The President of Gunning District Community & Health Service, Michael Coley announced on Monday the appointment of Alison Colebrook as Executive Officer of Gunning Community Care.

In making the announcement Mike emphasised the central value of the Service to Gunning and the wider district and the great importance of the Executive Officer. He said it was important that the best person be appointed to the position and thanked the selection panel of Julie Perryman (GCC's Secretary), John Shaw (Mayor and ULSC representative) and Judith Hallam (Southern NSW Health and long time involvement with GCC) for a very professional job. There had been 20 applications following an advertising campaign online and in all the region's newspapers and the Lions Noticeboard.

Mike thanked the GCC staff for their continued energy and dedication and Alison for her work as Transitional Officer over the past few months.

BANJO AND HENRY

Last Saturday night in St Edmund's Anglican Church, it was a sellout audience for "Bards at Heaven's Gate".  Introduced by the Venerable (and inimitable) Archdeacon John Barnes, this was a world premier starring Max Cullen as Henry Lawson and Brian Allen as Banjo Paterson. 

What followed was a rollicking 90 minutes of enjoyment, entertainment and education.  In the cut and thrust of the literary rivals, both contributors to The Bulletin, the audience learned much about their very different lives.  Interspersed were wonderful recitations of well known works such as Faces in the Street, The Geebung Polo Club and Clancy of the Overflow.  Banjo started to recite from The Man from Snowy River but was cut off by Henry who brusquely said he knew the story and gave a hilarious summary with the brevity of a Twitter tweet!  

Over supper afterwards the question on many lips including some who had travelled from Sydney to see the show was "Are you going to tour?"  Director Margarita Georgiadis said they would like to but it depended on "the boys" so watch this space!

Bravo to all concerned! 

DELIGHTFUL COINCIDENCE

Ian Morris a recent resident in Yass, sent a copy of an earlier Gunning News to his cousin, the Reverend Canon Ron Morris as he thought Ron most likely would have known the late Phyllis Boddington who was mentioned in the column.  Ian knew that Ron had been on his first teaching post at Gunning in the 1950s when Phyllis's husband Ben had been the Anglican rector here. 

Ron who later took his vows as an Anglican minister and is now retired, responded to Ian that not only did he know Phyllis but had conducted her funeral service.  Sharing this information with Phyllis's nephew John Boddington of Dalton, a further connection was made as Ron Morris was his housemaster at Canberra Grammar School when John was a pupil and Ron has remained a lifelong family friend.

NEW LANDCARE GROUP

A meeting to proceed with formation of the Biala/Blakney Creek Landcare Group is on Sunday 13 April at "Billengin", 154 Bulleys Crossing at 4.30pm when a management committee will be formed together with determination of the aims, priorities and opportunities for the group.  Further information (or apologies) should be directed to Vince Heffernan on 0419 998 848 or Scott Keyworth at scott.keyworth@csiro.au.

SCOUTS THERAPY?

1st Gunning Scout Troop has just the thing for when your computer screen freezes and your comments send the dog cowering for cover!  As a fundraiser for the troop they are collecting and recycling cans.  They have bags of them that need the rubbish sorted out and the cans stomped on to reduce the cubic capacity as the cash they get is based on weight.  The least number of trips to Goulburn, the more profit.

I'm going to get some to spare the dog (and the sensibilities of the neighbours!) for those times when anger at the computer turns the air blue.  For your own free anger management therapy kit and to help the scout troop, contact Bernie on 0414 714 562.

FRIENDS OF GUNNING LIBRARY

To help support the local Gunning Library, a group has been formed - Friends of the Gunning Library.  If you are interested in being part of this group please give the Secretary Pat Bowden a ring on 4845 1226.

MILESTONE REACHED

I had a note from Tony Porter of Coronation Collectables this week to let me know that about 25 people gathered on the footpath outside the store last Saturday to celebrate with him and his partner John on the 10th anniversary of Coronation Collectables. Tony put their success down to a lot of hard work, long hours, judicious buying, support from both local and outside shoppers, and good old-fashioned customer service.

After drinks and nibbles at the store for a couple of hours, they adjourned to the Gunning Steak and Schnitzel House for a wonderful three course meal provided by mien hosts Elizabeth and Peter.

In his speech to the assembled guests, Tony thanked everyone for their support and reminisced about starting the store in late March 2004. He wasn't even looking beyond getting through the first 12 months and it has been a real learning curve for him.

Tony noted that Gunning has changed dramatically since 2004 with the mixture of businesses in town and the numbers of people who now visit here from all over Australia.  His specialty of period and vintage lighting has been a definite draw-card, bringing renovators and decorators from far and wide including overseas.  One lady was visiting from London and took four lights back on the plane with her!

Statistics show that the survival rate for small businesses can be as little as fifty percent.  Given the tough economic times of late, the recent 10 year drought together with general belt-tightening that we have experienced in the last few years, Coronation Collectables has done extremely well. Congratulations!

COMING UP

Fri/Sat Gundaroo Photo Exhibition, Launch 7pm 11/4, open 12/4 10-5. Memorial Hall

Sat 12/4 6-9.30pm Shire Hall PCYC U18 Blue Light Disco, entry $5, supper box $6. Disco open to kids from neighbouring centres as well as from Gunning.  Parents can have dinner in the village.

Sun 13/4 2pm Garden Club @ Diana Oke's home, 5942 Gundaroo Rd, info 4845 1021

Mon 14 /4 7pm PA&I Soc AGM Court House, all welcome. If interested but can't make meeting call Kelly 0448 274 366