It was another busy week in Parliament for the second week of the February sittings.

This week, I delivered Community Recognition Statements on 90 years of 2AD in Armidale, Glen Innes Parkrun, Bingara’s Bob Johnston, Inverell’s Operation Operating Room, Glen Innes’ Kayden Elliot, IC YOUth Centre, Highlands End of Life Project, Mason Daley Memorial Cod Classic, and Marilyn Dixon OAM.

I tabled Questions on Notice on health services, on-farm carbon advice project, exhibited animals, and the New England Renewable Energy Zone.

My Notice of Motion was on the absence of doctors in emergency departments in hospitals across the Northern Tablelands.

There were two debates I spoke in this week. I spoke in favour of the Sentencing Procedure Amendment (Good character at sentencing) Bill and gave a speech on behalf of the opposition in the Forestry Amendment (Bungabbee State Forest Revocation) Bill 2025.

Anzac Park Glen Innes

A $1.2 million play space at Glen Innes’ Anzac Park officially opened last Saturday. $500,000 was secured from the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund Round 5 with another $600,000 contributed by the Federal Government and another $100,000 by the Glen Innes Severn Council.

It is fantastic to see all three levels of government working together to create something the whole community can be proud of. The new play area includes inclusive, imaginative, sensory, active, adventure and nature-based equipment.

Hopefully, it gets plenty of use from locals and travellers.

Uralla Show

Uralla Show was held on Saturday and what a great day it was! The committee and show volunteer put on a brilliant day of a true country show with strong competition in all the events, great people and a lot of community support.

The show season continues this weekend with Glen Innes hosting their annual three-day event on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards

Nominations for the 2026 Volunteer of the Year Awards are open.

The awards celebrate the numerous people who contribute to our communities by selflessly offering their time. Although they don’t do it for recognition, the Volunteer of the Year Awards provide the opportunity to formally thank and acknowledge how valuable these people are in our communities.

Last year, Moree’s Kamala Wheeler received the 2025 NSW Adult Volunteer of the Year Award nearly 40 years of volunteering at the SES.

There are seven categories for the awards, including Young Volunteer (24 years and under); Adult Volunteer (25 to 64 years); Senior Volunteer (65 years and over); Volunteer Team; Emergency Volunteer; Volunteer Leader; and not-for-profit Voluntary Governance.

For more information or to submit a nomination, visit The Centre for Volunteering at NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards Nominations Open.

Nominators must have the nominee’s consent and provide their personal email address so they can receive ceremony invitations and important updates.

For nominees under 18, parental or guardian consent is required in line with Child Safe Standards.

Volunteers and Volunteer Leaders and managers are not permitted to nominate themselves.

Learn to swim programs

Funding has been secured for local learn to swim providers to deliver learn to swim and water safety programs.

Providers are: Bingara, Guyra, Monckton, Uralla, and Warialda at Learn to Swim Programs

or email [email protected].

Armidale: Royal Life Saving Society – Australia, email [email protected] or call 02 9634 3700.

Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship

Up to 18 students from across New South Wales will be selected for a study tour visiting historic sites in Greece and Crete.

The 2026 tour will depart on Saturday, 26 September and return to Sydney on Thursday 8 October.

In Greece, locations will include the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery at Phaleron, the Hellenic War Museum, and the battlefields of Thermopylae and Thebes.

In Crete, the tour will visit sites such as the 6th Australian Division Memorial at Stavromenos, the battlefields of Rethymno, the Melame Memorial and the Souda Bay War Cemetery.

Applications close on Monday, 9 March 2026. For more information and to apply, visit Premier’s Anzac Memorial Scholarship Applications.

Tertiary Health Study Subsidies program

I encourage any local students who are enrolled in medical, nursing, midwifery, dentistry, and allied health degrees in NSW to apply for up to $12,000 in financial support to assist with their studies.

For more information, visit Tertiary Health Study Subsidies.

Southern New England Landcare workshops

Southern New England Landcare are holding four workshops across the Northern Tablelands for leveraging natural capital on your farm with LLS adviser Rachel Lawrence.

The workshops are aimed at maximising rewards and avoiding risks on farms.

The events will be in Uralla on 18 February, Walcha on 19 February, Armidale 25 February and Guyra 26 February.

To view and book tickets, go to Southern New England Landcare Workshops.

NSW Women’s Week

NSW Women’s Week is held annually to showcase the accomplishments and celebrate the achievements of women across the state.

This year’s women’s week will be held from Monday, March 2 to Sunday, March 8.

There’s a series of beginner-friendly bushwalks around the state.

At this stage, there’s two events in the Northern Tablelands. The Armidale Bushwalking Club will have an event on Saturday, March 7 at the Oxley Wild Rivers Loop followed by another event on Sunday, March 8 at Wollomombi Falls.

For more information and to register, go to NSW Women’s Week Bushwalk.

For more information on NSW women’s week, NSW Women’s Week 2026.

What’s On

February 13-14-15: Glen Innes Show

February 14-15: Walcha Antique Machinery and Truck Show at Walcha Showground

February 28: Western Challenge Knockout at Moree

March 7: Gravesend Long Lunch. Information and tickets Gravo Long Lunch.

Commentary by Brendan Moylan, Member for Northern Tablelands