Don't miss tonight's episode of Inside Central Station, featuring the official relaunch of Locomotive 3801 - NSW Transport Heritage

 

Relive what was an immensely proud moment for the entire Transport Heritage NSW team, as the 78-year old veteran hauled its first passenger service in over a decade!

It’s on tonight at 7.30pm AEDT on SBS.

Click here for view video on train engine 3801

Halloween @ Upbeat Songs With John

 Upbeat Songs With John at Bay & Basin 92.7FM

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We've got a night full of Halloween surprises, surprises in songs being played for Halloween night at Upbeat Songs With John this Monday. Remember you can request

songs requests here....

#upbeatsongswithjohn #bayandbasin92point7 #upbeat #wellbeing #niceandeasy #communityradio

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Well done NSW! - NSW Government

 

Hello John Last week we emailed you about the roadmap to reopening NSW and what it means for you at 70%, 80% and from 1 December. Changes to the roadmap this week mean if you’re fully vaccinated or have a medical exemption, you can do even more from Monday 11 October. The 3 stages of reopening NSW are: 70% full vaccination target reopening starts for people who are fully vaccinated or have a medical exemption – from Monday 11 October. 80% full vaccination target further easing of restrictions for people who are fully vaccinated or have a medical exemption. Wednesday 1 December opening up NSW for everyone. Schools to reopen earlier Return to school dates have changed. Kindergarten, year 1 and year 12 students will return to school in COVID-safe settings from Monday 18 October. All other years will return one week later on Monday 25 October.   Clearer travel rules From Monday 11 October, travel restrictions will start to ease, but travel for holidays and recreation visits including day trips between Greater Sydney and Regional NSW are not permitted until we reach the 80% full vaccination target. If you’re fully vaccinated and live in Greater Sydney (including the Central Coast, Wollongong, Shellharbour and the Blue Mountains) you: can travel anywhere within Greater Sydney cannot travel to regional NSW for holidays or recreation. If you’re fully vaccinated and live in regional NSW you: can travel anywhere in regional and rural NSW cannot travel to Greater Sydney (including the Central Coast, Wollongong, Shellharbour and the Blue Mountains) for holidays or recreation. From 11 October you’ll need to prove your vaccination status If you are 16 years or older, you’ll need to show proof of your vaccination or medical exemption when you check in to most businesses. Here’s what’s accepted: Proof of vaccination COVID-19 digital certificate in the Express Plus Medicare app COVID-19 digital certificate in your smartphone wallet COVID-19 digital certificate on a Medicare online account through MyGov COVID-19 digital certificate – printed Immunisation history statement shown on a Medicare online account through MyGov Immunisation history statement – printed Medical exemption COVID-19 medical clearance notice shown as a digital pdf or printed copy COVID-19 medical exemption form shown as a printed copy. Must be signed by a doctor. You will soon be able to add your proof of vaccination to the Service NSW app so you can easily show it at the same time as you are checking in. See examples: proof of vaccination or medical exemption (PDF, 1.12MB)

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Celebrate Children's Week 2021 with Shoalhaven City Council - Shoalhaven City Council - Media Release

 

22 October 2021

Tomorrow, Saturday 23 October, marks the start of Children’s Week, a national event, that celebrates the right of children to enjoy childhood.  

This years’ theme for Children’s Week is that all children have the right to choose their own friends and safely connect with others. 

The Children’s Week Council of Australia is responsible for encouraging and supporting the widest possible participation of all States and Territories in Children’s Week. 

Shoalhaven City Council Mayor Amanda Findley said that Council plays a vital role in the life of a child by offering a range of community services and facilities that help children to play, grow and learn.  

“Children’s Week offers an opportunity for parents and carers to make the most of spending time with their children and encouraging them to continue to play and learn with one another in our community”, Clr Findley said.  

“Whether it’s taking your child/ren to the local playground, swimming pool or watching a storytime video produced by Shoalhaven Libraries – there are endless ways to celebrate children”, Clr Findley said. 

“The interruptions caused by COVID have placed a significant amount of disruption and stress on families, including children. As restrictions begin to ease in our community, I hope that we can continue to support children during this time of change”, Clr Findley said. 

Council will be running a series of virtual activities including storytime sessions from Shoalhaven Libraries and arts and craft activities from the Shoalhaven Regional Gallery on its Facebook page during the week.  

Many of Council’s facilities have re-opened to those who are fully vaccinated against COVID since the easing of restrictions announced earlier this month. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult who has been fully vaccinated against COVID from the same household. To view the latest conditions of entry visit Council’s website.  

Children’s Week is an annual event celebrated in Australia held around the fourth Wednesday in October. A diverse range of events and activities are organised at National, State and Local levels. These focus the attention of the wider community on children, their rights and achievements. 

For more information visit the Children’s Week website.

Let’s celebrate Children this Children’s Week 2021, and show the next generation of our community that they have the right to choose their own friends and safely connect with others. Have a happy and safe Children’s Week! 

Children's Week!

