Spring is almost here. You can feel it in the slightly longer afternoons, see it in the first brave blossoms appearing around the place and, perhaps most importantly, I can finally start contemplating packing away at least some of the winter wardrobe.
Although, this is the Central West, so I won’t get too carried away.
As we head into September, the calendar across our region is absolutely bursting. And I mean bursting.
There are country shows, markets, business awards, exhibitions, live music, community celebrations, fundraisers and festivals filling weekends right across Bathurst, Blayney, Lithgow and Oberon. If you’ve been waiting for an excuse to get out of the house after winter, consider this your official notice: you’re going to need a bigger diary.
What I love most about this time of year is seeing our towns shake off the winter woollies and start getting back out amongst it. Behind every one of the events you’ll read about in these pages is a committee, community group, business owner, volunteer, school, sporting club or bunch of determined locals who have put in countless hours to make something happen.
Sometimes those events attract thousands. Sometimes they attract a few hundred. Sometimes success is simply seeing the locals turn up, have a chat, spend a few dollars and remember why living in a regional community is pretty bloody good.
That’s the bit I never want us to take for granted.
Supporting local doesn’t always mean making a huge financial contribution. Sometimes it’s buying the sausage sandwich. Paying the entry fee. Buying a raffle ticket. Wandering through the market stalls. Booking the ticket. Sharing the Facebook post. Or simply turning up.
Those little things, multiplied across a community, are what keep events running, clubs functioning and local businesses trading.
And speaking of community…
There’s been quite a bit happening behind the scenes at Village Voice HQ lately.
I’m not quite ready to spill all the beans just yet, but I can say that the Village Voice family is preparing to stretch its legs a little further west.
There are some wonderful communities just down the road in Kandos, Rylstone, Mudgee and Gulgong, filled with exactly the kinds of stories I love sharing — local people doing great things, businesses having a crack, volunteers making things happen and communities backing themselves.
More on that very soon.
For now, though, there’s plenty happening right here at home. Spring is coming, the calendar is full and there are communities across the Central West ready to welcome you.
So get out there. And yes… buy the raffle ticket.
