Preparing for busy schedule of Small Business Month events

Council and the Gunnedah and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry is preparing for a month of free community events in celebration of NSW Small Business Month.

We will launch the month with a breakfast next week, followed by International Rural Women’s Day, and workshops on AI, Canva and money management, thanks to the Gunnedah branch of CommBank and the Australian government’s Digital Solutions program.

This is an ideal opportunity for our local businesses to get involved, network and upskill, strengthening relationships and skills, so I encourage you to go on council’s website or Facebook page and sign up for these great events.

School holidays are under way and there are plenty of activities for our young people, including craft, singing and storytime at the Library and free movies for ages 12 to 18 proudly funded by the NSW Office of Youth.

The teams from Parks and Gardens and the aquatic complex have been busy preparing for the start of the summer season on the long weekend and the grounds are looking great. The days are warming up, so it’s the ideal time to head outdoors and enjoy the 50m pool and splash pool. Don’t forget your sunscreen!

Nominations are open for Gunnedah Shire’s Australia Day Awards 2027 and we’re asking our community to ‘nominate a mate’, so we can thank and acknowledge those who give so much to our shire.

There are 12 categories, including a few new ones, such as the Community Achievers Award, Creative Achievement Award, and Community Group of the Year. This means there are plenty of opportunities to highlight the contributions of our residents, so please have a think about whether there’s a person or a group you can nominate. You can pick up a paper copy of the form at council facilities or go on council’s website.

If you haven’t heard, there are also grants of up to $500 available for villages and community groups to support activities and events on Australia Day. The Village Grants are open to progress associations and hall committees within Gunnedah Shire’s villages, and the Community Activity Grants are open to local not-for-profit community-based organisations. Apply through council’s website by 4pm on Monday 30 November.

Council is honouring the memory of the late Alexander Bayliss through an upcoming exhibition at the Gunnedah Bicentennial Creative Arts Gallery. Alex worked at The Cultural Precinct for many years and was an animation artist in his own right before his unexpected death in April.

The theme of The Xander Memorial Men’s Exhibition is the male form – Alex’s art speciality – and council is inviting creators to submit works by Monday 12 October.

You can find more information on The Civic website.

The Xander Memorial Men’s Exhibition will open at 6pm on Friday 16 October at the Creative Arts Gallery, and will continue until Friday 20 November.