Merriwa Springtime Show
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Royal Hotel Cassilis
VALENTINES DINNER WITH TWO RIVERS WINES
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REGISTER FOR 2025
https://www.revolutionise.com.au/merriwaphysie/registration
Giro de Cassilis & Triple Cown
EARLYBIRD TICKETS ON SALE NOW! https://bit.ly/3UpXkhf
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STALL HOLDER APPLICATIONS OPEN
Attention all store holders! 
Make sure to read the applications carefully this year, as we have some new changes! If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out at stallholders@festivalofthefleeces.com.au
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2025 Registrations are open – let’s go Magpies 
U6’s – U7’s Tag (Tackle Ready)U8s to U12’s mixed tackle
Girls League Tag teams from U12’s to U16’s
Girls Tackle from 12’s to 16’s (pending numbers)
Registration details:
NEW U6’s Players – FREE (email club for discount code)
All ages – $120
Registration for players includes training shirt, training shorts, playing shorts, socks and club polo shirt.
Register via the link below:
https://profile.mysideline.com.au/register/clubsearch
Active kids vouchers can be used:
https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/…/apply-active-kids-voucher
All volunteers must have a Working with Children check (WWCC)
Click this link to apply.
https://www.ocg.nsw.gov.au/…/working-with-children-check
We look forward to seeing you all for the 2025 season
Please note the season has been opened early for those wanting to use their Active Kids vouchers prior to there expiration.
Club email: merriwamapiesjrl@gmail.com
State Matters – A Weekly Bulletin from Dave Layzell MP
Member for Upper Hunter – 10 February 2025
CASSILIS TO REMEMBER – CASSILIS Public School has secured some of the $124,000 in funding to 99 community groups, schools and ex-service organisations from the Anzac Community Grants Program (ACGP) to commemorate veterans across the state.
The $2,000 grant will go towards a project to create a commemorative garden at the front entrance of Cassilis Public, serving as a daily reminder to the school community and visitors, of the sacrifice and service of all our defence force personnel.
The 2024 round of the ACGP received 116 applications, surpassing the number received last year with a record amount of funding requested.
The NSW Office for Veterans Affairs manages two grant programs which provide funding to acknowledge our military history – the Anzac Community Grants Program and the Community War Memorials Fund.
Applications for Round 2 of the 2024-25 Community War Memorials Fund close at 11pm on Wednesday 12 February at: www.veterans.nsw.gov.au/grants/
UPCOMING ROADWORK – Transport for NSW continues to plan for the rehabilitation of the Brig O’Johnston Bridge, Clarence Town with geotechnical investigation work to begin next Monday, 17 February.
Work on the bridge will be conducted 7am-4pm and is expected to take two weeks to complete, weather permitting.
Rehabilitation work to retain the existing Brig O’Johnston Bridge will commence following completion of the new bridge to be constructed by Dungog Shire Council.
Meantime, night work is scheduled for the New England Highway between White Avenue and the Hunter River Bridge, Singleton from Sunday 23 February.
Transport will carry out the work which includes removal and replacement of concrete slabs on the highway between 7pm and 5am, Sunday to Thursday.
The work is expected to be completed in eight shifts, weather permitting.
Motorists are reminded that a 40km/h speed limit will be in place during work hours with further updates available from: www.livetraffic.com/incident-list
LIDDELL LATEST – The NSW Government has approved the Future Land Use and Enabling Works project for Liddell Power Station near Muswellbrook. It clears the way for the former power station to be demolished, the site remediated then transformed for future industrial land uses.
Work includes construction and operation of a borrow pit for capping, civil works and recontouring of the site, recontouring and revegetation of the site plus the construction and operation of a landfill for the disposal of asbestos contaminated soil and material from demolished infrastructure.
The project spans around 143 hectares and is expected to generate more than $260 million in Capital Investment Value for the Upper Hunter as well as 100 fulltime equivalent jobs.
Proponent AGL now expects work to commence within the next three months and continue over the next ten years.
