I had the privilege of attending the NSW Woman of the Year awards in Sydney, alongside our local representatives Camilla Ward and Camilla Kenny.

Camilla Kenny, who does terrific work in the mental health realm, was a finalist in the Harvey Norman Young Woman of the Year section of the awards, while the week prior to the statewide awards I had the honour of announcing Camilla Ward, whose work with youth and the arts scene is unparalleled, as our local Dubbo electorate woman of the year.

Both Camillas make terrific contributions to our region, and to see them among a room full of inspirational women and sharing their personal stories was a terrific thing.

While we celebrated our finalists, it also came to my attention that the NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year, Associate Professor Faye McMillan, also has links to our electorate.

Dr McMillan, who originally hails from Trangie, had an impressive career focused on Indigenous health, is an inaugural Atlantic Fellow, and a founding member of Indigenous Allied Health Australia.

She holds a Doctor of Health Science, a Master of Indigenous Health Studies, Bachelor of Pharmacy and is Australia's first registered Aboriginal Pharmacist. Faye also holds a Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Governance from the University of Arizona (USA) and Wiradjuri Language Culture and Heritage and is currently completing a Graduate Certificate in Education through Melbourne University.

Dr McMillan now lives down in the Riverina but hers is a story that shows that growing up in a small town in western NSW should not inhibit your dreams and that anything is possible if you work hard. It’s a message that applies to everyone and I congratulate Dr McMillan on her success and wish her all the best going forward.

A number of sporting facilities in the Dubbo electorate will receive funding from the NSW Government towards the purchase of life-saving technology to assist people experiencing cardiac emergencies.

Eight applications had been approved for funding towards the purchase of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) as part of the Local Sports Defibrillator Program.

Mid-Western Regional Council received six grants of $1250 towards the cost of units at various locations, while Dubbo Turf Club ($1250) and the Cental West Working Horse Association ($1300) have also been approved for funding. Sport is vital part of the our community’s social fabric and we need to make sport as safe as possible.

Minister for Sport, Stuart Ayres said the Liberal National Government is committed to making sport more accessible and safer to play.

“The four-year Local Sport Defibrillator Program assists sports organisations across the state to purchase AEDs for their sport and recreation facilities,” Mr Ayres said.

“Clubs receive 50 per cent towards the funding and maintenance of a defibrillator, with clubs in NSW’s Far West region receiving a 75 per cent co-contribution.

The program will remain open for applications from now until 6 May 2019. For more information on the Local Sports Defibrillator Program, visit www.sport.nsw.gov.au/clubs/grants/defibrillator. 

It’s amazing how quickly time flies by. We’re now less than two weeks out from the state election, which means this is my second last Matters Of State column.

Next week I will reflect on some of the stories and issues that may not have made headlines but have been highlights of my time in politics.

Until next week, Troy