Kate Schwager

New Office 72 Unit 2 Rose Street, Wee Waa

2012-01-26T16:33:00.000+11:00

Hi all February is nearly here, Happy Australia Day. Opening office in town has taken a little longer then expected. The furniture is in and electricity will be connected 1st February Looking forward to a great year. The office will be opened Thursday and Friday 9.30am to 4.30pm. Please call for appointment on 0407665357. Ligante Australia will be continuing its services doing website development, hosting, domain registration and email. Local advertising will be offered through the websites www.weewaa.com, www.narrabri.net and www.cobarnsw.com.au.

2011-11-29T10:10:00.001+11:00

ok this arrived in my inbox this morning I thought it was worth sharing. Great example of the Mining industry and what they do from a environmentalist point of view. LOL

This is a classic on Mining The Real Story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9Jo44c2JpY

2011-11-28T13:44:00.001+11:00

Communication Alert from MDBA below

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority will be releasing the draft Basin Plan on Monday, 28 November 2011. This will mark the beginning of the formal public consultation period.

The formal consultation period will go for 20 weeks and will give people the opportunity to read the draft plan, discuss it with their community, discuss it with us and provide feedback via our formal submission process. The closing date for submissions will be the 16th April 2012.

This public consultation builds on the many meetings we have held over the past few months by providing a range of ways for people to meet and ask questions.

Many people told us they don't want to have meetings immediately after the draft plan is available, so we are starting our meetings the week after the draft goes out.

From 5 to 16 December 2011 we will hold open public meetings in some areas where there is likely to be more water recovery needed:

St George (7 December)
Murray Bridge (9 December)
Shepparton (13 December)
Griffith (15 December)
Deniliquin (16 December).

Alongside the public meetings we will also hold smaller meetings with community and representative groups in those and other towns.

We will be continuing consultations after Australia Day - we added an extra four weeks to the consultation period to allow for this.

Next year we will be looking at visiting Goondiwindi, Mildura, Renmark and Swan Hill. Again, we'll be holding smaller meetings for detailed conversations in those towns as well as in a range of other places such as Hay, Albury, Wodonga, and Narrabri.

We are keen to talk to anyone who is interested and will schedule meetings as needed. As we do schedule more public meetings those details will go up on our website.

What we are releasing

As mentioned, on Monday we will be releasing the draft Basin Plan for 20 weeks formal consultation. To help people understand the legislative document and our proposals, we are releasing a number of supporting documents. Some products will be released on Monday, while others will be released in the coming weeks.

A factsheet will be available on Monday explaining the documents we are producing, however we thought you might like a summary beforehand:

The proposed Basin Plan - a draft for consultation
Plain English summary of the proposed Basin Plan - including explanatory notes
Delivering a Healthy Working Basin - about the draft Basin Plan
The draft Basin Plan - catchment by catchment
Environmental Watering Plan - what's in it and how will it work?
Environmentally sustainable level of take for surface water: methods and outcomes
Socioeconomic analysis and the draft Basin Plan
Science review
a series of factsheets discussing topics such as hydrological modelling and the Basin Plan implementation process

What's next

When we release the draft plan on Monday, you will be able to access the relevant documents on our website. You will also be able to find details of how you can be involved and how you can make a submission. Specific details of the public meetings will be published on our website as they are confirmed.

Floods Again and more rain coming

2011-11-28T10:13:00.001+11:00

Hello all,

Seems things are back to flooding rains, here I look out my window and it is all green. Soon to be surrounded again, I weighed up the idea of going to the APEN conference in Armidale. It was looking good and a big round trip to Coonabarabran then Gunedah Werris Creek, Tamworth not now Spring Plain road is closed so Wee Waa is really cut off. Unless the back road is open, I would think Bohena Creek would be up by now. So best to stay put.

Have been receiving updates from the SES and have a link to the BOM site on Wee Waa and Narrabri websites to keep people posted. Will set up a page for Wee Waa Floods so if anyone would like to share their images please forward them through to me and I will put them up on a page for everyone to view.

I have an interview with the BBC this afternoon so they must have found our website so it would be good to have some images up on the website.

Looking forward to some interesting images. This is our front gate 4 inches to go to reach last years record on the 12/12/2010.

Floods and Rain

2011-11-28T10:06:00.000+11:00

I found this in my drafts I did not post it last year but reading it now things don't look much different. except that we have only had 4 inches and most of the water is coming from up stream where they had 8 to 10 inches in some places.

12/12/2010
Well I am not sure about you but I have just about had enough of the rain. Having come to the area some 20 years ago and not having seen s flood was terribly excited when the first one came in 1998. I had waited 10 years to see it. I decided then that they are not as exciting at all. Just a big time waster in the fact everything virtually stands still for nature to take it's course.
This time is no exception.
This time we live in a spot that is not quite as good as where we were in accessing what I now call the outside world. We have now had 14 inches of rain on the old scale and surrounded by water living on an island virtually. Only mode of transport is tractor. It takes about an hour or more to get to the main road which normally takes 15 mins tops. Last weekend we were lucky enough for the boys to get out for Friday night teenage party and back in only for the water to rise even higher. We had three of the boys from Sydney airlifted out to catch the train on Tuesday. We have been taking photos of the event and I have posted them on Facebook.

My initial thoughts were, here is the rain everyone has been waiting for and there will be enough in the Murray system to throw the MDBA Plan right out the window. To prove once and for all that the weather pattern is not changing that it is the same it has been for years and this is now 7 or 10 years of wet, the last 7 to 10 years have been a cycle of dry.

2011-09-19T15:29:00.001+10:00

New name for business. Ligante Australia I am now the Regional Director of Ligante Australia. Working with Christian Torvnes still using the same package he has developed. I will liaise with the client create the site and with his guidance and web development skills we will be able to bring you excellent websites for your businesses, networks, community and towns. Build you an online presence that you can maintain yourself without needing any website design knowledge just the basics of how to use the internet.

