Sense of Community

Being a Councillor is not all about what the Councillor wants - it is about listening to the needs and concerns of members of the community in the town and rural areas. Our community people have a wealth of ideas that we can explore to help get the sense of community fostered in our Shire. One resident has emailed me the following which is food for thought ......

"I have a suggestion. Muswellbrook needs it's own special annual event.
eg. Tamworth - Country Music Festival
Scone - Horse Week Festival.
Aberdeen - Highlander Games.
Denman - Food and Wine Affair.
Merriwa - Festival of the Fleeces.
Singleton - Countryfest (Australian Wife Carrying Championships), Show and Shine.

I think Muswellbrook has a parade for Muswellbrook Cup that's about it.

We need something like a food/wine/cheese festival to put us on the map and an event to bring the community together. It would bring tourists from all over (eg. bitter and twisted - Morpeth) and money into our local economy. A brilliant location would be from Simpson park to the Muswellbrook Hotel. You would have the Shamrock Hotel, Railway Hotel and Muswellbrook Hotel as licenced venues. Stalls and rides in the park, jazz bands at the train station, food markets along market street.

It's just a thought i've had that might improve the great town that i've spent my whole life in.
Thanks for your time, Brad"

The Muswellbrook Spring Carnival Parade has been slowly deteriorating over recent years, to the point where they have been cancelled this year. (It is hoped to get an event going next year to replace it.) We need to listen to the ideas of people like Brad so that we can have a successful community event in Muswellbrook. I have been to all the Festivals that were mentioned in his email and have seen how they have grown over the years attracting thousands of people. Now its Muswellbrooks turn.