Tuesday, July 30 was a busy day for Tocumwal, firstly with the walking track opening and then it was off to the library to cut the ribbon there.
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The walking track opening was performed by Mayor Matt Hannan, and Lorraine Hickson who has been loving walking the path.
Savvy local walkers have been using the track for weeks and enjoying the venture of a long unimpeded walk, around the block.
The ceremony was undertaken at the Barooga Road entry to the Tocumwal Golf Bowls Club under the Liberator statue at 2.30pm and then it was off back into town to the library.
After a renovation that started at the beginning of the year, the new Tocumwal library was also officially opened on Tuesday, July 30.
The library, like the walking track, has been in use for a short time before the cutting of ribbons last Tuesday.
The renovations and additional floor space now make this a very workable area, which includes a separate meeting room with kitchen facilities, a larger storeroom with movable space saving shelving, a kids area and new décor.
The colour scheme is a very restful dark grey with splashes of scarlet including some retro red ceiling lighting.
The librarian’s desk and book chute have been moved to the bank side of the building.
Mayor Matt Hannan shared the cutting of the ribbon with Anne Nevins, who went on to give a concise outline of the library’s history, including a complaint from a prominent resident who thought there should be no increase from the tiny building in the parkland beside the new building.
Kate Folliard from Friends of the Library described how the group had assisted the Shire with additional items to make the library more interesting and workable. What a wonderful job they have done, including producing commemorative bookmarks.
Present to watch the ceremony were builders, plumbers, and electricians who worked on the renovations, two councillors and council staff and various interested members of the community.
There was also a cake to cut to celebrate the opening of the library on its present site 20 years ago.
Approximately 75 people attended and stayed for cake and coffee after the ceremony.
This project was jointly funded by Berrigan Shire Council and the NSW Government under the Stronger Country Communities Program and the Public Library Infrastructure Grant.
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Congratulations to the team at the Tocumwal Visitor Information Centre (TVIC) who have been running the centre purely on a volunteer staff.
It’s been a year since Gail Horan and Gail Blakey took over the reins of one of the most important businesses in town.
The TVIC is an essential hub for information for locals and visitors alike with 9175 people entering through the doors in one year.
The centre disseminates information from throughout the local Berrigan Shire area and a bit beyond so that people may plan trips further afield using Tocumwal as a base.
Not only do these two ladies run the ‘Info’ but they are very involved, informing the locals through the Toc Flyer and have a little staff who wear more than one hat between the centre and the magazine.
Well done ladies and your helpers who keep the info flowing, and the flags flying seven days a week.
The TVIC could always do with more help and would like to see more volunteers assisting to show and tell our visitors more about our friendly little town.
Drop in and tell them you can help.
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After hearing of a local who has been scammed, your correspondent brings you these words of warning from ACCC about internet and mobile phone scams.
Scams reported to the ACCC involving identity theft or the loss of personal/banking information have cost Australians at least $16 million this year, and this figure is likely to be just the tip of the iceberg.
Four in 10 Scamwatch reports in 2019 involve attempts to gain information or the actual loss of victims’ information.
Within 30 minutes of writing this article your correspondent was sent an email purporting to be from a large hardware chain store saying I had won a $500 voucher but they needed my credit card details. Alarm bells rang loudly! Surely a voucher can be printed off the computer? I forwarded the email to the chain store who said yes it was a scam.
Scammers can empty victims’ bank accounts, take out tens of thousands of dollars in bank loans under victims’ names, and purchase expensive furniture or electronics under ‘no-repayments for 12 months’ schemes.
Lost personal information also leaves victims more susceptible to future scams. Scammers will use the victim’s personal information to seem more convincing in cold calls.
If you have been the victim of identity theft, contact IDCARE on 1300432273.
People can report a scam to the ACCC via Scamwatch.
Thanks to NSW Seniors Card and ACCC for this information
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The newly elected class Student Representative Council at Tocumwal Public School for Semester 2 were presented with their badges at last week’s assembly.
All students made a pledge to do their best to represent their classes and the school to the best of their abilities.
Mrs Gillespie will hold her first meeting next week to provide the new reps with a taste of what is to come.
Class Representatives are: Kindergarten - Joel Harrison and Mia McKenzie; Year 1 - Jack Watson and Braxton Brunskill; Year 2 - Layla Harrison and Macey Madden; Year 3 - Mia Owen and Ava East; Year 4 - Molly-Mae Ruigrok and Chace Brunskill; Year 5 - Willa Campbell and Logan White; Year 6 - Sienna Keith and Ryan Huang.
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After being named last term as a reserve for the Riverina Girls Softball team, yesterday Katya Eddy received the news she had been dreaming of.
Katya was given the call up to replace an injured member of the team.
This means Katya will be attending the NSW PSSA State Softball Championships during the last week of Term 3 in Curl Curl on Sydney’s North Shore.
When she heard the news, she couldn’t wipe the smile off her face.
It is a great result for Katya who has worked hard as a member of the successful school team that took out the Riverina Championships. Super news.
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The little people at Sacred Heart School celebrated their first 100 days at school by dressing up as very old people.
They used grey hair, walking sticks and even a wheelchair to get into theme.
They had a good example in their teacher Mrs Melissa Jones who showed herself to be a fine old lady in future years.
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A Can Assist meeting is on this Friday, August 9 at 2pm in the Community Centre, beside the MPS.
This is another worthwwhile group who needs every assistance they can get to help people with cancer with support and monetary means.
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Your Local Health Advisory Committee would like to tell you that August is Tradies Health Month.
So come on all you blokes and girls we depend on so much, please check your health.
Make a doctor’s appointment and get the annual once over.
You owe it to yourself, your family, and your clients to be in the best of health.
Thank you for caring.
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It’s that time of year again and the Knitted Squares for Wrap with Love are to be counted on August 15 at all libraries in the Berrigan Shire.
All squares will then need to be sent to Sydney. Rotary are partners with Wrap with Love and will be in charge of the transport of the squares and rugs to Sydney as they have done most years, but previously it was via a contact in Wagga.
Now they’re taking the direct route to warm people suffering in this extremely cold winter and thanks to the Knitters and Knatters group, there will be some warmer people out there.
All knitters and crocheters are invited to a ‘Thank You’ morning/afternoon tea get-together.
Please see dates and times listed below.
Berrigan Library - Tuesday, August 20 at 2pm; Finley Library - Friday, August 23 at 10.30am; Tocumwal Library - Thursday, August 22 at 2pm.
It might be nice to catch up with other Love Wrappers for morning/afternoon tea in a different town and share your love of volunteering and swap stories about your exploits.
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There is a chance to meet new friends or catch up with some older ones as Probus meets on Thursday, August 8 in the footy pavilion at 10am.
The theme for this meeting is to bring a scarf along and be prepared to tell a story.
The guest speaker will be a representative of Can Assist, who will speak on the wonderful help they give to people with cancer.
Lunch will be at Kelly’s pub after the meeting.
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The Anglican Church of Tocumwal will be hosting the monthly Tocumwal combined Christian churches service at St Alban’s Church in Finley St at 8.30am on Sunday.
There will be the usual morning tea and fellowship after the service, all welcome.
The church and hall are well heated.
For more information call Reverend Stephen on 0429845525.