had a number of submissions with just the names and needed to follow-up with all the nominators for details,” he added. Council, he revealed, would not be doing that extra work this year.
AN estimated 300 people from as far afield as Sydney and the Central Coast, ignored the 38-degree forecast for Saturday and gathered in the Macquarie Marshes to witness the official opening of the Burrima Boardwalk. Located 49km from Carinda and 128km from Warren, “Burrima” is a 257-hectare privately-owned property near the edge of the Northern Nature Reserve. The property is managed by the Macquarie Wetlands Association (MWA), which oversaw the planning, funding and construction of a two-kilometre elevated walkway in 2020. Saturday’s event was in part the official opening of a structure and facility that is now fi rmly embedded in the region’s tourism network and part acknowledgment of all who played a part in its inception and development. On arrival, visitors were greeted by members of the Association and Warren Shire Council staff with morning tea catered for by Carinda Far West Store; meanwhile a generator quietly whirred away providing power for a bank of urns. With smoko over, attendees donned insect spray and sunscreen and gathered for the off icial proceedings in front of the entrance to the walkway,
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The Burrima Boardwalk, a two-kilometre elevated walkway through the Macquarie Marshes, 128 kilometres from Warren, was officially opened on Saturday, by State Member for Barwon, Roy Butler. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
adorned for the occasion with a large green bow! Warren Mayor, Councillor Milton Quigley welcomed the crowd and delivered an Acknowledgment of Country before introducing MWA presi-
dent, Tony Wass. “We’d like to thank the state government, which contributed over $2 million towards the boardwalk,” Mr Wass said. “We also need to acknowl-
edge the State Government for its almost half million dollar contribution to the sealing of the road and making this an all-weather access, it makes such a difference as many of our visitors are not used to dirt roads!” “We also wish to mention the people from Council who actually did the work, they were very accommodating, and I thank the unit-holders who backed the management committee with support, cash and in-kind help. “Also the state government, through Warren Shire Council, has made a large contribution towards today’s costs. “We need to thank Ken Hilder and Tim Wheelhouse from Trangie and Narromine respectively who actually built the boardwalk, it was done under difficult circumstances,” Mr Wass said. “Those men and their staff worked up to their waists in water to put the concrete panels on top of the concrete piers, and Jack Yeomans from Walgett drove a concrete truck back and forth to Burrima twice a day, a round trip of 700km. “Finally, thank you to our Burrima neighbours, the unit-holders and our friends up and down the valley who helped with equipment and enthusiasm,” Mr Wass concluded. Continued page 4