New sites so far

www.helenwheels.com.au

www.lyndoncommunity.org.au

www.greensmandurama.com.au

www.namoiwater.com.au

www.workforcepartners.com.au

www.friendlyfaces.info

www.johnclements.com.au

new site for Ligante coming soon

Telstra hits my Internet again

2011-06-04T20:21:00.000+10:00

Well, what a time I have had. Modem would not work and the signal disappeared. According to Telstra it was the fact the world is a lot greener since the rain and the trees have grown and that is what has caused it to disappear. I asked would I be better with satellite and the women said that would be expensive and going backwards she said it would not be as fast. I said anything would be faster than what I have got.

I got another modem thinking that might be the problem it still would not work. Boys moved the aerial in different positions all around the house. I got a new aerial and still no success. 3 months later I found the modem they sent was faulty. Very difficult to convince them to send another one.

Eventually it arrived used the old aerial and i had moved it now I get better reception then I have ever had.

Problem is it is very hard to run an Internet business without the Internet let alone the money it has cost me to not have it for 4 and a half months.

Let's hope it does not happen again.

Where our Water goes

2010-11-09T12:13:00.001+11:00

I have followed the Murray all the way down from Walgett to the the mouth and all the way back up to Lake Wetherall and I am sure you can see by this map why the water does not reach the mouth of the Murray.

Google Maps Lake Wetherall and the Murray River

Take a tour on Google maps from one end to the other and make up your own mind.

Parliamentary Inquiry into impact Water cuts will have on Communities

2010-10-26T16:13:00.000+11:00

Parliamentary inquiry will examine impact of cuts to water allocations on basin communities
Joe Kelly From: The Australian October 14, 2010 2:52PM

Visit this story have a read
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/parliamentary-inquiry-will-examine-impact-of-cuts-to-water-allocations-on-basin-communities/story-fn59niix-1225938728510

More on the MDBA Meetings

2010-10-19T12:20:00.000+11:00

Feedback from MDBA Previous Meetings can be found here.
http://mdba.gov.au/communities/latest-news/feedback-from-griffith

Press release from ABC website 19 October:

The Chair of Regional Development Australia Northern Inland (RDANI), Mal Peters, says he is not prepared to let towns in the New England North West be decimated by proposed water cuts.

Discussions are taking place this week in Canberra with New England Independent MP, Tony Windsor, irrigators and representatives from the federal Departments of Water and Regional Development.

Mal Peters says Tony Windsor has asked him to come to Canberra to talk about how regional communities can be saved.

He says he believes it is possible to limit cuts to allocations, and still return flows to river systems, if the government invests in greater water-saving technology on farms. for more click below
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/19/3042060.htm

MDBA Meeting Meet with the Community

2010-10-18T13:13:00.000+11:00

This is very important that you should attend this week in Narrabri at the Crossing Theatre. Suggest ringing this number to book a seat. The number to call is 1800 230 067
Advice is to arrive early to get a seat. The Crossing Theatre 3pm.

Our Jobs, Our Businesses, Our Families

Our Community

ARE UNDER THREAT!

The proposed Murray-Darling Basin Plan will remove the productive water that our community is built on.

The only thing that the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Canberra Bureaucrats and Big City Politicians understand is numbers

We need to show them numbers by turning up to their "consultation" session.

Wednesday 20 October at 3pm

Narrabri

The Crossing Theatre

Please make every effort to be there - and encourage your friends, family and colleagues to come with you.

If you run a business, please consider closing for a short time to bring your employees - after all, what's an hour compared to a permanent closure?

http://www.basinplan.com.au/

Looking for Tara Old Girls 1977 6th Form and 1975 4th Form

2010-10-11T17:47:00.001+11:00

We are having a reunion, join Facebook and click to be my friend Kate Schwager (Cathy Crofts). You will then be invited to join our private group. We require you to find at least one of your school mates, so we can find everyone.

Reunion is 4th August 2012. Email is taraog1977@gmail.com so send us an email.

Health and Wellbeing Website

2010-10-08T05:51:00.000+11:00

This site will interest those with allergies as well as the healthy check it out at www.imnotfussy.com.au

Tracey Holcombe Benefit dinner

2010-09-13T14:11:00.000+10:00

The community of Wee Waa and Narrabri have got behind Tracey with a big helping hand to help her with the terrible deal that she has been dealt. She lost her son last year in a tragic incident in Armidale now she has been diagnosed with a vigorous cancer. She has been having treatment in Sydney and the communities have done a domestic Blitz on her house. You can find all the photos from Friday night Dinner and read her story.

Final Agreement with the Independents

2010-09-08T11:15:00.000+10:00

Well what an exciting couple of weeks.

The questions being asked
What is in it for Regional Australia?
Where is the money coming from for regional Australia?
Who will benefit the most?
Will they last?
Will we be back at the Polls in 18 months?

I suggest you have a read of the agreement that the Independents have struck with the Gillard Government you can find it on John Clements website.

My thinking now is

"A vote for an independent is a vote for regional Australia"
Final Agreement with the independents here

My final question is

Why haven't the Nationals negotiated for Regional Australia on this level with the Liberals when they were in government?.

Would love to hear your comments.

Library Plans and Meetings

2010-09-06T10:05:00.001+10:00

Just to keep you informed and following the community meeting last Wednesday at the Wee Waa Bowling Club the architect for the Wee Waa Library will be meeting with the Wee Waa Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday 8th Sept 2010 at 5.30pm to take on advice on the contemporary style of the building to more heritage/boutique style as commented at the local meeting. Then there will be a community meeting, at this stage Monday 13th Sept 2010 - time to be advised, to discuss the changes of the new proposed building.

