Hello, Dungog Shire. I'm just doing a little weekly video update for you.
Over the weekend, I attended the annual Settlers Arms Dungog Cup at Newcastle Racecourse. There were lots of Dungog locals around, and heaps of businesses sponsoring race events, which was great to see. It was a good opportunity to showcase Dungog to the region and highlight what we're known for. And with the crowds that were there at this year's race, I think it's safe to say a lot more people know about Dungog Shire now. So that's really great to see. And just a little shout-out for the major sponsor, which was Settlers Arms pub here in Dungog. If you haven't been there recently, they've just gone through a massive renovation, so it's looking really good and I'd definitely encourage you to go there and support them.
Hunter Water's Love Water grants are currently open for applications but will be closing soon. If you're part of a community group, a school, or a local non-profit, there are excellent funding opportunities available now through the Hunter Water Love Grants program. Grants can reach up to $10,000, which is quite a lot, and they are for projects that aim to improve water efficiency, sustainability, and environmental outcomes in our community. Over the years, we've seen many successful grants across the region that are making a real difference. Water conservation is particularly important here in Dungog Shire, given our landscapes, farming industries, and the wider region depend heavily on Dungog to supply healthy water systems. We also supply a significant amount of water to the Hunter region, which we are very proud of. These grants can be highly beneficial for our community. Applications close on March 15th.
Also on grants. Our local federal member, Alison Penfold, has grants available for volunteer groups. They range from $1,000 to $5,000 and they cover quite a number of things. So if you are a volunteer group interested in a grant, jump onto her Facebook page. She has a post about these grants on there with all the details and selection criteria for you.
Alright, moving on to next weekend, we have the Gresford Show. The Gresford Show is back and kicks off on Friday, 13th of March, and continues through Saturday 14th at the Gresford Showground. It's a fantastic celebration of our rural heritage and local talent. The Pavilion is packed full of entries, of baking, produce, flowers, photography, arts and crafts. There's a lot going on. And out in the arena, you're going to see livestock competitions, horse events, wood chopping, dog events, and the always, always popular Grand Parade. There's going to be plenty of food stalls, and lots of entertainment across the weekend. And of course, Saturday night wraps up with live music and fireworks, which is always the highlight, especially for my family. So if you're looking for a great weekend, gather your family and friends and head down to the Gresford Show. It's going to be a big event.
Now, I also know that Easter must be coming soon because I'm seeing the Dungog Rodeo signs pop up all over the Shire. In fact, I actually saw one near where I work in Williamtown. So, April 4th is the day! This has to be the biggest event of the year for Dungog Shire. Start thinking about it—you still have some time to convince your friends and family to come to little old Dungog. I believe last year might have set a record for crowds. However, we'll see what we can do with this event because it's definitely turning into a huge event!
I think that's, that's pretty much it. It's a pretty quiet week. But if you are interested in any infrastructure updates currently underway across the Shire, Council releases a post every week, and it's today, Friday. So if you jump onto the Council's Facebook page, you'll see a post with updates on all projects currently underway. It is kind of helpful. I mean, there are some major projects still very much underway, like the Clarence Town Bridge, and there are a few around here in Dungog. There's one right next to me in Eloisa Street, underway. So if you're after those updates, keep an eye out for that post.
I think that's it from me. Have a good weekend. Hopefully I'll see you down at the Gresford Show. See you.