INPUT REQUIRED – Residents of the Upper Hunter electorate are being asked to help a University of Newcastle research project.
Dr Hedda Askland has received funding from the Australian Research Council for the study and would appreciate local input.
The project is seeking participants for the study, Mining Voids and Just Transition: Reimagining Post-Mining Landscapes.
Dr Askland wants to speak with Hunter Valley residents about their experience of landscape change, mining legacies and post-mining futures.
So, if you live in the Hunter Valley and are aged 18-50, please contact Emma Clifton on Emma.Clifton1@newcastle.edu.au or Hedda Askland on Hedda.Askland@newcastle.edu.au
ATTENTION, SCHOOLS! – NSW Parliament has unveiled a new NSW School Travel Subsidy designed to support schools and students.
The travel subsidy is available beginning Term 1, 2025 to all schools located in eligible electorates, such as Upper Hunter, which are 120 kilometres or more from Sydney.
The subsidy aims to help ease the financial burden of travel costs, ensuring all students, no matter where they live, have equitable access to the civics and citizenship educational programs that the NSW Parliament offers to all NSW schools.
Highlights for the 2025 program include Guided Tours, Legal Studies Workshops, Visit Us At Our House, Parli-Flicks Short Film Award and Secondary Schools Student Leadership.
Schools eager to visit and experience the Parliament of NSW are encouraged to view: https://education.parliament.nsw.gov.au
TOWN PLANS – Have your say on the Clarence Town Structure Plan during a series of in-person sessions later this month.
Dungog Shire Council has developed the Clarence Town Structure Plan and Streetscape Master Plan following community workshops held late last year.
The Plans are on public exhibition from Wednesday, 12 February to Wednesday, 12 March with the community asked to view the plans online and submit any feedback.
Council’s in-person sessions are on Saturday 22 February, 9am-Noon, then at Clarence Town Markets, 1-4pm at Clarence Town IGA.
Clarence Town School of Arts is the location on Tuesday 4 March between 4.30pm and 6.30pm.
Your input is essential to shape the future of Clarence Town, so submit any feedback you have via the Dungog Shire Council website: www.dungog.nsw.gov.au/Home
SHOWS ARE GO! – The build-up to the Upper Hunter Electorate’s annual agricultural show season began over the weekend in Muswellbrook.
Upper Hunter Show had the honour of hosting The Land Sydney Royal Ag Shows NSW Young Woman 2025 Zone 5 Final which was held on Saturday at Muswellbrook RSL Club.
From this Friday, the exhibition pavilions and centre rings will burst into action as Maitland Show plays host through until Sunday.
Cessnock Show takes the baton Friday and Saturday 21-22 February, the 93rd Gresford Show runs Friday-Saturday 7-8 March, Muswellbrook has the Upper Hunter Show Friday to Sunday March 14-16, Gloucester Show is on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 March and Stroud Show is Friday to Sunday April 25-27.
MOBILE UPGRADE PLANS – Public comment is currently being taken on plans to upgrade mobile telephone facilities on McDougalls Hill, Singleton
Optus and Vodafone are proposing to carry out 5G upgrade works to the existing mobile telephone base station at the telecommunication site.
The proposed upgrade works include the replacement of existing panel antennas with new antennas, and the installation of active antenna units.
The proposed upgrade aims to enhance mobile network coverage in the local area by adding 5G frequencies to the network.
Details about the proposed facility and its emissions can be found on the website www.rfnsa.com.au site number 2330029.
Feedback can be provided on the proposal until Thursday 20 February with additional information at: www.rfnsa.com.au/2330029.
LIFEBLOOD ROLLS IN – If becoming a blood or plasma donor was one of your New Year resolutions, well, the time has arrived to roll up your sleeve.
Australian Red Cross Lifeblood will be in the Upper Hunter Electorate over coming weeks and you are encouraged to book your appointment.
