Mayoral Minute – September 2016
1. I am delighted to formally place on record my congratulations to our nine, recently elected
Councillors of Temora Shire. A particular welcome to new Councillors in Cr Lindy Reinhold,
Cr Claire McLaren and Cr Dale Wiencke. I know they, together with our more experienced
Councillors Sinclair, Judd, Oliver, Smith, Sleigh and myself, alongside all of our Staff, will
make a tremendous team. We have been entrusted by our fellow Citizens to continue
shaping a strong present and future for Temora Shire. It is a real privilege to sit in this
Chamber, and let us always remember that. This is an exciting time for us all, and I very
much look forward to working with the Council team.
I thank our unsuccessful candidates that had the courage to stand for election. Everyone
one of them has Temora Shire at heart, and I know they will continue to work hard for our
community, in their various capacities.
Council will be hosting a special Dinner to formally welcome the new Councillors and honour
our former Councillors, in particular, Cr Peter Speirs OAM, on a date to be fixed, with further
details to be advised at a later date.
2. The Temora Shire community are still celebrating the T42 100 Metre Paralympic Gold Medal
victory that our own, Mr Scott Reardon, achieved in Rio de Janeiro on Friday 16
September. I know we all ensured we were glued to our television sets, enjoying the big
race. Mr Reardon truly inspires us all, and if anyone suggested they had dry eyes whilst
watching this race, would be telling a complete untruth!
Council has proudly presented a Mayoral Citation to Mr Reardon back in 2012, to
acknowledge the Silver Medal he achieved at the London Paralympic Games.
I wish to further clarify to some in the national media and elsewhere, that Mr Reardon most
certainly, 100%, a Temora Shire man from tip to toe. He is not from Wagga, not even from
Timbuctoo – but Temora Shire! He has always been and always will be our ‘Scotty Reardon’.
To suggest we are proud of Mr Reardon would certainly be an understatement. On behalf of
all Temora Shire Councillors, Staff and the entire community, I place on record our warm
congratulations to our very own ‘Temora Golden Boy’ – Mr Scott Reardon.
RECOMMENDATION: That Temora Shire Council hosts a Community BBQ, at Gloucester
Park, on a date to be fixed, in honour of Temora Shire’s Paralympic Gold Medalist, Mr Scott
Reardon. And further, a suitable presentation gift is sought.
3. I formally place on record Council’s warm congratulations to well-known businessman, Mr
Marty Moses, of Moses & Son Wool Brokers. Mr Moses was recently awarded the
Riverina/Murray Regional Business Leader of the Year Award. This is a tremendous
acknowledgement for Mr Moses, who is the fourth generation of a growing business that
proudly has its base in Temora, and has evolved to have branches throughout the Riverina
and wider Australia.
RECOMMENDATION: That Temora Shire Council sends a letter of congratulations to Mr
Marty Moses, of Moses & Son, in acknowledgement of his Riverina/Murray Business Leader
of the Year Award victory.
4. On a slightly less inspiring note, but important all the same, our own General Manager, Mr
Gary Lavelle, received his Public Service Medal from the Governor of NSW recently, at
Government House. Council again congratulates Mr Lavelle on his outstanding
achievement.
5. I congratulate our Deputy Mayor, Cr Graham Sinclair, for arranging a recent meeting at
Temora Shire, to discuss various transport issues including the proposed Heavy Vehicle
Alternate Route, among others. Deputy Mayor Sinclair is the rural/regional member of the
NSW Network Connectivity Transport Board, which is a most important role. It was most
appreciated to have hosted the senior executives from Roads & Maritime Services (RMS)
and the NSW Transport Department. This meeting was most worthwhile, and certainly
encouraged us to do some further ‘homework’ to ensure when we go to the various levels of
Government for funding, we are providing the best possible information we can. I place on
record Council’s thanks to Deputy Mayor Sinclair, on this excellent initiative and let’s hope
and pray we have some positive results to follow on from the meeting.
6. Council places on record our appreciation to all of our Staff (Messrs Robert Fisher, Kerry
Wallace, Michael Mannion, Alex Dahlenburg, James Durham and Outdoor Staff, the Temora
State Emergency Services (SES), Temora Fire & Rescue Brigade, Thanowring Bush Fire
Brigade, and all other Emergency Services groups and individuals who have assisted with the
recent flooding events. These are dedicated people who take pride in their community, and
their respective roles. I ask us all too please ensure we take the time to thank these
individuals, whenever we may see them. Of particular note, we congratulate the Temora
Police & Community Committee who hosted the recent Emergency Services Awards Dinner,
with former Defence Force Chief, Sir Angus Houston as the special guest speaker. Particular
congratulations to the inaugural Emergency Serviceman of the Year, Mr Taz Rundle and the
Volunteer of the Year, Ms Karen Davidson on their respective, well deserved wins. We thank
and commend all those who were nominated for these awards, and we remain blessed to
have them as part of the Temora Shire community.
7. I encourage all Citizens of Temora Shire to attend one or more of the Community
Consultation meetings. There are several of these being held throughout this month and
early October, and they are most important. The feedback from these meetings assists
Council to shape the all-important Community Strategic Plan document. If our community
believe strongly in a particular issue that is not already captured in our existing planning
documents, then those views must be shared at these meetings. I thank our meetings
Facilitator, Mr John Craig (Community Development Initiatives) for his efforts to date.
8. I advise Council, that the President of the Temora Greyhound Racing Club and I have
continued to hold several briefing sessions, to update Council on the current situation
regarding the industry. Council and the community are disillusioned and disappointed at the
decision and how it has been handled, and has formally written to Deputy Premier Grant, to
this end. I formally place on record Council’s and our community’s warm thanks to NSW
Member for Cootamundra, the Hon Katrina Hodgkinson MP, who had the courage to speak
against her own Government’s legislation, then crossed the floor. Let us not underestimate
the significance of this decision, as it is a very brave, but it was and remains the right
one! Mr Schwencke has indicated to me the local Club are not giving up hope, and we
certainly will continue to support them as much as we can.
9. I can advise Council we will have the Deputy Premier visiting Temora Shire in December, this
year. This is through him attending another meeting in Temora; however, I have requested
that Council have the opportunity to meet with him, to discuss various matters of interest to
our Shire community. I will keep Council informed of further developments.