Wee Waa Library Plan

2010-09-04T09:45:00.000+10:00

A public meeting was held on Wednesday 1st September which was only attended by 20 members of the Community

The community were concerned with the look of the building. Would it fit in with the landscape of the main street. does it fit in with the recomendations of the Marketing Plan that the Wee Waa and District Chamber of Commerce commissioned for the Community. Leave a comment

More Politics

2010-08-20T08:42:00.000+10:00

We need change in the seat of Parkes no matter who gets in in Canberra nothing is going to change.
We need a good negotiator who can work either side of politics.
We need someone representing this electorate who knows about Mining, Water, Health, Education and who knows how to negotiate on all levels.
This seat needs to be a marginal no matter who gets in government.
We need someone we can trust.
I can trust my cousin John Clements to do the job for us. Can you.

When you go to vote on Saturday think really hard and make the right decision.

Look you can't even compare them on experience.

The Experience of John Clements
The Experience of Mark Coulton

Visit both website and read about John and his vision, visit Mr Coulton's site and see what his party is offering this electorate.

Only 24 hours to go

Politics in the Parkes Electorate

2010-08-14T09:39:00.001+10:00

I have not posted for some time. I have been busy helping out our Independent John Clements to bring about change in this electorate.

Yes I am voting independent and so should you and the reason that I believe we should vote independent is, for a very long time this electorate has been a National Party blue ribbon seat in both Federal and State Government a seat that has been neglected by the parties. Who ever is in government really could not give a dam about this electorate. It is the same old same old.

Meanwhile in other electorates eg: New England (Independent) they seem to have everything thrown at it. Where there are marginal seats the Labour party and the Liberal party give them funding for just about everything they can think of, to buy them a few votes.

This election between Julia Gillard and Tony Abbot is gone beyond the ridiculous. Neither are offering much and heaven help us all in the bush if the Greens get all the votes. Rural Areas need more independents who put the people before the party.

So what do you do next Saturday, well I am going to put John Clements No1 and then I am going to put my preference in the next box and then I am going to fill all the boxes and fold it and put it in the box.

That way if John does not get in then the party that I prefer will get my preferences. That is how it works it is up to you to put your preference in that second box. It is not up to John to make that decision for you. He does not fill his boxes on election day in his handouts he leaves that decision to you the voter. That is a real independent. He is working for the electorate and the people in this electorate and not a party. Put the People before the party.

Take a look at his website and you can see what a great negotiator he is and his network goes far and wide. He understands and is willing to listen to any views that you have and fight for what you want in this electorate. He will represent this electorate well in Canberra for the people and it is only you who can make the difference to the electorate of Parkes by voting for him.    John Clements
John's Endorsements can help and also John's Vision   You make up your own mind.

Had enough? Vote 1 John Clements "An independent thinker"

I believe that if you are independent you work with who ever is in government for the better of your electorate, and the people in it, not for a party and its policies that look after the majority which is not rural Australia.

Here take a look at the others and see what they have to offer.

This is how they appear on the ballot paper, if you are an absentee voter in another electorate it does not tell you who is who as far as parties go.

1.Matt Parmeter GRN,
2. John Clements IND,        Vote 1
3. Andrew Brooks ALP,
4.Mark Coulton NAT,
5.Mick Colless. IND

Matt Parmeter, Daily Liberal Video ABC New England Northwest is a civil engineer and works for the NSW Office of Water. He deals with town water supply and sewerage, assisting local Councils right across the electorate. He previously designed farm water supply schemes with the Soil Conservation Service at Condobolin. Parmeter was the Greens candidate in this seat at the 2007 election. He has a page within the Greens website. Have a read he has policies too. You could put him in the second box if that is who you normally vote for. Of course the labour party have done a deal with the greens vote green you vote labour so that might be your preference.

John Clements, Daily Liberal Video ABC New England Northwest .I have lived and worked in the Macquarie and Namoi North Western NSW area over the last twenty five years. I am married to Charmaine and we have 4 children; Joanna, Martin Owen and Liam, all born in Narromine. Liam was the first baby delivered at Narromine District Hospital in its 2nd 50 years of operation. We currently live near Wee Waa. I have a mixture of business and political / community experience documented below.

Andrew Brookes does not have a website - Daily Liberal Video ABC New England Northwest will add when posted. Brooks was born in Western NSW and has lived in Binnaway on a farm most of his life. In 2006 he moved to Dubbo before proceeding on to university in Sydney. If you always vote labour then perhaps Andrew Brookes you should put in the second box. I can't find much about him only that he is 22 and Labour have him standing for this very large electorate and could this very shy young man handle Canberra if he got in.

Mark Coulton - Daily Liberal Video, ABC New England Northwest who represents the National Party/Liberal Party who has been in for 3 years and has gained very little for the electorate mainly because he is in opposition. Don't get me wrong he is a nice bloke who has tried his hardest in a very large electorate to bring change. It hasn't happened. You could put him second if you have been voting Country Party all your life. You give your preference to the National Party

Mick Colless is another independent he does not have a website Daily Liberal Video ABC New England North West I have linked to an article in the Moree Champion. He wants change to Parkes as well and is sick of party politics. So you could put him second as well and then an independent might get up.

Take a look over the lot and take a listen it is you who is voting and you who have to make an informed decision you owe that to your electorate.

ABC How to vote guide
ABC History of the Seat

By the way Websteam Australia has done the Independent John Clements site after I did one in Google we had to change to a secure site as it got hacked into. These people took down his endorsements and the videos would not work. Either they were worried that he might give the electorate a good shake or they were just doing it for fun or just to wast my time. Either way John Clements has a very informative site by Webteam Australia, Local Presence Global Connections.

I will be in Sydney for the election to see the last match of the GPS rugby so you wont see me around the polling places, which is a shame as it is a great time to see all the locals and a good time to have a few fund raisers as everyone is in town. Not much happening though A Big Day Out in Narrabri and the weekend sport you can check it all out by visiting the Calendar Online for August Till next time make and informed decision and don't forget to vote you or you will get a fine. Make sure you also fill all the boxes.

Had enough? Vote 1 John Clements "An independent thinker"

Supporting You a website launched by the government

2010-07-31T07:50:00.000+10:00

The NSW government recently launched the ‘Supporting You’ website –

This website is a valuable resource for people and businesses experiencing financial hardship and in need of advice and support.

