NAIDOC Week acknowledges contributions of Elders

From a march down Wagga Wagga’s main street to a family fun day at the Riverside precinct, events have been taking place across the Wagga Wagga local government area to celebrate NAIDOC Week 2023.

This year’s theme is ‘For Our Elders’, encouraging everyone to reflect on the contributions First Nations Elders have made, and continue to make to their communities across Australia.

The week commenced with a march down Baylis Street on Monday followed by a flag raising ceremony in front of the Civic Centre.

The Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and Australian flags were raised by representatives of the community, including Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Dallas Tout, Wiradjuri/ Wiradyuri community leaders Aunty Isabel Reid, Aunty Pamela Honeysett, and Patty Sagigi, as well as young First Nations people representing the future of the community.

“It was great to be involved in the march and flag raising to celebrate the commencement of NAIDOC Week,” Cr Tout said.

“It has also been wonderful to see the strong turnout from the Wiradjuri/Wiradyuri and First Nations communities along with the broader community at these events and at the other activities held in the city over the week.

“It reflects the respect and appreciation they have for the contribution over many years of the Elders in our Wiradjuri/Wiradyuri and First Nations community.” a bag full of jewels.”

The RiFL Hub project, including the Bomen Enterprise Area industrial subdivision, has been funded by the NSW Government through the Fixing Country Rail program and Growing Local Economies fund, Wagga Wagga City Council and Visy Logistics.

The 25 industrial blocks in RiFL and RiFL West are being brought to the market by exclusive agents Colliers on behalf of Council and the NSW Government.

The Expressions of Interest process was launched on Monday 3 July 2023.

“Each time we hit a milestone, we walk past that and we’re looking at the next thing.” Council's General Manager Peter Thompson said.

“It’s great the subdivision is completed and that we’ve got an intermodal hub that’s a hive of activity, with one train leaving from it every day, but our focus now is on securing business that is of benefit to our community and the region.

Since launching the Expression of Interest process on Monday, Colliers has received a significant number of enquiries about the land sale.

Colliers, Head of Capital Markets ACT, Matthew Winter said businesses who establish operations at RiFL will be at the forefront of the changing face of freight and logistics in Australia.

“The RiFL Hub sites in the precinct enjoy both direct and indirect access to the rail terminal, catering for import, export and domestic goods, transport and storage,” Mr Winter said.

“With a 4.6-kilometre rail siding, the hub allows for extended trains with the capacity to safely load and unload without delaying other services.

With the theme ‘For Our Elders’ in mind, the Mawang Gaway NAIDOC Committee, supported by Council, has worked to make events across the city accessible for Wiradjuri/Wiradyuri and First Nations Elders.

This included having a bus available to transport those unable to walk in the march down Baylis street on Monday and holding events in community centres where they are easily accessed by elder community members.

Wiradjuri/Wiradyuri Elder Aunty Mary Atkinson reflected on the week’s events.

“It’s been great to see the pride in the community, the building up on strengths from Elders, wanting to be there to support each other and respectfully walking together”, Aunty Mary said.

“All the events have been happening in the community hubs in the suburbs, so everyone has been able to go to an event that is close to where they live.

The Riverina Intermodal Freight and Logistics (RiFL) Hub, a core feature of the Wagga Wagga Special Activation Precinct (SAP) at Bomen, has marked a major milestone with the first commercial blocks released to the national and international market.

“We’d like to think that we will find national and international purchasers in this process with developments that are in the long-term interests of Wagga and the surrounding region, which means jobs and whole-of-life careers in Wagga.

“Wagga’s not just about the industrial precinct. This is just another jewel that is in

“Wagga Wagga is the southern gateway for Australia’s richest food and agricultural region. Locating at the RiFL Hub offers numerous opportunities to capitalise, with potential to add value at every stage of the supply chain.”

The blocks are being offered for sale by way of an Expressions of Interest process closing 4pm, 14 August 2023.

For more information about the RiFL Hub, visit wagga.nsw.gov.au/rifl

“The Elders have been able to sit back and relax, take it all in and be treated like the royalty that they are.”

A dinner to show appreciation of the contributions of Wiradjuri/Wiradyuri and First Nations Elders is being held on Saturday evening (8 July) at The Gardens Restaurant and Function Centre, which is free for Elders of the community to attend.

All the community enjoyed this week's NAIDOC Week celebrations.

Festival of W dials up winter in Wagga Wagga

Festival of W has dialled up winter in Wagga Wagga with thousands of festival-goers embracing the cooler weather to take part in the 2023 event.

More than 5000 locals and visitors joined in for the festival's launch day on 1 July, enjoying the light and sound show ‘Lightvision: A Wagga Wagga Surface to Sky Journey’, House of FoW dining hub, projections, and ice skating.

The 16-day festival continues with this Saturday 8 July delivering more programmed events, including a stage on Baylis Street with live music, additional street food vendors, an illuminated roving performance and live ice carving.

Destination and Events Coordinator Kimberly Parker encourages everyone who might not have experienced the festival, or who want to come back for a repeat visit, to head down to the Wollundry Lagoon precinct.

“It has been amazing to see so many people out and about on a chilly winter's day and night enjoying the festival,” Ms Parker said.

"You have until 16 July to experience Festival of W, so if you haven't been down yet - there's still time.

“This Saturday will be a great day to come down, with live music by national artists Sycco, Hatchie and Tom Snowdon, plus a local lineup of DJ Vino and Vinyl and Social Afterparty.”

There are also more tasty winter food offerings, an amazing, illuminated roving performance and live ice carving.

