Just before Christmas, The Rubens received the best news a band can get. A band, that is, behind plans for a new festival.
Earlier this year the band, whose members hail from Menangle, announced they would host a brand new music festival in Camden called Valleyways.
The February 19 event scheduled to be held at Onslow Oval was never in doubt, but a nice little federal government grant of $227,600 will go a long way to ensuring the success of the inaugural festival.
The money comes via the federal government’s $200 million Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund.
The acronym stinks, but the money is no doubt welcome.
Local MP (Hume) Angus Taylor said the funding would provide critical support for the festival.
“I am pleased to announce that The Rubens have received $227,600 to host Camden’s first ValleyWays music festival through Batch Six of the RISE Fund,’’ Mr Taylor said.
“It’s a fantastic initiative that will bring new talent to this area and provide a boost to not only the entertainment industry but also the local economy here in Camden.’’
Which is no doubt music to the ears of the Rubens lads.
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For the past couple of years Sean Berry, who started his journalistic career here in Campbelltown, had been the media director for Gladys Berejiklian.
Berry left a senior reporter’s role at Channel 7 to take up the prestigious government post.
Unfortunately, when Gladys resigned it also meant the end of the gig for Berry as well.
But guess who is the media director for the new premier of NSW?
Her name is Miranda Wood, who left a senior role at Newscorp to run the media stuff for Dom Perrottet.
Ms Wood, though, is also the wife of, you guessed it, Sean Berry.
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It has not been the best of season for our local cricket side, the Camden Campbelltown Ghosts.
But recently they finally had something to celebrate when first grade opening bowler William Salzmann was selected to represent Australia in the 2022 ICC U19 World Cup in the West Indies.
All the best at the Cup, Bill.
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Campbelltown residents are being encouraged to help better plan future transport options in the city centre by participating in the Community Travel Survey and telling council how they get around the city.
The survey results will help council plan for future travel and mobility needs.
But here’s the best bit: anyone who fills out the survey will go into the draw to win a $1,000 gift voucher to spend at ABC Bikes Campbelltown.
The survey will close on February 13 next year. Details at overtoyou.campbelltown.nsw.gov.au.
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There were some unhappy customers at the Ingleburn branch of St George Bank on Tuesday, December 14.
Tellers were doing their best to manually process everything because the internet was down and out, but frustration was obvious in the queue that had formed.
Ironically, the EFTPOS machine was still working, but it wasn’t what the customers in the queue were looking for.
The Ingleburn branch is now one of just two left in Campbelltown, following the closure of the one in Queen Street on December 3.
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A former MP and doctor, Dr Andrew McDonald, is one of four new faces on the board of South Western Sydney Public Health Network following its recent AGM.
The local paediatrician replaces another former MP, and colleague, Craig Knowles.
The other three new faces are solicitor and Marsden’s Law Group senior partner John Adam, Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation CEO Darryl Wright and GP and chair of Sydney South West GP Link, Dr Ken McCroary.
The ceo of SWSPHN, Keith McDonald, welcomed the new board members and thanked outgoing directors Dr Anett Wegerhoff, Mr Knowles and solicitor Mark Allen.
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Paris London NY Badgerys Creek – just how clever is this beer holder?
This is bloody good marketing that also puts a smile on your dial.
Don’t know about you but I love it so much I may buy a few and give to my overseas friends when I take my first international flight from Badgerys Creek in 2026.
In the meantime, though, it’s NY Eve, so it will come in handy to keep the beer cold between now and midnight.
Happy New Year one and all.