The website acts as a portal to a wide range of information including:

* Business assistance
* Drought assistance
* Assistance with bills and payments
* Employment and job assistance
* Information for apprentices and students
* Information for retirees and pensioners
* Support and counselling services

If you are finding the going tough at the moment, you are encouraged to use the website or call the Connecting NSW advice line on 133 NSW (133 679) to find out what support may be available to you and your family or business.

Namoi Water Website

2010-07-29T16:43:00.000+10:00

Another new website from Webteam Australia. Check this out ever wonder what these guys do. You will find it all out with a visit to their website. So click above.

John Clements Candidate for Parkes

2010-07-29T16:40:00.000+10:00

Well I have been busy doing John Clements website which is now up and running you can view his site at www.johnclements.com.au and his blog is www.johnclements.net.au. Well I think we are very lucky to have him stand in this electorate. He is just what we need someone who is not aligned to any party. He has a great understanding of a number of topics, you only need to take a look at his website and read about what he has been involved in. He has helped a number of communities and people over the years and has a great understanding of politics. He knows how to negotiate and has a huge network of people. I think we are all fed up with party politics in this electorate. We miss out on everything because we are the same old same old. Been a National Party Seat for Years nothing changes. It wont change until we get and Independent into this electorate. Look at the other Independent Seats and see how they are going. Now is the time!!! so Vote 1 John Clements an Independent thinker!!!
Good Luck John!!

Funding and Grant Websites

2010-07-06T09:36:00.000+10:00

Here are a few places where you can find funding or a bit of help finding funding for Community Projects.

http://www.fundbase.com.au/

http://australia.gov.au/topics/culture-history-and-sport/arts/arts-grants

http://community.grantready.com.au/
http://www.government-grant.com.au/

http://www.grantslink.gov.au/

Rent a Farm House

2010-07-05T11:36:00.000+10:00

Here is a list of communities taking the step to a bigger population by using this fantastic idea from Christine Weston from Cumnock.

Coaching and Mentoring in Rural Australia

2010-07-05T11:22:00.001+10:00

Rural Development Services and Ag Consulting Co invite you to participate in an exciting project: Coaching and Mentoring in Rural Australia. Read More by clicking on the above link.

2011 Sustaining Rural Communities Conference

2010-06-30T16:11:00.000+10:00

The next SRC Conference will be held in Narrabri on 22nd and 23rd March 2011.

Friendly Faces Helping Hands Launch

2010-06-25T22:35:00.000+10:00

Great to see a good crowd at the Launch of Kelly Foran website in Narrabri this evening. A wonderful story behind why she put it together. You can now view the site by clicking the above link of visiting http://www.friendlyfaces.info/
If you can help with information or a donation to maintain the site. It might just help you or a friend in an emergency.

I also visited the Crossing Theatre where there are some great pieces of Aboriginal art from the local women of Wee Waa and Narrabri. The exhibition is worth a visit.

The Extraordinary Taxi Drive in WA

2010-06-18T10:12:00.000+10:00

An interesting read for someone touring WA or even if you are not. It is a great idea to see what is worthwhile seeing in the state of WA. A different approach to tourism online.

CDEP the Implications it has caused for rural communities

2010-06-18T10:02:00.001+10:00

Yesterday I heard this interview on ABC - Fran Kelly's Radio National's program and felt here is another, the Rudd Government scrapped, this very worthwhile program should be reinstated. Replacing something with something worse is not really progress or improving the approach to indigenous relationships. He may have said sorry in one hand but has shutdown allot of great programs that have kept these people going and proud.
Click and hear it for yourself. It is very very sad.

Fran Kelly says "On yesterday's program we took a look at the reforms to the Community Development Employment Projects program, better known as CDEP or 'Indigenous work-for-the-dole', which has been scrapped in urban" ...
Forum after Forum I want to hear what you have to say said Rudd. The 2020 Summit was the talking point where has it gone. Now I don't think the Rudd government is listening at all. Would like to read the report in 2020 and see where they stand. Rudd will be well buried by 2020 will his report be also.

My Business E-News

2010-06-16T10:14:00.000+10:00

I receive this Business E-News and I thought I would share it with you. It keeps you updated on business via an email.

Where they went Wrong the Rudd Government

2010-06-16T09:27:00.000+10:00

I thought this article in The Land today summed up everyone's feelings regarding the government and their great downfall. Perhaps we should all be thinking of finding some independents that might serve us better. I am yet to find anything that sums up the opposition and their position. Will keep looking.

Rural Women's Coalition looking for stories on Communities

2010-06-10T17:09:00.000+10:00

Sustainable Rural Community Stories

The National Rural Women’s Coalition recently embarked on a project to collect stories of communities able to effect change in the quest to become sustainable. We now are pleased to publish the first of these on our website. It is hoped that through the sharing of these accounts of resilience, hope and survival, others will be inspired and motivated to make improvements or use these ideas in their own community.

There are some great stories to read.

Friendly Faces Helping Hands to Launch Website

2010-06-10T17:05:00.001+10:00

A website to help Rural and Regional people when visiting a major city or regional hospital. An information website to make life away from the farm a little easier. Based on her own experience Kelly Foran, in Sydney and again in Brisbane was needing a friendly face and a helping hand to get her and her family through an awful experience. The reason she decided to put the website together to help others.

The site will be launched on 25th June, 2010, 7pm at the Narrabri Library, thanks to the generous help of the local community and other sponsors Kelly will see her dream become reality. The Narrabri Shire Council will be hosting the evening and Mayor Robyn Faber will be launching it.

Kelly has recently been asked to be a Keynote speaker at the National Centre for Farmer Health Conference, to be held in Hamilton Victoria in October. You can read all about the conference

The site of course is another website from Webteam Australia using their very easy to use Httpsuite from Norway. To see more of Webteam's work click the link above.

