It was with great pride that I attended the new $5.4 million South Tamworth Fire Station opening. Our firefighters do an extraordinary job and this new state of the art facility will allow them to do the job they do best - protecting our community.

During the last bushfire season our emergency services were really tested and they came through with flying colours. the new mitigation teams will be a great addition to our existing hard working emergency services and create more jobs in regional areas.

It was great to welcome the four new probationary constables who have arrived in Tamworth to start their careers serving their community. What a great boost for the our community and more police in our region.

These awards are a fantastic way of highlighting the achievements of women and encouraging them to continue to be role models in the eyes of their peers. These awards play an important role in celebrating women from all walks of life, like last year’s NSW Regional Woman of the Year finalist Tamworth’s Edwina Sharrock.

Nominations are now open for the 2020 SafeWork NSW Awards, acknowledging NSW businesses that demonstrate an outstanding approach to work health and safety.

Nominations for the 2020 SafeWork Awards are open until 9 August, with winners announced in October. To nominate, visit www.safework.nsw.gov.au.

One small step for man and a huge leap for Tamworth’s $1.8 million Regional Astronomy and Science Centre as framework goes up on the new centre.

Students at St Xavier’s Gunnedah will be able to get to and from school safer with today’s announcement of a school crossing supervisor for the Bloomfield Street pedestrian crossing.

Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson MP said we have some of the best tourism events and destinations in the country like the Nundle Go for Gold Festival, the Werris Creek Rail Journeys Museum and AgQuip Field Days in Gunnedah who have been hit hard with restrictions and cancellations.

Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson said today was an exciting day with the test run of the first stage of the Tamworth Mountain Bike Park Expansions and the adaptive track receiving the tick of approval from former Australian Champion Hank Duchateau claiming hand cycling is “the wildest billycart ride in the world”.

Small and medium-sized exporters throughout the Tamworth Electorate will benefit from programs aimed at creating jobs, re-invigorating industry and supporting regional NSW including the $10,000 Exporter Assistance Grant.

A brand new Women's and Children's Shelter is on the way for Gunnedah thanks to Jobs Australia Enterprises and $196,314 in funding from the NSW Stronger Country Communities Fund.

Nominations for the 2020 Hidden Treasures Honour Roll have opened providing an opportunity for regional communities to recognise the outstanding efforts of local women.

The NSW Ageing and Disability Commission is supporting hundreds of vulnerable people across the region during its first year in operation and an invitation has been issued for locals to be involved with providing ideas to continue the good work. Everyone has the right to live free from abuse and we all have a role to play to ensure older people and adults with a disability are protected.

All three of Tamworth Hockey Centre’s international standard pitches will be the centre of the action on Saturday as the 2020 COVID-19 delayed hockey season pushes off. Tamworth has forged a great name in the hockey world and now we will have three international standard pitches that puts the Centre as only one of six like it the nation.

Eligible businesses and not-for-profit organisations that lease or license Crown land and who have endured financial losses during COVID-19 will be able to apply for rent relief from the NSW Government. This is great news for Crown land lease and licence holders - from farmers, caravan parks, not-for-profit community groups, and small businesses from marinas to cafes – they all have had to endure months of uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Grant opportunities ranging between $100,000 and $200,000 have been announced for a leading youth engagement program that aims to inspire and empower young people. Organisations and community groups in the region are urged to apply for the Community Partnership Action (COMPACT) grants program that will support community partnerships to build social cohesion and community resilience.

Gunnedah’s Mornington Tennis Courts is set to serve up a major upgrade to its fences thanks to a $15,000 Local Sport Grant. It’s fantastic to see these community courts getting a facelift and this in turn will encourage more people to use them for a social hit, to practice or play a local competition.

Tamworth BMX Club has received $15,000 in a Local Sport Grant that will be used to upgrade the competition track surface. The grant will improve the Club’s pedal power so it can begin to lobby again for major events on the state and national BMX calendar.

More than $215,700 in additional funding for local domestic violence services and support during COVID-19 has been welcomed by the Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson. The money will be shared between Tamworth Homelessness and Housing Support Service, Tamworth Homelessness Support Service for Men, Women and Families, Staying Home Leaving Violence Tamworth, and Tamworth Family Support Service Inc.

With the last pavers to be laid, the end is in sight for a $275,844 beautification project in Werris Creeks’ Single Street between Coronation and Poole Streets. This has been a fantastic project for Werris Creek and the upgrade now provides a stable, level surface for the locals to move along and helps provide local opportunities for work.