Lifeblood’s mobile donor centre will be at Dungog Bowling Club on Tuesday, 18 February, 10am-3pm and Raymond Terrace at The Close, corner of Sturgeon and Glenelg Streets, Thursday 20-23 February.
The Charlton Street carpark is the venue for the Cessnock Mobile Donor Centre Monday-Tuesday, 24-25 February and the PCYC car park for the Muswellbrook Mobile Donor Centre visit during Monday to Thursday, 7-10 April.
Maitland Donor Centre is open at 39 St Andrews Street from Monday to Saturday and on public holidays.
You can pre-book your appointment today at Find a Donor Centre near you: www.lifeblood.com.au/donor-centre
STILL TIME TO ENROL – TAFE NSW reminds prospective students that it’s not too late to enrol for Semester 1, but you do need to hurry as applications close soon and places are limited.
When you take the step towards studying with TAFE, you gain access to industry-standard training facilities, teachers with real-world experience, support services for every stage in your study journey, and affordable, flexible study options.
You can improve your reading, writing, maths, English, or digital skills with the free Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) Program.
Or, enrol in the Datacentre Academy workforce development program created in collaboration with Microsoft and the fully subsidised Cyber Security microskill to understand cyber safety and threats.
Discover your options at: www.tafensw.edu.au
APPLY NOW – Gloucester, Stroud and Dungog shire communities can now lodge their application for Essential Energy Community Grants.
The program aims to support eligible community groups contributing towards positive outcomes for regional communities.
Grants up to the value of $15,000 are available for community-based initiatives supporting the environment, education, resilience or related to the energy transition.
Eligible groups include not-for-profit organisations, charities and community groups located within Essential Energy’s network area: www.essentialenergy.com.au/about-us/our-network-area
Nominations close Monday, 31 March: www.essentialenergy.com.au/about-us/community-support/Essential-Grants
TOPS NEWS! – Aussie Ark’s Barrington Tops Wildlife Sanctuary has been thrilled to recently welcome home five Koalas to the Upper Hunter highlands.
Late last year, Aussie Ark worked with a specialist Koala capture and care team from Ecosure and Endeavour Veterinary Ecology to conduct a rigorous health check of its resident Koalas.
The focus of the testing was to determine the presence of the highly infectious disease chlamydia, which if left untreated causes blindness, infertility and even death.
Two females and three males were transferred off site to Koala hospitals but have now returned to their favourite trees chlamydia and pain free.
The ultimate test of Aussie Ark’s success to secure one of the nation’s only chlamydia-free Koala populations will be in a couple of months, when it recaptures and retests all Koalas to ensure they’re still chlamydia-free and thriving.
Follow the progress of Flora, Grevillea, Banksia and her joey Gymea, and males Gerbert, Manna, Blue and Scribbs at: www.facebook.com/@AussieArk
Contact:
Email address: upperhunter@parliament.nsw.gov.au;
Phone number: 6543 1065;
Postal address P.O. Box 493, Muswellbrook 2333.
Upper Hunter Shire Council
Works Schedule – Week Starting Monday, 10 February 2025
Works Delivery
- Golden Highway – Slashing
- Solleys Lane – Construction
- Depo Road – Resheet
- Road inspections as required
- Action requests as required
- Scone Road – Shoulder grading
Parks and Facilities
- Amenities maintenance
- Cemetery maintenance
- Parks, sports fields, rest areas, entrances/approaches, Showground Passive areas and reserves mowing and maintenance
- Playground inspections
- Actions requests as required
Water and Sewer
- Water treatment plant operation and maintenance
- Sewer treatment plant operation and maintenance
- Water and sewer distribution systems and actions requests as required
- Meter Reading
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AUSTRALIA DAY AWARDS 2025
Citizen of the year
Jane Hegarty
In recent years Jane has volunteered an enormous amount of her time for the betterment of the Cassilis district. She is the President of the Cassilis District Development Group and the driving force behind many of the committee’s current projects. These include the Giro de Cassilis bike ride which is becoming a growing tourism event for the town, and the Cassilis Ball fundraiser that injects over $20,000 in donations back into the Cassilis community.
