Entry is by gold coin donation, light lunch and morning tea is available for $10, and there is also a committee raffle and plant trading table.
All proceeds go back to the residents of Finley Regional Care.
There will be more than 40 stall holders from around the region, with artwork, jewellery, children's clothing, fresh flowers, ceramics and pottery, tin and woodwork, leatherwork, herbal teas, candles, garden art, plus much more.
One of those artisan stall holders will be Barooga's Rob Hamilton of Vintage Wood’n That, who is well-know for his use of recycled and second-hand materials in his work.
It's all part of a big weekend for the Finley community, with the 120-year celebration of the School of Arts. On Friday, August 23, Finley Dance Group will host a Masquerade Ball in the School of Arts Hall and on Saturday, August 24 will be an open day in the hall with a memorabilia display and refreshments.
Basin communities raise alarm
Water users and local government have outlined the significant risks posed by water recovery policies to the region’s agriculture, economy, and mental health, in a letter to state and federal politicians and departments.
The letter is co-signed by Yanco Creek and Tributaries Advisory Council Inc (YACTAC), Leeton Shire Council, Murrumbidgee Council, Murray River Private Diverters, Edward River Pumpers and Landholders, Southern Riverina Irrigators, Murray Regional Strategy Group, Upper Goulburn River Catchment Association, and Billabong Creek Association.
Speaking on behalf of the group, YACTAC chair Trevor Clark voiced deep concerns on behalf of farmers, councils and community members of the southern basin regarding the current and future impacts of water recovery initiatives.
"We have engaged with every department and have been told that the impact on the irrigated agriculture sector will be minimal when averaged, but it is acknowledged that specific areas will be more severely impacted than others,“ he said.
The letter highlights that while the 450 Gl upwater buybacks have been staggered, the cumulative effect over this year and next will devastate the industry and broader community both financially and mentally.
Mr Clark said the implementation of three buyback rounds within the 2024-25 water year is expected to cause maximum market, community, and industry disruption, contradicting the government's commitment to a steady, staged approach where buybacks are not the sole tool used.
Road patching in Strathbogie Shire
Strathbogie Shire Council is set to undertake major road patching on several local roads throughout August and September in preparation for resealing next year.
The patching works will take place on Creightons Creek Rd, Euroa-Strathbogie Rd, Spring Creek Rd, and Merton-Strathbogie Rd.
The works, which total nearly $718,000, are part of council’s 2023-24 Capital Works budget.
“It is essential that we prioritise safety across our 2214 km road network, and we recognise that these sealed roads require extensive patching on the failed sections,” administrator Peter Stephenson said.
The roads will remain open to traffic during the patching works, with appropriate traffic management in place.
Mr Stephenson expects the works to be completed by the end of September, weather permitting, with resealing scheduled for early next year.
Join in the great koala count
CSIRO is calling on Australians to record koala sightings in the Koala Spotter app, to help build the most accurate national population count to date.
Populations of the iconic marsupial were officially listed as endangered across NSW, the ACT and Queensland in February 2022. Although numbers in South Australia and Victoria appear healthier, there are concerns for local populations amid the ongoing threats of habitat loss, car strikes and disease.
CSIRO leads and coordinates the National Koala Monitoring Program (NKMP), which estimates the koala national population is between 224,000 and 524,000.
The Koala Spotter app has played a key part in the NKMP’s population count, with 730 records contributed by citizen scientists to date — mostly from families and children.
To record sightings, download Koala Spotter from the App Store (Apple) or the Google Play Store (Android).
If you spot a koala simply record its location in the app, try and snap a photo if possible, and press ‘done’.
Campaspe Animal Shelter changing
Campaspe Animal Shelter will transition from a shelter to a pound over the next 12 months.
“Owners will still be able to claim their lost pet up to eight days after their dog or cat comes into the pound, the difference is that stray animals will then be put in the hands of rescue and animal welfare groups who nurture, re-train and foster animals before placing in a forever home. There will be no adoptions from Campaspe,” Campaspe Shire Council’s Jo Bradshaw said.
“There are a number of animal welfare groups already operating in this area, who re-home animals across the state and interstate, opening up options outside of Campaspe for stray cats and dogs.”
