Thirty-five years ago, Peter Bisset joined the staff of Hay Lands Office as a Lands Officer, with a commencing salary of $18,492 per annum. He was one of 13 employed in the iconic old building in Lachlan Street.

On December 20 this year, Peter is likely to be the last one from the Hay Lands Office to shut the door behind him. The Department says at least three other NSW Government staff will continue to occupy the building. Image: The Riverine Grazier/Tertia Butcher.

Women from across the Riverina region gathered at Hay Services Club last week, for Hay Plains Landcare’s highly successful Women of the Riverina Forum.

The two-day event was organised by local Landcare powerhouses Jade Auldist and Jenny Dwyer in recognition of NSW Women’s Week, and brought together inspirational guest speakers on a variety of topics.

Hay Shire Council and Hay Plains Landcare Group have formed a partnership to address the beautification of the South Hay roundabout precinct.

And the Landcare group is keen to recruit volunteers.

Members of Hay Plains Landcare travelled to Carrathool and Narrandera recently to hone their skills in composting and propagating.

To fast-track their nursery and demonstration site development, members visited the established nursery at Narrandera to learn effective methods of propagating native seed.

The workshop touched on the different containers and potting media available, labelling and record keeping, watering regimes required, and the seed preparation needed for the hard coated seeds like acacias.

Landcare demonstration site and nursery is forming like magic across from the gaol. It has recently become time to plant. Hay Landcare members met at the site to finalise the layout of the demonstration site, and then plant what was available, and installed the watering system stations.

To follow on from their native garden project, Booligal Public School has been exploring Aboriginal culture and the country that connects to the students and their homes; Ngiyampaa Country, with the help of Elder Uncle Roy Kennedy

Hay Plains Landcare is excited to welcome Emma Johnston to the team.

While studying Conservation Ecosystem Management through TAFE, Emma will work as a Landcare school-based trainee.

Sam Harrison is pictured during the recent practical firearms workshop for women on the land, hosted by Hay Gun Club and Hay Plains Landcare.