Jane is involved with the Country Education Foundation and offers guidance and encouragement to many other groups & individuals in the community, including Cassilis Public School P & C and a group of young mothers trying to set up a childcare facility in Cassilis.
Jane is an inspiration for people living in small communities like Cassilis. It is thanks to Jane that we now have a small community that is working together to make Cassilis a great place to live, work & play.
We appreciate all that you do for the community Jane, congratulations.
Young Citizen of the Year (Under 25)
Hannah Gillett
Hannah is an outstanding young woman who has influenced many aspects of our school and wider community. Her musical passion has meant that she was able to play an active role in revitalising music at Scone High School as a founding member of the school choir as well as being the only senior student in the formation of the combined Scone Public and Scone High School Band. Hannah enjoys mentoring the primary school students which is also evident in her time spent volunteering with the Scone Public School junior cattle paraders. A passionate Agricultural student and recipient of the CWA Excellence in Agriculture Award, Hannah has an active history in being hands on including participating in Beef Bonanzas and Steer Leading.
This passion is also evident in Hannah’s entrepreneurial pursuit in raising and selling cattle. Her leadership has been recognised through being identified and selected as a representative of the Upper Hunter at the National Youth Leadership Summit in Adelaide. This provided a foundation of understanding that she was able to apply in her role co-developing and presenting the Upper Hunter Youth Leadership Summit held in Aberdeen. Hannah’s leadership has been on display at events such as ANZAC Day, raising awareness for Breast Cancer and promoting Where There’s a Will. Hannah will continue to influence students and our community as part of the Scone High School Leadership Team. Her academic efforts are also inspirational placing in the Top 3 of all subjects including securing first place in Agriculture, Music, English Advanced and English Extension. This dedication, drive and determination across all areas clearly positions Hannah as an outstanding Young Citizen.
Hannah’s leadership has been on display at events such as ANZAC Day, raising awareness for Breast Cancer, promoting Where There’s a Will and representing the Upper Hunter at the National Youth Leadership Summit in Adelaide. Hannah is a recipient of the CWA Excellence in Agriculture Award and mentors the Scone Public School junior cattle paraders, as well as participating in Beef Bonanzas and Steer Leading herself.
Aberdeen
Citizen of the Year – Joy Dallah
Young Citizen of the Year – Ciennah Sullivan
Local Champion of the Year – Casey Milton
Outstanding Contribution to the Community – Kate Jones
Merriwa
Citizen of the Year – Jane Hegarty
Young Citizen of the Year – Archie Constable
Local Champion of the Year – Cassilis Public School P&C
Sustainabilirty in Business – Merriwa NewsXpress
Sporting Achievement Award – Rihanna Hunt
Murrurundi
Citizen of the Year – Judith Wilson
Local Champion of the Year – Montana Rando
Scone
Hunter McLoughlin Citizen of the Year – Susan Scott
Young Citizen of the Year – Hannah Gillett
Local Champion of the Year – Gundy Community and Beyond
Outstanding Contribution to the Community – Helen & Leo Gardner
School Achievement Awards
Alexandra Brooks, Scone Grammar School
Kaylee Perks, Merriwa Central School
Finley Whitla, Scone High School
Mackenzie Williams, St Joseph’s Catholic College
Creative Arts Excellence Awards
Isabel Jack, Scone Grammar School
Mia Jacobs, Merriwa Central School
Quinn Thackeray, Scone High School
Mia Kelaher, St Joseph’s Catholic College
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JOIN THE GUMMUN PLACE HOSTEL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Join the Gummun Place Hostel Advisory Committee 
Applications for the Gummun Place Hostel Advisory Committee close Friday, 7 February 2025 at 5pm.