Calendar Online

2010-06-04T14:22:00.000+10:00

Have it all up to date for June, if there is anything else to add let me know. Lots happening this month things include The Rotary Book Fair this week. Pilliga are having a church service at the bore for something different and a morning tea after and then perhaps a swim in the hot pools. Peter Cousins is in town and appearing at the Crossing Theatre as well Harmony Inc will be performing with Peter Cousens on the 11th. A chamber meeting in Wee Waa and Narrabri, plus a Relay for Life meeting to discuss the proposed Day. June Long Weekend has a lot on in every part of the Shire check out the Calendar Online for more details. Cubbarroo Polocrosse this month as well you can brush up on your chemical certificate. Ladies night out for the Wee Waa Preschool at Little House on Rose and Mark Dapin is a guest speaker at the Narrabri Livrary on 23rd June. Of course the last weekend of June hosts the Wee Waa Museum's Weekend Step back in time. All and more can be found at the Calendar Online.

Our Communities and the Murray Darling Basin

2010-06-04T12:47:00.001+10:00

Some interesting information that if you are at all interested in your community and its future you should be aware of and read the following articles.

Who is the Wentworth Group this article appeared in the Land this week, I really don't think any of these gentlemen have ever lived in a community or would understand what we are up against.

The Murray Darling Basin Water Plan this gives you some idea about the Plan and it answers a number of questions people have been asking.

For all the latest Research on Communities it can be found here

Australian Rural Wommen's Award Dinner

2010-06-04T12:27:00.000+10:00

Well, what a busy two weeks I have had.

I have managed to fit in some family time, as well as a trip to Canberra to the Australian Rural Industries Research and Development Rural Women's Awards (What a mouthful). Wendy Harmer was our MC for the evening mmm... only those who attended would understand my mmm... It was a great place to catch up with many of those I had not seen since last year. Meet new people and my mentor in the RIRDC mentoring program and of course introduce my mentee in this program Kelly Foran to a number of others, her website will be launched end of this month. It is getting a great deal of interest, I will keep you posted on Friendly Faces Helping Hands (An information site to help rural people while visiting a hospital in NSW and Victoria more states to come) towards the end of the month.

Well the awards, the winners and the speeches were inspirational you can view all the information by clicking here
As a recipient of the NSW Award I understand fully what is ahead for all the winners from each state, well done to you all and there are some very interesting projects amongst them all you can read more about these by clicking here. Be inspired to apply next year. I am available to help you if you have an idea.

Minister Tony Burke gave a speech that was worth reading as well you might like to read it here. Quite inspiring for women.

Country Web Is out Now to Read!!!!

2010-05-17T16:19:00.004+10:00

I have had a brief look at it story on Barb Grey, another couple of blogs to look at some really interesting information a good read for the next few days if it doesn't come in the mail I will be printing it out. Thanks to the RWN again you have done another great job. Here is where you will find it.
The newsletter can be downloaded from the RWN website: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/rwn

- Follow the links to download a pdf file

Something to Listen Too

2010-05-17T16:13:00.006+10:00

Couple of stories to listen to regarding cotton farmers and water. There will be more in the coming week from the ABC, thanks to Peter Verwey for bringing these to our attention.

This week Triple J is featuring the Murray Darling system.

The Hack website has podcasts and video stories related to life on the rivers. 2 stories already available are listed below, both with a strong cotton focus.

Who's hogging all the water?

Story 1: http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hack/stories/s2899928.htm

When the Murray Darling is in strife, the finger often gets pointed at Queensland and the cotton growers. But is that really fair? And how much of a water hog is Australia's biggest cotton producer, Cubbie Station?

Food vs Mines (more cotton than food in this story)

Story 2: http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hack/stories/s2899933.htm

Prime agricultural land on the Darling Downs is the new target for open cut mining and coal seam gas projects. Meet 24 year old triplets - Dan, Nick and James. They want to save their farm.

More stories will be added through the week. Details will be at the JJJ Hack website www.abc.net.au/triplej/hack

My Twitter

2010-05-17T16:05:00.002+10:00

Here you go my twitter where I have joined all the other idiots to try and make a difference to traffic to my sites as well as influence the politicians I am following.

Sustaining Rural Communities

2010-05-17T09:15:00.003+10:00

You can now here all the audios on our website. So for those who missed the conference click on the link and listen to all those you didn't hear. Ray Brown gives a chilling reminder to how mining will change our communities. Judith Stubbs talks about the Research being done on communities and how healthy they are. We hear from The Hon John Anderson along with Peter Shergold and Linda Botterill, Professor Paul Martin and Sabina Knight now you can here them all and much much more. Downloads will be available shortly as well as delegates thoughts and actions. Survey will be out this week as well. So let us hear from you as to how successful it is. A Blog is also available to tell us what you are doing in your community.

Wee Waa Show

2010-05-17T09:12:00.002+10:00

Hi All,
Just a quick not to let you all know that photos are up on the Wee Waa website of the Wee Waa Show Parade, so if you missed it you can catch it there. What a great success the show was. Congratulations to all those involved, very well done.

Calendar Online/ Wee Waa and Narrabri websites

2010-05-05T08:02:00.004+10:00

Well it is all up to date at the moment. does not take long though for items to be missed. Print media is good although the web is instant. So if your event missed the print why not send it to me with a poste rand we will put it on the Calendar online. May is filling up rapidly and June is just around the corner. This month the invoices will be going out for the advertising on the web. Hopefully I will cover everyone who has an advertisement if you would like a one page about your business they start at $120 through to $200 on both sites. if your business is not listed let me know and i will include it.

Wee Waa will have a butcher a baker and candlestick maker. Boutique shopping has become quite a thing in the little town of Wee Waa. If you want something special for any occasion Wee Waa is the place to come to. Take a day out of your schedule have morning tea lunch at the number of different places in town or even grab something from the Wee Waa Bakery and sit in the grounds of the Little House on Rose. This Mothers Day you can indulge yourself in the finer things at the Little House on Rose. Why not visit our Candle Store HMC Candles for that little gift for any occasion. Wee Waa Newsagency is another great gift store. Robbies Country clothing has some great items of clothing for everyone in the family. Another new store will be opening soon in the main street, will let you know when so stay tuned. coming up in Wee Waa is the spectacular Wee Waa Show this year bigger then ever so don't miss this. All details on the above can be found on the Wee Waa website.

