Australia Day awards
If January 26 seems a long way off to you, think December 10 - that is the deadline for nominations for the 2020 Citizen of the Year awards. Pick up a nomination form (or two!) and nominate someone who has made a difference in Collie, whether they be in the open category, Citizen of the Year, or the Young Citizen (25 years and under as at January 26, 2020). Nominees should be Australian citizens. There are also sections for the Community Group of the Year and the Environment Award. These awards can be for a very special effort this year, or for many years of outstanding contributions to our community.
Community survey
Collie Shire Council is currently asking locals what they like or don't like about living in Collie, and what they would like to see in our town in the future. Go to the Council Facebook page to get details of the Community Perceptions survey, or pick up a hard copy from the library. The survey is open until December 13.
Restricted burning period: Collie Shire is now in the restricted burning period, and you will to contact Council or your Bush Fire Brigade regarding burning permits. Inspections of properties are underway now, and you have until December 1 to make sure you comply with fire regulations. Because of the very dry conditions, the prohibited burning period for the Shire has been brought forward from midnight, December 15, to midnight December 1. The catastrophic fires in the Eastern States are a reminder of the reason for these regulations.
Quiz night
The Collie library will be the place to be for those nostalgic for the 90's on November 23. The latest quiz night is open for bookings, tables of 10 and tickets available at the library.
Carols at the Sound Shell
The Youth Care Support Team's Carols at the Bendigo Shell will be held on December 9. A sausage sizzle starts at 5pm, with carol singing from 6pm. There will be a raffle with several great prizes, and LED candles and icecreams will be on sale. Bring a picnic rug, chairs, cushions, families and your best singing voices and get into the Christmas spirit.
Christmas Pageant
Christmas is getting closer and it is more than time to put your thinking caps on to plan a float for this year's pageant parade. There is a $500 prize for the winning float and cash prizes for two runners-up, but just being in the parade is a great experience. What can you, your club, organisation or business come up with? Organisers promise an action-packed pageant, with entertainment from The Good Things, Top of the Stairs, Kitekinetics, fairies, music, lots of stalls and of course, Santa. Santa will be in the grotto for photographs from 4pm, leaving it temporarily for his tour of the town in the parade at 6pm, and returning for more photos.
Sisters Doll
Good luck to the Mileto boys as they have made the final of Good Things 2019, and get to play in the Band Competition Final in Melbourne. Let's hope they bring it home.
Send it in
Items for not-for-profit organisations are welcomed for this column. You can email information to nrg@highway1.com.au by 5pm on Mondays, or drop off notes in my mailbox at 87 Jones Street.
