PLANNING THE FUTURE: Wiradjuri Council of Elders recently met in Parkes to discuss ways to better manage water and the next generation of elders.
Wiradjuri Council Of Elders Meet In Parkes: Last Friday and Saturday saw the first meeting for some time of the Wiradjuri Council of Elders in Parkes.
This is not the first collaboration between Parkes Shire and Wiradjuri Elders though one of the first since COVID. Zoom link was trialled successfully and connected Elders from Lithgow Associates of Wiradjuri.
Mayor Ken Keith OAM was on hand to welcome the Elders as discussions held throughout the meeting ranged from water management to emerging Elders.
The boundary of the Wiradjuri Nation extends from Coonabarabran in the north, straddling the Great Dividing Range down to the Murray River and out to western NSW.
Wiradjuri traditional country includes the townships of Dubbo, Condobolin, Orange, Bathurst, Wagga Wagga, Albury, Narrand-era, and Griffith.
The Wiradjuri Council of Elders is comprised of Elders from all over Wiradjuri Country and had their first meeting in 1989 and hopefully will continue well into the future.
30 Years of Service Celebrated: Last week Forbes Shire Council celebrated 30 Years of service with the Forbes Railway Arts committee. “I would like to thank all the amazing volunteers we have had at the Railway Station Arts and Tourist In-formation Centre over the last 30 years,” said Forbes Shire Council Mayor, Phyllis Miller OAM. “Such an amazing milestone to reach and we at Council appreciate your dedication and service to the community over those three decades.
“I would like to pay special tribute to our life members; Pearl Maguire, Merle Churchill and Anne Nixon who attended last Wednesday. You all were at the inaugural meeting on 18 June 1990 at the Forbes Golf Club,” continues Mayor Miller.
“Danie Doolan, the driving force and dedicated founding member, must also be acknowledged. Without her initial push the Forbes Railway Arts & Tourist Centre committee would not have come to fruition.
“We must also not forget Judith Taylor and Lyn Simmonds who also have been working at the centre for 30 years,” continues Mayor Miller.
In total the Railway Station Arts and Tour-ism Information committee has had a total of 111 members over the thirty years. Currently the committee are non-committal on the future for the Railway Arts committee as COVID-19 has changed the circumstances in which they operate.
THIRTY YEAR MILESTONE: Councillor Chris Roylance, Councillor Graeme Miller, Mayor Phyllis Miller, Merle Churchill, Pearl Macguire, Yvonne Collits and Anne Nixon.