Narrabri recently held their Show, Races, Eco Smart Building Expo, OOO Ball, Debutante Ball and a number of other things. It is a great place to be to enjoy all the things happening in the local community. coming up over the next month is the narrabri Eisteddfod, Abba R-Bjorn at the RSL Club all the Mothers Day specials. Don't forget Sushi on Wednesdays at Relish Catering, Friend of the Flicks Screening Lagaan at the Narrabri RSL. All these items and more can be found on the Calendar Online. Why not take a peek and add your event if it is not there.

That is it for now have to get back to typing up the information from the conference. So check back again when I will have more information on our local communities.

Telstra Update

2010-05-05T07:56:00.003+10:00

Well I got my bill this month and sure enough I had to make a phone call to Telstra. $140 fee for disconnection of each mobile phone. I gave them a call and they assured me I would have to pay it. No where on my account they said was there any notes about a payment plan. Well I was seeing red and hung up to try another operator. Credit Department would not budge mm... so a call and email to my Telstra Country Wide person Nathan Axelsson was the best chance I had. He had it fixed in no time. Said could not understand as there were notes all over the account mm... interesting I am sure Telstra don't communicate very well with each other perhaps it has something to do with the Indian connection. So folks if you are ever needing a hand to get something done at Telstra Nathan is the man to talk to send me an email and I will give you his details. If not him your friendly local Telstra Shop is your next best thing.

After the Conference

2010-05-05T07:51:00.003+10:00

Well what a successful Sustaining Rural Communities Conference we had, congratulations are coming in from every direction. Typing up the results from the conference is a high priority at the moment, although being sick was not on the agenda. We should have all the information up for people to read and also for those who did not get a chance to get to the conference we have audios of every speaker for you to listen too. Check them out on the website I will let you know when more information is available about the conference.

Calendar Online

2010-04-15T06:10:00.004+10:00

Wow, what a packed Calendar we have, dates are coming in thick and fast. Tell your friends this is where you can put your date so everyone knows what is on. I guarantee that your date will be put in by the end of each week. So keep them coming. In the meantime check out what is coming up in April in the Online Calendar. You can find it easily on both www.weewaa.com and www.narrabri.net so check it out. I will even put your poster up to ad some colour to the calendar. Printing it out seems a huge task. So I will leave it where it is for the moment. Put it in your favourites and check back to see what is on. Will keep you posted on the Calendar it is a big hit.
cheers
Kate S

Sustaining Rural Communities Conference

2010-04-15T05:59:00.003+10:00

Well registrations closed last night and we have over 150 people attending each day, and 100 attending the dinners in the evenings, which is just great. Well done to the committee. We have had lots of interest and all going well it should be a very successful conference. Lots of comments have been on the fact that it is Free. This is because of the generosity and concern of those who care about our communities. Thank you to all the sponsors it has made it allot easier to run a great program. There will be information after the conference on what was said so I will bring you an update at the end of next week. I am looking forward to catching up with a number of people coming that I have not seen for sometime or who I have communicated with and are yet to meet.
Till next time.
cheers
Kate S

Telstra

2010-04-15T05:48:00.004+10:00

Well it seems that Telstra have come good, with the fantastic help of Telstra Country Wide Armidale - Nathan Axelsson. I have Nathan's email if you need it. I have my email restored to normal. Although I will be using only two emails my kateschwager50@gmail.com and ks@webteamaustralia.com as I am not convinced that I wont loose my bigpond email address again. Lets hope I don't.

I have also bitten the bullet and signed up with Telstra for another 24 months to get the new equipment that was on offer for free which will wireless connect the internet at the house. So no more fighting over the computer in the holidays. I will also be able to comfortably work from home again. It was very bad timing with the conference coming up next week. I hate to admit it, Telstra did come good, although it does pay to know the right people who can help you.

Now that I am on Telstra I visited the new Telstra shop in Narrabri. Wow it looks great, the staff are very helpful as well and I am sure if you are having problems this will be another great place to go for help if you need it. Or maybe you are looking for new service for your internet or a new mobile phone. They told me that the business packages for mobiles are finishing in May, so if you need a new phone get it before then. Telephone number of the Telstra Shop in Narrabri is 67923274. You can also find them on the Narrabri.net website.

Calandar Online

2010-04-02T06:01:00.002+11:00

Now that I am limited in my conecction to the internet things are a bit slow with adding dates. I will be trying to add them over the weekend. There are lots of new items coming up for Arpril and May. Of course our Sustaining Rural Communities conference is in the final stages of the program being finalized. Posters are up and we just need delegates. remember it is free but you must register. http://www.cottoncrc.org.au/. Hope you all have a Happy Easter.
cheers
Kate S

Telstra

2010-04-02T05:32:00.002+11:00

Well what a week. Last Friday Telstra very nicely after organising a payment plan with them two weeks earlier when there was $213.95 owing cut my Internet and mobile phones off. I had $13.95 to pay on an outstanding account. Little did I know that this would become a nightmare for me and my business.

I was travelling Friday so very difficult to get onto Telstra to have the situation rectified. First the accounts department who could not understand why this had happened. Then they sent me onto the mobile phone department to have that reconnected this happened. Then it was onto the internet area to have that reconected. This took 15 phone calls the last one was at 6.10 when they told me they are only open 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday.

No interenet and no emails from my email of 12 years bkschwager@bigpond.com Well I got through the weekend and rang
Monday morning only to find out.

They would not reconnect my old account.

There would be no forwarding from that email address or any other that I had with them.

I would have to open a new account with a new email address.

