From the Mayor's Desk

Please allow me to start my column with a thank you to the many people who passed on words of comfort, support and prayers after my Mother's passing recently. A special thanks to Dr Owen and the staff at the Inglewood Medical Centre and to the Community Health teams involved in caring for Mum; your kindness is greatly appreciated.

Texas Country Music Festival

Over the weekend, hundreds of people attended the Texas Country Music Festival at the Showgrounds to experience one of our region's most significant promotional events. The 3-day festival showcased some of the best Country music artists in the nation as well as local and emerging acts.

I also would like to congratulate the festival organiser, Ros Sinclair, who has been the backbone of the event in recent years for all her efforts in putting together this major event.

Many events were happening throughout the region over the weekend. The third annual artisan showcase at Greenup Meeting Place provided live demonstrations while highlighting local artists and stall holders. Many workshops were available for those who wished to get creative. A big shout out to the team at Greenup Meeting Place and all the artists for their dedication to expanding this successful event.

Many people also attended the Plucked Duck B and S Ball at the Goondiwindi Showgrounds, where they enjoyed live music and entertainment. The weekend also saw the inaugural Botanic Beats family fun weekend held at the Botanic Gardens which contributed to something for everyone throughout the whole region.

Citizenship Ceremony

Councillor Rob Mackenzie officiated a Citizenship Ceremony in my absence on Wednesday, 13 September, welcoming four new Australian citizens into our community. It is heartening to see individuals and families choosing to call the Goondiwindi Region their home and contribute significantly to our community and economy. Since Australia Day this year, we have welcomed 14 new individuals from many countries into our communities. These ceremonies are special events to celebrate our latest citizens from diverse backgrounds, and we are honoured to officiate them.

We look forward to the next special Citizenship Ceremony as part of our Australia Day celebrations in January.

BOM El Nino announcement and bushfire messages

On Tuesday the Bureau of Meteorology declared an El Nino event for parts of Australia. Hot and dry weather is predicted throughout the rest of the year, and I would like to remind our residents of the bushfire risk we face as a consequence of above average rainfall over a number of seasons and the resulting fuel load which is now drying out. Spring and summer are the peak time for bushfire activity in our region, simple steps like mowing the lawn, trimming overhanging branches and getting rid of flammable materials from around properties can all help to reduce risk of fire damage to properties. Preparation is the key, and rural landholders should take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of their property by maintaining firebreaks and creating safe zones for livestock, clearing gutters and roofs from debris, and staying informed. For more information or to put a Bushfire Survival Plan together, head to the www.qfes.qld.gov.au website.

It's important that residents have a Plan which should cover evacuation strategies, awareness of communication channels in your area, and the well-being of animals, and ensure everyone in the house understands what to do should a bushfire occur.

Council remains alert to the impact of the latest El Nino period, and we encourage primary producers who may be looking for financial support can access a free one-on-one financial resource through Rural Financial Counselling Solutions Southern Queensland (RFCSSQ). This state and federal funding arrangement RFCSSQ offers impartial and confidential financial support to help farmers.

To request an appointment, contact our local RFLSSQ office on 07 4622 5500.

Blue Edge Program celebration

From our Inglewood community, the Blue Edge Program, an initiative aimed at nurturing the growth and development of our youth, recently celebrated the graduation of twenty-one young individuals from Inglewood State School and St Maria Goretti School who participated in the eight-week program. I attended the graduation ceremony on Thursday, 7 September, where the students were awarded certificates and New Balance joggers, followed by a hearty breakfast. I want to thank the Inglewood Police, the Queensland Blue Light Association Inc., the Australian Drug Foundation, and the dedicated volunteers who invested their time and effort into helping shape the future of our region's youth through this program.