Celebrating Together
It was great to see so many people out and about attending Australia Day events across the electorate. This year I spent the day in Narromine enjoying the day’s events and community spirit, congratulations to everyone who helped organise celebrations in our communities.
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I would like to congratulate Tom Gray from Dubbo, Jill Phoebe from Wellington, Carolyn Peek from the Mid-Western Region, Judy Barlow from Narromine and Jessica Skinner from Trangie on being awarded citizen of the year in their respective communities.
Free flu vaccines for children under five
Local children between six months and five years old are now eligible for free flu jabs this year. The $3.5million influenza vaccination program offered by the NSW Government follows last year’s severe flu season.
Last year our community was hit hard by the flu season. This means more than 400,000 children across the state are eligible to receive better protection not only for them, but also for their families and the wider community. Little kids are also most likely to spread the flu so a free flu jab will not only keep them safe, but will protect others. We already have the some of the best childhood vaccination rates in the country and this free flu jab will go even further to protect our little ones from potentially deadly flu infection.
Children who have never had a flu vaccination will need two doses, one month apart. The vaccine will cover four strains of influenza virus, two A strains and two B strains, likely to be circulating this winter. Last year more than 12,000 confirmed cases of influenza in children under five, with many more likely to not to have been tested. Visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation.
Environmental Grants
I am calling on community groups and local councils to apply for the NSW Government’s 2018 Restoration and Rehabilitation Grant Program. These grants deliver funding to local grassroots environmental projects that restore, protect and enhance a variety of NSW environments.
Community groups, not-for-profit and government entities from across the state are encouraged to apply for a grant between $5,000 and $100,000 to help their local communities protect and conserve our vital natural environment.
The grant program aims to protect and restore ecosystems and care for the habitats of rare and endangered plants and animals. The program has been running for over 20 years and is one of the longest running in Australia. It has helped landholders, local councils, government agencies and community groups to restore habitats for native and engendered species, improve water quality and rehabilitate wetland areas. Visit www.environment.nsw.gov.au/grants/restoration.htm.