Mayor's Column

The Penrith Panthers went head-to-head with the Cronulla Sharks at Carrington Park last Saturday. As always, it was an action-packed game played to a buzzing, sold out crowd. Notably, 63% of all ticket sales came from outside the region, highlighting just how strongly this event draws visitors to Bathurst and the wider economic boost it brings.  

It was also great to see the first girls-only rugby league clinic for ages 5–15, with players from the Harvey Norman NRLW side attending and inspiring the next generation. Adding to the excitement, the Family Fun Day Clinic made its return, where the Panthers team held a meet and greet that brought plenty of smiles and created memorable moments for local families. 

The football field was once again presented to an exceptional standard, with Panthers Coach Ivan Cleary noting it ranks among the top six NRL fields. This achievement is a testament to the dedication of Council’s Parks and Gardens team, who worked tirelessly day and night to deliver such quality, despite the added challenge of Corellas causing havoc.  

We have welcomed the Panthers to our city since 2014, when Council and Panthers took the initiative to build a relationship and bring the NRL to Bathurst, and to fans west of the mountains. After these years it still never gets old watching the excitement build across town as everyone awaits kick-off.  

The Australian Skin Cancer Foundation Mobile Skin Clinic came to Bathurst on Monday 16 March, offering free skin checks for Westfund members in the Bathurst community. The mobile clinic is a world-first 3D Vectra skin imaging system enabling early detection in areas where access to specialist services can often be limited. As we are well aware, regional communities like Bathurst often face significant barriers to early detection and preventative care, so having the mobile clinic visit our area is not only incredibly welcome but genuinely vital for the health and wellbeing of our community. The clinic will be returning to Bathurst in November 2026.