Mayor's Column

It’s been a huge week in the lead up to the NRL this weekend! 

Yesterday at the Hereford St Sport Fields I was thrilled to attend the Family Fun Day coaching clinic where hundreds of kids aged up to 13years old got together to practice NRL drills and game play, all capped off with a chance to meet and take selfies with some of their favourite players ahead of tomorrow’s game. What was even better to see was the number of keen players at Tuesday’s girls-only clinic. This was the first year a girls-only coaching clinic was held, and it was truly a huge success! Not only was it a sea of Panthers’ jerseys, but there were more than 60 girls eagerly playing strongly as teams and having such fun as they got the chance to meet some of the Panthers Harvey Norman Women’s players. Over the past 14 years of this terrific relationship we’ve built with the Panthers, it never gets old watching the excitement build across town as everyone awaits kick-off. Thank you to the Penrith Panthers for making Bathurst, and Carrington Park, your home away from home! It’s looking like a third year in a row of a sell-out crowd, so if you haven’t secured tickets yet for tomorrow’s game, I’d get in quick! 

I know there is concern around the disruption of the Great Western Highway for this weekend’s game too. The important thing to note however is that Bathurst is not ‘closed’ due to this. Detours are in place at Lithgow, and Bells Line of Road still offers a direct route to and from Sydney. News came through today that the NSW Government is ensuring extra rail, coach and bus services to support communities like ours that are impacted by this road closure, with their specialist engineers advising the disruption of the Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass will remain in place for at least three months. This is difficult news, however there are alternative routes available; Bathurst is by no means closed. 

This week I also had the honour of welcoming 10 Western Sydney University students to Bathurst, congratulating them for receiving the Bathurst Regional Council Regional Medicine Scholarship. I was delighted to recognise their achievements in this way, with this scholarship representing a shared commitment to learning and to the health and wellbeing of regional communities. Wishing them the best of luck as they each embark on their 12-month placement at the WSU Bathurst Rural Clinical School. 

Robert Taylor  

Mayor of Bathurst