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Story Factory Marching Forward

 

Marching Forward Here we are at 80% vaccination in NSW and finally seeing students return to school - what a thrilling milestone! Our admiration for teachers, already some of our favourite people, has only deepened as we’ve seen them handle a rapidly changing situation while working tirelessly to support students learning from home. We've been proud to work with teachers who have called their students every day to check on their wellbeing, who have organised and delivered food hampers for families doing it tough, or driven around their LGA giving lessons over the fence for students without access to devices. Our team has also been working hard to bring our digital creative writing workshops to more schools and more students, and to make writing fun and joyful.  As we all re-emerge from lockdown into living with COVID-19 there will be more challenges ahead, and we’ll be there to make sure that our students can write their way through it.   Onwards, Story Factory

We're absolutely tickled pink that students are returning to the classroom. Image by Jacquie Manning.

Art Write Light workshops Art Write Light connects Australian artists with young people in creative writing workshops where students write in response to the work of living artists, and to each other. This term we’re offering high schools in NSW the chance to participate in special one-off digital Art Write Light workshops, responding to the work of acclaimed painter and proud Dhungatti man Blak Douglas. Art Write Light one-off workshops are available between November 22 - December 10, 2021 to public schools across NSW.

READ MORE

Congratulations Jihad We're over the moon that one of our Year of Poetry writers Jihad Yassine has been awarded The 2021 Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers in the poetry category for his poem Box. The prize was presented online as part of the National Young Writers Festival. We couldn't be more proud of Jihad - congratulations!

READ JIHAD'S POEM HERE

We're Looking for a Senior Program Manager Are you an experienced English teacher looking for a job that will let your creativity run free? Are you passionate about creative writing and making a difference in the lives of young people? This is a busy, exciting role for an experienced educator and manager who can write new programs, work collaboratively to refine and improve existing programs, and train and support our talented team of storytellers to deliver them to the highest possible standard. Find out more about the role through the button below.

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Winner Winner Chicken Dinner Sometimes it's in the trying times that the very best stuff happens.  Among the many teachers who went the extra mile these past months were the amazing staff at our long-term partner, Chifley College, Shalvey Campus. When they found out many local families were going hungry, they started working closely with PCYC Mt Druitt to help facilitate food deliveries - on top of all their other duties. We asked others to help too and were blown away when Manettas Seafood Market supplied hampers full of fresh seafood, meat, fruit and vegetables for 50 families. Similarly, M&J Chickens stepped up to deliver ready-to-eat chicken over several weeks to families stuck in isolation, or impacted by job losses, who were struggling to make ends meet. Thank you to all these legends!

Student Writing This ode to one of the greatest meals ever created has us planning something cheesy, heavy and wonderful for dinner. Written last week by a Year 7/8 student from Camden High, we think how hungry we feel reading it really demonstrates the power of great writing! Lasagne   Lasagne, oh how you glisten on exiting the heated runway of the oven. As glorious as heavenly light, you are a shining beacon of greatness!   Golden sheets, meaty goodness, so good smelling.

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An Ode to (or with) Bilal Our very own Bilal Hafda joined Simon Marnie on ABC Radio last weekend, taking listeners through how to write an ode, just like the ode to lasagne above. You can listen (and have a go yourself) through the link below.

LISTEN NOW

But Wait, There's More... The award-winning Boundless Festival returns in 2021 with a line-up of emerging and established writers, discussing everything from the evolution of Indigenous storytelling, to the challenges facing Muslim writers, to the restorative power of literature in times of isolation and lockdown, and features our Story Engineer Bilal Hafda!  Click here for the previous post

Busways Update - Western Sydney

 

A service update from Busways

We have been advised by the NSW Government that in line with COVID-19 restrictions easing, Western Sydney bus services will now operate to a normal timetable. All bus services will operate. The past few months have been challenging and we appreciate your patience as we navigated this situation. Remember to keep physical distance from others and sit on a green dot where possible. Wear a mask, practice good hygiene, and don’t travel if you are sick. Kind regards,  Busways.  Click here for the last post

Funding Boost Community Organisation's Efforts in Response to COVID-19 - Shoalhaven City Council - Media Release

 

18 October 2021

Shoalhaven City Council is encouraging community organisations who support COVID-19 relief and recovery efforts across the Shoalhaven to apply for funding as part of the COVID-19 Response Grants Program 2021.  

The grant program will provide small grants up to $5,000 as well as large grants of up to $10,000 to assist the community with crisis relief and emergency support, along with support for initiatives that enhance recovery as the LGA moves out of lockdown. 

The grant program will be delivered via two streams: 

• Relief Grants: this stream is focused on the provision of short-term support to Shoalhaven residents. Eligible applications may include: food relief, crisis support and welfare checks.  
• Recovery Grants: this stream is focused on the provision of projects that provide long-term social connection and improved health and wellbeing outcomes for Shoalhaven residents. Eligible applications may include mental health and community wellbeing initiatives and projects that address social isolation. 

Community members, groups and non-profit organisations are encouraged to apply for the grant to provide new, one-off projects that provide assistance to Shoalhaven residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Council is now accepting grant applications on its website.

Community members packing food supplies into bags.

Shoalhaven City Council Mayor Amanda Findley said the aim of the grant program is to support communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Shoalhaven by providing critical relief initiatives during lockdown and/or opportunities to build resilience and connections as restrictions ease and we move into recovery. 

“We know that community organisations play an important role in supporting vulnerable members in our region. These grants will provide community organisations quick access to funding so that they can get on with the vital work they undertake in the community”, Clr Findley said. 

Grant program applications close at midnight on Friday 12 November 2021.  

For more information visit Council’s website.

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