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Local News

Lydia Roberts

More than 200 people from across the Moree district turned out for the Anzac Day dawn service. All photos courtesy Glenda Bulmer.

Moree marks Anzac Day 2024 with services, Hornet flyover | Mega gallery

The new rustic-design Moree Show Society wool pavilion also includes an office space for the show society to "call home. Picture supplied

New multi-purpose wool pavilion a highlight for the 2024 Moree Show

Federal Parkes MP, Mark Coulton, presented three Certificates of Appreciation to Kamala Wheeler to recognise the military service of her father Eric George Johnston, grandfather Hugh Alfred Johnston and great uncle Charles Leonard Johnston. Picture supplied

Three veterans from Moree recognised for their military service

Trio of Moree veterans honoured with Certificates of Appreciation

NSW Police travelled to Queensland to extradite the man over a stabbing in Moree in January. Picture from file.

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Queensland man pleads guilty to Moree stabbing

Mark Bode

"It's rewarding when you see that you've helped someone in their life" ... Jazmin Brown. Picture by Mark Bode

Look what happened when Jazmin Brown moved to Tamworth.

Jazmin's 'enriching' existence and the love of her life: 'It's full-on'

NSW Police have travelled to Queensland to extradite a man over a stabbing in Moree in January. File picture. 

Queensland man extradited over Moree stabbing

Western Region Commander Assistant Commissioner Rod Smith. Picture from file

'We are seeing great success and support from local communities'.

Operation Regional Mongoose charges more than 190 across the western region

Rachel Clark

Cameron McFarlane says early education and intervention around CPR in education could be the key to bridging the gap in regional communities. File picture Gareth Gardner

The study has prompted a call for more CPR training in regional areas.

Why these LGA's are higher-risk for heart attacks

The original Kurrajong marchers and inset, 100 years later in 2016, about 300 descendants of the Kurrajongs travelled from all parts of Australia to take part in a re-enactment of the march. Photos courtesy Australian War Memorial.

Anzac services remember our 'finest body of men' | Historical photos

Samantha Newsam

Catch-up on all that happened over the weekend.

Central North Round 3: Stats, results, tables, photos; all you need to know

News

Moree Shire council election profiles 2016.

Greg Smith (Gurley, Group A).
Previous experience as a councillor: None. Occupation: Farmer. If elected Greg would like to get back to basics and concentrate on what council have built without duplicating what our neighbours have. Greg would like to see council stop borrowing for non-essential services.

Jess Scully (Moree, Group A)
Previous experience as a councillor: None. Occupation: Radio announcer for NOWFM’s Breaky show weekdays. If elected Jess will be fighting for local business and making sure that concerns of the community are addressed so that council’s decisions reflect the views of the community that council represents.

Stephen Ritchie (Moree, Group B)
Previous experience of council: None. Occupation: Retired builder. If elected, Stephen would like to see more industry in Moree to create employment and promote growth. He believes the three Rs - roads, rubbish and rates - are an issue and believes Moree residents are paying too much. Stephen also believes the Gateway Project has been a big letdown for the people of Moree, particularly cost-wise and would like to focus council spending on other projects. He will also be pushing for more police in Moree.

Claudia Gall (Moree, Group B). 
Previous years as a councillor: 12.5. Occupation: Moree Plains Shire Councillor. If elected to council, Claudia would like to continue positively working for progress and development and striving for progress while attending to business. She will continue to lobby the state and federal governments for grants and funding and support the decisions of council because it is a democracy and a vote of nine. She would like to look at both strategies and strategic projects that will benefit the whole of the shire.

Peter Strang (Moree, Group C)
Previous experience as a councillor: 4 years (2008 to 2012). Occupation: Self employed. If elected to council, Peter would like to see strong local and regional communities that welcome newcomers and new initiatives as well as continuing to respect and appreciate what we already have in our diverse environment.

Jim Crawford (Moree, Group C).
Previous experience as a councillor: None. Occupation: Retired area manager of Essential Energy. If elected Jim would like to focus on roads, tourism and industry. Jim believes it is critical to have a good, well maintained road network for the primary producers to get the supplies required to them and transport their produce off farm to markets. He wants to continue promoting the shire and attracting visitors. He also wants to attract other industry to the shire.

Katrina Humphries (Moree, Group D) Katrina Humphries has been the Mayor of the Moree Plains Shire for the last eight years and she would love to continue in that position believing that stability is the key to the future. Katrina is self employed at Fishabout and has a team of seven loyal staff. Main objectives for Katrina are, keeping CSG out of our shire, thus reducing the risk of aquifer damage, pushing ahead with the now completed Gateway project, securing as much road funding as possible, and maintaining the balance between development and sustainability.


Mick Cikota (Moree, Group D)
Previous experience on council: 4 years. Occupation: Owner/manager of Moree Spa Motor Inn. If elected, Mick would do whatever possible to protect our water from Coal Seam Gas Mining, work to reduce crime, protect our road network, retain our stable public transport services (in particular airline services), push to secure Moree as an intermodal logistics hub for the inland rail project and the redevelopment of the memorial hall into a wonderful entertainment venue. Mick is passionate about the growth of the town and says with growth comes new opportunities, especially employment for our whole community.

