As the president of the Meals on Wheels Service Inc, I am aware of our ageing population and the needs of our elderly neighbours.

Cootamundra has long been promoted as a great place to retire to for reasons such as the town’s location, doctor-to-patient ratio, affordable housing, level streets and pathways for ease of mobility and access to the main street and of course the services available for the aged, younger people with disabilities and their carers, but I think that we cannot underestimate the many organisations within the town that help support their local community.

The Ex-Serviceman’s Club is a great example of this. This club gives back to many sporting and community groups.

I would like to thank management and the board for both the financial contribution made to our 50th birthday celebration morning tea and for the use of the auditorium which provided the perfect venue to host our event.

To Geraldine Ryan and Mark Forsyth for the financial contribution from monies raised through her concerts – “An Evening with Friends”. These funds will be distributed to our morning tea, for social monthly outings for the consumers (social support) and to purchase presents which will be delivered at Christmas, these are some of the vital aspects of our service for those in need, lonely or socially isolated.

Cootamundra’s IGA Community Chest is another example. They made a financial donation late last year which we have used in our celebration. Meals on Wheels relies on the generosity of its volunteers and the community it serves and there is comfort for all to know that the community spirit is well and truly alive in Cootamundra.

Ken Turner, Cootamundra Meals on Wheels president

Rail trails might sound like an easy way to lure tourists to a regional town.  However, for the farmers of Tumbarumba, Rosewood, Tumut, Gilmore and Gundagai the reality is not so simple.

For many farmers, the potential benefits of having a few extra tourists passing through town are far outweighed by the potential costs associated with biosecurity risks, right to farm concerns or an incident of trespass. When a rail trail passes through a farm, a farmer wears all of the risk for questionable reward.

This is why NSW Farmers opposes the construction of rail trails on disused rail corridors unless it can be demonstrated that a majority of adjoining landowners fully understand and support the proposal. This support should be demonstrated before any public funding or approval is awarded for a project.

NSW Farmers branches in Wagga, Tumbarumba and Gundagai are united in their opposition to rail trails in their region, and have been working closely with affected landholders. Indeed, there is overwhelming opposition from landholders to the proposed pilot rail trail from Tumbarumba to Rosewood, as well as to other proposed lines between Tumut to Batlow, Coolac to Tumblong and running North from Wagga.

NSW Farmers has written to ministers, reinforcing local landholder opposition and seeking an update on any proposed legislative changes. As the government seeks to progress its Tumbarumba pilot project, NSW Farmers will be working to ensure there are clear mechanisms for government to recognise and engage the strong opposition from landholders.

Derek Schoen, NSW Farmers president