One women said "I shouldn't be using a bigpond email anyway, use an online one" she said "it shouldn't make any difference"

The cost of a new account would be $399 for new equipment as the equipment I have is too old and would not work with the new account. (I have a blue modem $199 an ethernet connecter $250 and a TP Link $40 to wireless it through the house) These were all purchased when wireless Next G first appeared.

I could take out a 24 month contract and it would only cost me $100

If I took out a 12 month contract it would cost me the full amount or if I did not want wireless in my house it would cost me $399.

I was in shock really, my business email was diverted to that email as well. Difficulty there having it redirected to what I had kateschwager50@gmail.com who wants to change your email after 12 years.

Well some nice people at Telstra Country Wide are working very hard to put things back to normal. I have even done testamonials for Telstra saying how wonderful they are perhaps that was in my previous life. Unless they come up with something very grand for me I doubt if I will go back to them. I now have an internet connection no account with Telstra and only my gmail till this gets sorted if it ever does it will be a miracle.

I am looking at going back to satelite although slow I would love to hear your comments on which one to use.

Here in th bush we dont get much of a choice when it comes to broadband. It is Telstra if you want wireless. There is quite a huge choice for satelite. Is it as slow as they say it is? Somone convince me it is not.

I will keep you posted.

Linda Hailey Visit

2010-03-23T08:01:00.005+11:00

Wee Waa and Narrabri had a visit from Linda yesterday, a return visit to Wee Waa to discuss the marketing plan that she has done for the town.
First stop Wee Waa where we were lucky enough to spend 3 hours with her discussing the draft plan. It will give the town of Wee Waa something to refer back to and also give all the businesses something to work with. Things that are included are the website www.weewaa.com, signage ideas to encourage people to participate in their community. Things that were talked about were branding, retail skills, trading hours, parking, marketing collateral, tourism, opportunities and a number of other things. All good for our developing community. Some of the ideas perhaps are pipe dreams, although we asked her not to leave anything out as it will be a good reference guide for the Chamber. This plan was all possible by a grant for small chambers. The final plan will be available on the Wee Waa website in the Chamber section as soon as we get it. It will also be available here to download. So check back .

After a great lunch at the Rose Cafe in Wee Waa we went back to Narrabri, where I attended one of her great seminars. On marketing your business. No one had to take any notes she puts them all up on her website the next day. How convenient. I think everyone went away having a very different idea on what marketing was all about. Her seminar was titled "Winning the Marketing War". Marketing has quite a number of things to it, not just advertising. These are some of the topics we discussed: Advertising, Promotion, Publicity, Selling, customer service, image and pricing. You can download her power point presentation at her website www.lindahailey.com.au , although I think you really needed to be there. Thank you to the Narrabri shire council for getting Linda up here, it is a great help to the businesses in the Narrabri Shire. Look out for the next seminar coming to town hosted by the Narrabri Shire Council.

Calendar Online

2010-03-21T11:24:00.005+11:00

Hi All,

Well here it is Calendar Online. Will be getting the word out to everyone as soon as I get my sponsors on the page. You will be able to print it out as well to stick on your fridge each month. Maybe even copy and paste it to a word page and add your personal calendar items. Would love to here your comments. I am also going to try and add some images of the events as we go. Will see how I go. It will be available in Wee Waa and Narrabri at the News agencies, will let you know when.

Another week has passed since I last wrote. I went to the Collins Park Lighting committee fund raiser at the Narrabri Golf Club Friday Night which was a huge success. It was thought to have raised another $20,000 and a donation from Eastern Star Gas of $50,000 will certainly make the Lighting Project possible. This will benefit the whole shire, once the lights are up and the facilities improved more use of the oval will guarantee some good bookings will come our way.

I also browsed Nosh on the Namoi Saturday morning, although quiet this year it was a very pleasant atmosphere with a number of great stalls, some new ones have appeared since I was last there and the food was great and good to see that it was well supported by sponsors and the community.

Progress on the Sustaining Rural Communities National Conference is going well with a new program available on the website follow the links. Jenny Brockie has been confirmed for the third day with more to be confirmed. This should bring it all together and give people something to go home and work on. I urge you to register early as it has had a huge response to it. We don't want anyone to not get the opportunity to attend so spread the word. You can also register for when you would like to attend. It might be 1 day or two or even all 3. Or perhaps you might like to just attend the barbecue Monday night and hear the great music by Kisshead. Price for this is just $30. The dinner where Kisshead will also be playing is $50. The rest of the conference is free, but you do need to Register for catering purposes.

I had a number of emails from our clients this week with Debbie and Jamie Russ adding some items into their portfolio of recent work they have done at www.sportingsurfaces.com.au I also heard from Ausartim who has made some changes to his site added a few more artists and it is really looking good. His nice bright Indochina Art Site is well worth a visit. Hennessey Water if you are interested in trading water in the Macquarie Valley.

Keep those dates coming in I have updates the March Calendar with some more dates and will keep you posted as to the outcomes of the Calendar online. cheers
Kate S

2010-03-12T10:35:00.002+11:00

It is Friday again, and I have added some terrific links to photos of the Queensland floods. So well put together the photos, well done it really makes you think twice about the amount of water. 2 metres above the last big flood at the Nindigully Pub that is huge. We look forward to more photos and hope the clean up for those communities does not take to long.

Talking of communities our conference coming up in April has nearly got its program ready this should be online early next week. Still finalising a number of speakers that will make the conference well worth a visit. Of course it is free to attend you just have to register at the Cotton CRC website. Will let you know when the program is up there we are expecting over 400 deligates to attend. It will not be a talk fest we are hoping people will be able to come away with ideas that they can implement into their communities.

Webteam have started a new website for Greens Mandurama and this should be available in the coming weeks. All of the sites that we have done are on our website. So if you are thinking of doing a website consider using Webteam Australia we have a great selection from agriculture to art and everything in between including our town sites, engineering sites to a catering site, some local to Wee Waa and Narrabri and other further a field in Sydney, Blayney, Warren, Orange and some National sites as well. If you would like some info on Webteam Australia just let me know and I can send you a brochure.

