Snippets

Meet Local Author Harold Treasure at Cowra Library

Join us at Cowra Library when local author and farmer Harold Treasure launch-es his book King’s Spur on Friday 16 June at 10.30am.

King’s Spur is set in the Dargo High Plains last century and is inspired by distant Treasure relatives who are part of the High Country cattleman myths and legends.

This fictional story has its roots in history, wild remote landscapes and challenges faced by the first Europeans.

The book features Emmanuel, the foreman in a gold sluice mine, when his headstrong wife Emily acquires a lease on the High Plains, against her husband’s wishes. He becomes a reluctant cattleman, struggles against nature and faces the challenges posed by another determined woman - his daughter Nell. King’s Spur will be on sale at the event for $25 and 87-year-old Harold will be on hand to sign copies.

‘Bringing The Classroom To The Great Outdoors’: Cowra Shire Schools Awarded New Funds By Woolworths And Landcare Australia

Students across Cowra Shire are on their way to becoming the next generation of environmental champions with new funds from the 2023 Woolworths Junior Landcare Grants program. They join more than 1,100 schools and early learning centres across Australia who will be awarded grants to help build and develop hands-on environmental learning projects.

Schools in the Cowra Shire who will be awarded a grant of up to $1,000 include Carinya Early Childhood Centre, St Raphael’s Catholic School.

Over the years, thousands of schools have used these grants to create interactive projects focused on sustainability and have inspired students to play an active role in the future of their natural environment.

This year, the program also officially included First Nations perspectives projects for the first time. Woolworths and Landcare Australia are excited to award more than 320 grants as part of this year’s funding to projects that focus on expanding students’ First Nations education and deepening their connection to Country.

Woolworths Cowra Shire Store Manager, Paula White, said: “Bringing the classroom to the great outdoors and encouraging kids to get hands-on with nature is always something we’re excited to see, and we hope all of the schools across Cowra Shire will have fun working on their new projects.”

To date, Woolworths has contributed over $5 million to more than 4,900 Junior Landcare projects across Australia and reaching more than 400,000 kids.

For more information on this year’s recipients and to view the complete map of schools, please visit www.juniorlandcare.org.au/woolworthsgrants/map.

Getting On With Tackling The Rental Crisis

The NSW Government is accelerating the passage of practical reforms to ease the pressure on renters by pressing pause on moves to end secret rent bidding.

The Government will amend its legislation before the Parliament to remove section 22B, covering secret rent bidding, allowing the other elements passage through the Legislative Assembly.

This decision clears the path to get on with passing the legislation, which is needed to:

• Implement a portable bond scheme that delivers significant financial relief to renters;
• Close existing loopholes and extend the ban on soliciting rental bids so it applies to third-party platforms and owners, not just real estate agents; and
• Empower the NSW Rental Commissioner to gather pricing data from agents, allowing them to advocate for renters and provide quality advice to government. The Government’s decision follows constructive engagement with advocacy organisations and crossbench members of the NSW Parliament.

Interviews for the newly-created role of NSW Rental Commissioner were scheduled for last week, and the Government has already begun work on the next tranche of rental reform.

The Government will charge the Rental Commissioner with continuing this work to make the market more transparent in close consultation with advocates and the sector.

The Rental Commissioner will also make it easier for renters to have pets and will end ‘no grounds’ evictions.

Last week the Government passed its First Home Buyer legislation, ensuring more support will go to those who need it most with five in every six first home buyers paying no tax or a reduced rate.

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