Sue Price (Mungindi, Group E).
Previous years as a councillor: 8 years, deputy mayor for that time. Occupation: Director of family farming business, music teacher and former primary and secondary teacher.  I would like to see increased economic activity which will lead to more jobs and growth within our local community.  I also want to ensure that the MPSC community has access to (and where relevant maintains) all of the services and facilities the people of our Shire need.  However these services/facilities need to be provided within the current budget restrictions and by being financially responsible.  If re-elected Sue would work towards maintaining MPSC's strong financial position, something which she hopes will enable the shire to remain a stand-alone council.  She would also be a strong voice in the regional joint organisation of councils if MPSC was forced to be a member of such a body. Sue would like to see continued support for and work towards the proposed Inland Rail Project.  She believes this project will bring many opportunities to our region. Sue would also like to see the Gateway project continue to develop further.

Michael Montgomery (Ashley, Group E).
Previous experience as a councillor: 25 years, including 6 years as mayor. Occupation: Farmer. If elected Michael would like to build on education, cultural and sporting facilities for our children, and said there is much more we can do to improve our road network. Michael also believes sorting out the The Gateway issues is a priority.

John Tramby (Gurley, Group F)
Previous experience as a councillor: 21 years. Occupation: Retailer. If elected to council, John would like to see Moree Memorial Hall upgraded for live shows and cinema, with heating, cooling, lighting and sound included in the upgrade and omfortable tiered seating for conferences and seminars. He would like to reduce the crime rate in Moree, focus on rural unsealed roads, create employment for the youth of Moree and make Moree a pleasant town to live and work in.

Brendan Munn (Gurley, Group F)
Previous years as a councillor: 4 years. Occupation: Depot manager at Lowes Petroleum. If elected Brendan would like to see the town hall precinct develop and become an area where visitors and residents alike can meet and perhaps enjoy a movie in a beautiful cinema. He hopes to see the gateway develop into a busy thriving part of Moree and achieve what is envisaged for that precinct. Brendan would also like to see freight become more efficient and push for Moree to be an important regional hub for transport with the inland rail being a key part of this vision.

Kerry Cassells (Moree, Group G)
Previous years as a councillor: None. Occupation: Clinical nurse specialist at Moree Police Cells. If elected, Kerry would focus on inclusion not exclusion, inclusiveness not exclusiveness, safety and security for every member of Moree and it’s villages and to encourage the unemployed to become happy, useful members of the community by taking on voluntary work and to encourage and make sure council does everything it can to make that happen. Kerry believes idleness and unemployment are the main causes of crime and drug use in our town and surrounds.

Lucas Swan (Moree, Group G)
Previous experience as a councillor: None. Occupation: Self-employed solicitor. If elected, Lucas would really like to see some industry enter the shire, leading to employment for citizens. He also intends on working with police and health professionals to address the increasing drug and crime problems within the shire. 


Glen Crump (Moree, Group G)
Previous experience as a councillor: None. Occupation: Juvenille court support case worker with the Miyay Birray youth service. If elected, Glen would like to see more communication and involvement with the wider community on important issues, a youth crisis refuge, men’s refuge, better support for our sporting organisations, better support to our volunteer organisations such as the SES, attracting new business to Moree, finishing projects that are still incomplete, upgrade to facilities such as the toilets near Boolaroo weir, keeping our next generation in Moree, attracting more funding to the town, upgrades of parks and ovals, lighting in parts of towns, making Moree a safer community for all, support our villages in the Moree plains shire, work to improve disability access at council-owned facilities.

Glen Ryan (Moree, ungrouped).
Previous years as a councillor: None. Occupation: Part-time special ed teacher and self-employed real estate agent. If elected Glen aims to get fill the empty shops in the main street occupied, investigate ways of getting new businesses in town and ways of getting the Gateway out of the “white elephant” status, as well as increasing youth employment and ways to stem the tide of substance abuse. Glen would like to put Moree on the map with more events. He would also like to improve maintenance on footpaths and laneways.

Rodney Brazel (Pallamallawa, ungrouped)
Previous experience as a councillor: 21 years. Occupation: Retired shearer. If elected to council again Rodney would like to see a focus on the region's social issues, in attracting more police to work in the region, including a bike and dog squad and the installation of CCTV cameras. 

George Chiu (Moree, ungrouped).
Previous experience as a councillor: None, but nominated for council three times. Occupation: Principal of Dragon Phoenix Resort. If elected George would be fair dinkum and say what he means. George believes tourism is the "big coins" for Moree, and would like to expand on the industry, as well as encourage overseas investment in agriculture to build up a better community. George believes if you spend the money, people will come to invest.

Jenny Roberts (Moree, ungrouped)
Previous experience on council: None. Occupation: Retired; president of the Moree branch of the RSPCA for 25 years. If elected, Jenny would focus on her motto, 'our towns, our children, our animals'.

Rhonda Lang (Pallamallawa, ungrouped)
Previous experience on council: None. Occupation: Retired practice manager. If elected, Rhonda would like to see the core functions of council adequately funded and
implemented across the shire. She would like to grow community confidence in council decision-making and expenditure.

Moree Plains Shire Council 2016 can...

Meet the candidates running for election for Moree Plains Shire Council

Moree Plains Shire Council 2016 candidates set to contest local council election

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