Will now get back to updating the site. I will include a link from Narrabri website to this blog as well.
till next time happy browsing

2010-03-12T10:30:00.000+11:00

Well here we are in the 3rd month of the year, it seems to pass so quickly when you are busy. I have recently done a bit of updating on the website. Hopefully, it will make updating less of a struggle.

The Calendar will be now called Calendar Online, The Wee Waak Ink has come to an end. I will be putting a new header up for this shortly, the calendar will also include the Narrabri Calendar as well. This will make it easy to update as it is only in one place. It will be housed on the Wee Waa website. You will be able to send your dates to me and they will be instantly added to the calendar for all to see. There is a link to Calendar Online from the narrabri site as well. Now you will be able to see what clashes with what. I have also included a page for each month so you can print the page out to stick on your fridge if necessary. It is a very comprehensive calendar for the district, you will not find a more detailed calendar on the web or in print publications, so if you want to know what is on this is where you should look.

Whats on the Web about Wee Waa has been updated. In preveiouse years this has been a big hit literally with most of the visitors to this page returning to take a look alot from overseas. So it is now up to date. Narrabri's will be done shortly.

With April just around the corner my major event for the month is the Sustaining Rural Communities National Conference which I am helping to organise through my work at the Cotton CRC as the Community Officer. This conference runs for 3 days and is free to attend. We have some great speakers coming for the occasion including Sabina Knight who was born in Wee Waa. You can find out more about the conference anf register to go by visiting the website here.

With The Wee Waa Show coming up in May this section is now up to date and more information will be coming soon. I understand they have a big show organised this year for the 14, 15 and 16 May. Three days of Show, Rodeo, Camp Draft with lots of other events to be included. A Street parade including the horses that will walk in the Trail Ride around our local communities.

The Wee Waa Chamber also has had an up date. It includes dates for all this years meetings and the latest news from the Chamber from our last meeting. We would really like to encourage the business houses if they cannot make it to the meetings perhaps they could send a long a younger representative that they have working for them. It would be a great way to relay what happens at our meetings back to the offices. We are looking forward to a big year with lots of ideas coming out of our Marketing Plan that was just recently finished. This will be available on line shortly in the Chamber section of the site.

I have decided to include this bit of a blog to let you all know what is happening with the sites and how things will progress. After a recent break of six weeks from my computer (yes I can't believe it either) due to a move, I have come up with some new ideas for the sites. This includes the new "Calendar Online" and my next section will be "Local Online" which will be available shortly, it all takes time to make these things happen. In the meantime keep visiting.

Coming Soon ......
"Local Online" will be a Selling Section where you will be able to sell items locally to local people within 50kms of Wee Waa and Narrabri. I just feel when looking on Ebay you just can't find the things you want locally. Anyway we will see how it goes. Of course there will be a fee of $20 payable on line to advertise your items. This will be housed on the Narrabri Site.

Online Payments
The site will shortly be able to receive payments online for advertising. I have been looking into the cheapest way to do it. I have found paypal is not as cheap as some of the other third party shopping options. Of course all of them use paypal to some degree as the final destination of your money. So it makes it very safe. This will be available on both sites shortly.

Over the coming months I will try and update each section of the site, although time is a little constricted. As we are working on 2 websites which you will hear more about once they are live and another one just about to start. Websites have been slow due mainly to the Economic downturn. Although locally the weather may just change that. Anyway if you need a website please give Webteam Australia the opportunity to give you a quote.

I will be writing in the webmasters blog as that is what I will call it, although you are unable to comment you can always send me an email bkschwager@bigpond.com on a random occasions if it is at the top of the News list it will have been added to.

2010-03-12T10:29:00.000+11:00

Hi to all those who visit the website.

First of all my apologies for the lack of work done on the website this year. Mostly due to a new part time job to keep the money flowing and a move to a new residence. I now have most things under control and look forward to continuing with this website and the Narrabri site and try and keep the local people informed of what is happening in the district next year.

So if you have itmes that you would like to appear on this website or the narrabri website for next year please contact me at the following address.
bkschwager@bigpond.com

Hopefully next year will be a little less hectic and I will be able to keep the site up to date and continue with the newsletter. Your patience will be greatly appreciated.

cheers
Kate S

Kate Schwager

New Office 72 Unit 2 Rose Street, Wee Waa

This is a classic on Mining The Real Story http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9Jo44c2JpY

What we are releasing

What's next

Floods Again and more rain coming

Floods and Rain

Telstra hits my Internet again

Where our Water goes

Parliamentary Inquiry into impact Water cuts will have on Communities

More on the MDBA Meetings

MDBA Meeting Meet with the Community

Looking for Tara Old Girls 1977 6th Form and 1975 4th Form

Health and Wellbeing Website

Tracey Holcombe Benefit dinner

Final Agreement with the Independents

Library Plans and Meetings

Wee Waa Library Plan

More Politics

Politics in the Parkes Electorate

Supporting You a website launched by the government

Namoi Water Website

John Clements Candidate for Parkes

Funding and Grant Websites

Rent a Farm House

Coaching and Mentoring in Rural Australia

2011 Sustaining Rural Communities Conference

Friendly Faces Helping Hands Launch

The Extraordinary Taxi Drive in WA

CDEP the Implications it has caused for rural communities

My Business E-News

Where they went Wrong the Rudd Government

Rural Women's Coalition looking for stories on Communities

Sustainable Rural Community Stories

Friendly Faces Helping Hands to Launch Website

Calendar Online

Our Communities and the Murray Darling Basin

Australian Rural Wommen's Award Dinner

Country Web Is out Now to Read!!!!

Something to Listen Too

My Twitter

Sustaining Rural Communities

Wee Waa Show

Calendar Online/ Wee Waa and Narrabri websites

Telstra Update

After the Conference

Calendar Online

Sustaining Rural Communities Conference

Telstra

Calandar Online

Telstra

Linda Hailey Visit

Calendar Online

This is a classic on Mining The Real Story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9Jo44c2JpY