Upper Hunter & Kia-Ora Youth Music Committee
Settlement Hall
Merriwa Sportsground User Group Sub-Committee
MR358 Road (Coulson’s Creek Rd) Rehabilitation Update
Rock mesh protection complete
Completion of catch drains in several areas Ongoing gabion wall construction Final touches underway for upcoming drainage and batter stabilisation
Here’s a timelapse of the project team constructing gabion walls – a fascinating look at the effort driving this vital upgrade!Community Strategic Plan 2034 – Shaping the Future of the Upper Hunter Shire
Welcome to the consultation page for the Upper Hunter Shire Community Strategic Plan (CSP) 2034. This is the central hub for all information related to our CSP engagement process, where you’ll find everything you need to participate, stay informed, and share your vision for the Shire.
Our CSP is a 10-year roadmap that sets the vision, values, and priorities for the Upper Hunter Shire, ensuring we grow in a way that aligns with the community’s needs and aspirations. Unlike specific project planning or budgeting, the CSP guides the big picture—the major themes and directions we’ll focus on, from environmental sustainability to community well-being and economic resilience.
To see how this plan can guide our future, you can review our current Community Strategic Plan to gain a better understanding of how we identify and address the long-term needs of the Shire.
What Is the CSP and Why Is It Important?
The CSP is designed to answer questions like:
- What kind of community do we want to become?
- What values and priorities are essential to the Upper Hunter Shire?
Our CSP isn’t about detailing individual projects or setting budgets; it’s about setting Council’s vision for the future and providing a framework that informs other planning documents like our Delivery Program and Operational Plan. By participating, you help shape a CSP that reflects what matters most to the community.
How to Get Involved
We’ve designed a variety of ways for residents to get involved in the CSP consultation, including:
Phone Survey:
- The phone survey will commence on 4 November. Initially, calls will come from 02 4355 9760, with the full team later calling from 02 8358 2995. This is your chance to share your thoughts on the future of the Shire directly with Council. The survey will run for approximately 7–10 days.
Complete a Digital Survey:
Printed surveys are also available by request at Council offices, libraries, and key community locations. As a thank-you, all participants will have the chance to win one of five $100 WeLiveHere gift cards.
Attend Community Events and drop-ins:
Chat with Council about the Community Strategic Plan at:
- Christmas on Kelly, Scone – Thursday, 12 December, 5–7 PM
- Merriwa Home for Christmas – Friday, 13 December, 5–7 PM
- Twilight Christmas Markets, Murrurundi – Saturday, 14 December, 5–7 PM
Pop-up Drop-in Sessions: Come along to a drop-in session, where Council staff and Councillors will be available to chat about the CSP and answer any questions.
- Moonan Flat
Tuesday, 26 November, 4–6pm
Moonan Flat Pub - Aberdeen
Thursday, 28 November, 4–6pm
Aberdeen Library
Stay Connected:
Follow us on social media and check this page for regular updates, discussions, and results from the consultation process.
Consultation Timeline
- Phone Survey Begins: Commences 4 November 2024
- Digital Survey Opens: 12 November 2024
- Community Engagement Period: 12 November 2024 – 7 February 2025
- Survey Closes: Midnight, Friday 7 February 2025
- Review and Drafting: March 2025
- Public Exhibition of Draft CSP: April 2025
- Final Adoption of CSP: 26 May 2025
What Happens Next?
After gathering feedback from the community, Council will review and incorporate your input to refine the CSP. The draft plan will then go on public exhibition in April 2025, providing a final opportunity for community feedback before adoption in May.
Why Your Voice Matters
Your participation helps ensure that the CSP truly reflects the needs, values, and aspirations of the Upper Hunter Shire community. Whether you’re passionate about environmental sustainability, community services, or economic growth, this is your chance to influence the Shire’s future.
Let’s work together to create a Community Strategic Plan that everyone in the Upper Hunter Shire can be proud of. Have your say, and help shape our future!
https://www.upperhunter.nsw.gov.au/Public-notices/Community-Strategic-Plan-2034
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Please use the Customer Request Management Form available online by clicking here to lodge an action with UHSC.
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