The festival's dining hub House of FoW is open from Wednesday to Sunday during the festival, with lunch sessions available between Friday to Sundays and dinner offerings from Wednesday to Saturday.

"‘Lightvision’ illuminates the festival precinct from 5.30pm each evening, and you can ice skate between 9am and 9pm each day of the festival too,” Ms Parker said.

"There's also a great projection by local artist Alice Peacock on the façade of the Museum of the Riverina Historic Council Chambers site, and a soundscape piece inspired by our Wiradjuri culture on the boardwalk over Wollundry Lagoon.

For Skate Wagga Wagga tickets and the full Festival of W line-up: visitwagga.com/fow

WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK

STABILISATION WORKS: Lime is added to the subgrade soil to reinforce and improve the durability of the road foundation.

Construction advances on Dunns Road upgrade

Construction on the project to upgrade Dunns Road has made good progress since starting over a month ago.

When complete, this project will improve traffic flow and make it safer for everyone who uses this road. Wagga Wagga City Council Senior Project Manager Tim Morris said contractors have widened and reshaped the western end of Dunns Road.

“A major drainage culvert has been installed on the realigned section of road near the Olympic Highway and earthworks on sections of the existing road have also been completed,” Mr Morris said.

“The entire 3.3-kilometre unsealed section of the road has been stabilised with a lime additive and is now ready for the road base to be laid.

“Contractors are aiming to start laying the road base in the next week, weather permitting.

“Delivery of the road base material will lead to a significant increase in truck movements in the area for up to two weeks.”

Motorists are urged to be alert and take extra care when driving near the heavy vehicles.

Dunns Road is closed between Kunzea Place and the Olympic Highway to ensure the safety of all road users and workers, and to allow the works to be completed as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Only local residents and emergency vehicles are allowed access during this time.

The project is funded by the Australian Government ($5.8 million) and Wagga Wagga City Council ($2.5 million).

To stay up to date on these works, visit the project page at wagga.nsw. gov.au/projects

Gardens, MacLeay St. P. 6926 9700

Art Camp Teens: From Junk to Jewellery

TUE 11 JUL, 1PM – 3PM

Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, Morrow St.

P. 6926 9660

All Ages Bingo at the Wagga Wagga City Library

WED 12 JUL, 2PM – 3PM

Wagga Wagga City Library, 243 Baylis St.

P. 6926 9700

Trivia Wednesday –Riverina Hotel

UPCYCLING: ‘Trash Toy Mash Up’ will be one of the workshops on offer during Winter Art Camp. Image courtesy of Trish Harrison.

Join in some creative fun at the Gallery’s Winter Art Camp

Warm up these school holidays with the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery’s Winter Art Camp, a series of art making workshops for kids being held during the second week of the July school holidays.

Themes of the Winter Art Camp relate to the Gallery’s year of environmental programming GREEN 2023, exploring sustainability, recycling and eco-friendly techniques.

The workshops include printmaking, animation, weaving, jewellery-making, paper sculpture and using upcycled materials.

Art Gallery Director Dr Lee-Anne Hall said this is a great opportunity for participants to get creative in a sustainable way and start the conversation around the environment.

“There are so many great workshops to look out for. I can’t wait to see what comes of workshops such as Emily Shannon’s ‘Birdlife Monoprint’ and Trish Harrisons’ ‘Trash Toy Mash Up’, and the use of upcycled materials,” Dr Hall said. Eight different workshops will be offered throughout the week including offerings for primary school aged children in the mornings, and workshops for teens in the afternoons.

Winter Art Camp participants will also have the opportunity to tour the gallery’s exhibitions and learn from some of the region’s most creative contemporary artists and art educators.

The Art Gallery’s Winter Art Camp will be held between Tuesday 11 and Friday 14 July 2023.

Workshops for primary school aged children (6 – 11 years) will be held at 10am – 11.30am, and workshops for high school children (12 – 16 years) at 2pm – 4pm.

For more information and to book your spot, visit waggaartgallery.com.au/ whats-on and head to the Program & Events page.

Meet Rosie!

This absolute sweetheart is a brindle and white, female mixed breed who is roughly 12-18 months old.

While she can be a little nervous at first, Rosie warms up to people quickly. The adoption fee for Rosie (ImpD23/0278) is $357, and includes microchipping, lifetime registration, vaccination, desexing, heartworm test, flea/worming treatment and ID tag.

Vacancies

Mechanic $2,896.12 gpf + super

Closing: Sunday, 9 July 2023

Mechanic Supervisor $3,136.26 gpf + super

Closing: Sunday, 9 July 2023

Senior Strategic Planner Attractive remuneration package based on skills and experience

Closing: Monday, 10 July 2023

Gardener $2,045.38 gpf + super

Closing: Monday, 17 July 2023

Truck Driver (Water Cart) $2,179.46 gpf + super

Closing: Tuesday, 18 July 2023

Truck Driver (10M Truck and Dog) $2,310.74 gpf + super

Closing: Tuesday, 18 July 2023

Truck Driver (Patching Truck) $2,088.00 gpf + super

Closing: Tuesday, 18 July 2023

Assistant Senior Water Reclamation Operator $2,896.12 gpf + super

Closing: Wednesday, 19 July 2023

Boilermaker Welder / Water Reclamation Operator $2,896.12 gpf + super

Botanic Gardens

MON 10 JUL, 2PM – 3PM Wagga Wagga Botanic

WED 12 JUL, 7PM Riverina Hotel, 188

Wagga Wagga City Council is an EEO employer gpf = gross salary per fortnight

Enquiries: 1300 292 442

For more details and to apply, visit:

Closing: Wednesday, 19 July 2023 wagga.nsw.gov.au/ jobs