What a wonderful few weeks it has been!
One of the things I love most about the Village Voice is the opportunity to get out into our communities, meet new people, catch up with familiar faces and see firsthand just how much is happening across our region.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve enjoyed some fantastic opportunities to connect with our regional business communities, including a wonderful evening with the Bathurst Business Chamber and Oberon Business & Tourism Association. It’s been equally lovely seeing residents out and about, supporting events, enjoying local attractions and making the most of everything our beautiful part of NSW has to offer.
Another highlight was spending a fabulous day at Mount Panorama during the 2026 Repco Bathurst 1000. What an incredible event, and what a wonderful reminder of just how fortunate we are to have one of Australia’s most iconic sporting events right here in our own backyard. A very big thank you to Bathurst Regional Council and Mayor Ben Fry for the kind invitation. It was such a pleasure to be part of the excitement and see the enormous enthusiasm surrounding the Great Race. Events of this scale are something our region can be incredibly proud of, bringing visitors, opportunities and a fantastic atmosphere to Bathurst.
And speaking of supporting our region, with the festive season fast approaching, it’s a great time to think about where we’re spending our money — and where we’re planning our holidays!
Many of us are starting to think about festive season shopping, summer holidays and those well-earned breaks. Before looking too far afield, why not consider what’s right here on our doorstep? Across the Central West and Mid West, we’re incredibly fortunate to have beautiful accommodation options, boutique country retreats, charming cottages, wonderful farm stays and some fantastic little towns just waiting to be explored. Whether it’s a weekend away, a few nights somewhere different or an extended family holiday, there really is so much to discover without travelling too far from home.
And the benefits go well beyond a lovely getaway! Every accommodation booking, meal at a local café, visit to a country pub, stop at a cellar door or purchase from a small business helps keep money circulating through our regional economy. It supports local jobs, family-owned businesses and the communities that rely so heavily on visitors choosing to spend their time and money in our region. Tourism is such an important part of regional life, and sometimes we forget just how much we have to offer right here at home. So, as you start making plans for the upcoming holiday period, consider exploring a little closer to home. You might just discover a new favourite place, meet some wonderful people and make a real difference to a regional community along the way.
We’ve welcomed Kellie Bourke to our growing team as our new Business Development Manager, and I couldn’t be happier to have her on board.
Kellie brings wonderful enthusiasm to the role and will be spending plenty of time getting to know businesses across both our Central West and Mid West regions.
Which means you can now expect to see both Kels out and about!
Yes, two Kellies. Just to keep everyone on their toes!
We’re both looking forward to meeting more of our business community, hearing your stories, learning about what you do and exploring how the Village Voice can support you.
So, if you see either of us around town, please come and say hello. We absolutely love that stuff!
