Glen Innes Business Chamber held the annual Glen Innes Business Awards on Saturday night at the Services Club to recognise and celebrate the achievements of businesses, organisations and individuals across a wide variety of industries.

Congratulations to Sweetie Pie’s Bake Shop who was named the 2025 Glen Innes Business of the Year. Congratulations to all the award winners and nominees.

Small businesses are the backbone of our local communities, and it is great to see so many within Glen Innes thriving.

BEST Employment visit

BEST Employment at Inverell invited me along to one of their meetings to discuss the work they do within the community. They also spoke about industry challenges and plans moving forward.

Shadow Minister visit

Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Felicity Wilson was in Moree on Monday and met with a range of representatives from different Indigenous organisations such as Bamara, Pius X, and Moree Aboriginal Employment Strategies.

She also met with representatives from the Clontarf Academy and managed a visit to Café Gali and Yaama Ganu Gallery.

It was a great trip and Felicity is looking forward to her next visit to Moree.

Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Felicity Wilson was in Moree on Monday and met with community groups and organisations.

Yarning circle

I was invited to attend the Yarning Circle at the Armidale Cultural Centre and Keeping Place on Thursday.

It is the second time it has been held, and it brought various community members including Aboriginal Elders, representatives from the University of New England’s law school, new UNE Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous) Professor Peter J. Anderson), and other interested people. It was great to chat with attendees about topics impacting the community.

Border Regional Organisation of Councils disaster strategy event

BROC met in Inverell on Thursday to discuss community responses to disaster and emergency situations. The day brought together leaders and officials from across the region to better prepare communities and improve recovery efforts.

Feral Pig impact survey

Landholders are being encouraged to participate in the Feral Pig Impacts Annual Landholder Survey. The survey captures landholder feedback and their assessment of feral pig impacts and control methods on their properties. It will help Local Land Services to measure the impact and effectiveness of landholder control efforts.

To complete the survey, visit Local Land Services Pest Animal Impacts Monitoring Landholder Survey.

Road Safety Grants

Community-based and charity organisations can now apply for the 2025 Community Road Safety Grants program.

The Community Road Safety Grants program helps community groups to implement small scale, local projects to increase road safety awareness and encourage safer behaviour on our roads.

Grants up to $5000 are available for local community road safety projects to increase road safety awareness. A limited number of $30,000 road safety grants are also available for larger projects.

To apply, submit your application online by September 15 at Road Safety Community Grants.

Service NSW mobile centres

Service NSW is bringing their mobile service centre to Toomelah, Boggabilla, Mungindi, Gravesend, and Pallamallawa. The mobile service centre can help with driver knowledge tests, drivers licence applications and renewals, working with children check, birth, death, and marriage certificates, and more.

The mobile service centre will be at the Community Centre Toomelah on Tuesday, August 19 from 9am to 11am.

The mobile service centre will be at Boggabilla Community Health Centre 74 Merriwa Street on Tuesday, August 19 from midday to 3.00pm.

The mobile service centre will be at Barwon River Park, 155 St George Street Mungindi on Wednesday, August 20 from 10am to 3pm.

The mobile service centre will be at Moffat Park Gwydir Highway, Gravesend on Tuesday, September 15 from 9am to 11am.

The mobile service centre will be near Pally Pub, 59 Bingera Street, Pallamallawa, Tuesday, September 15 from midday to 3pm.

What’s on

Bingara Cup at Bingara Racecourse on Saturday.

International Film Festival on 14 – 27 August 2025 5pm-10pm at Belgrave Cinema, Armidale.

Inverell RSM Club presents: Starshine | Tribute to Stevie Nicks & Fleetwood Mac on August 16 from 8pm – 10pm at the Inverell RSM Club

Sapphire City Markets on August 17 from 7.30 am-1pm at Campbell Park.

Pally Mud Trials at Pally Rec Ground Sunday, August 17.

Commentary by Brendan Moylan, Member for Northern Tablelands