From the Mayor's Desk - 13 April 2021

Flood recovery work is under way, while the COVID-19 vaccine is available in our region and the Goondiwindi Cinema needs your support

After the recent rain, it’s been a pleasure to see the waterways in our region burst back to life. It was a busy Easter weekend on the water for many at the Goondiwindi Water Park, while visitors have flocked to enjoy the holidays beside Coolmunda Dam at full capacity.

However, many in our region have been reeling from the impact of the recent floods. As I write, Council is advocating for increased flood recovery support for our region as well as improved flood warnings and reliable, accurate data so that our producers have the information they need to prepare for future flood events.

Some disaster recovery support is already available - I urge affected residents to find out more at: www.qra.qld.gov.au. However, more is needed and, in order for Goondiwindi region residents to quality for more funding, we must present evidence of the flood impact to the State Government’s Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF). As a matter of priority, I strongly urge all flood-affected landholders to get in touch with Andrew Voight from the DAF on 0467 801186 to strengthen our region’s case for more support.

On a different note, some residents may not yet be aware that the COVID-19 vaccine is available right now in the Goondiwindi region. The current stage of the roll-out (Phase 1B) includes people aged 70 and over, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over 55, and adults with an underlying health condition (immunocompromising conditions, chronic inflammatory conditions, severe mental health conditions, significant disabilities, and others). You can check if you are eligible at: https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility, and I encourage you to contact your local medical centre to discuss your options.

Finally, this is the last week of the school holidays for many and I want to take this chance to encourage resident to really make use of and actively support the Goondiwindi Cinema. There are some great family films on this week especially for the holidays amid the usual schedule of Hollywood blockbusters and curated independent films alike.

The cinema is a million-dollar community facility that we’re extremely lucky to have on our doorstep. But it depends on ticket sales to operate – and it cannot continue to do so without the patronage of our residents. It costs Council around $280,000 per year to run the cinema before ticket sales – something it considers a worthy investment, given what a wonderful asset it is for locals and visitors alike. The heritage-listed theatre is a real drawcard when family and friends come to town. It offers a great employment opportunity (for our young people especially), provides affordable advertising opportunities for local businesses, and is also available for hire for fundraising events or similar.

When digital cameras first appeared, no doubt it was a real blow to film companies such as Kodak and the like. Yet still, nothing beats a real, printed family photo that you can hold or frame or place in an album. Likewise, the current rise of at-home streaming services is a particular challenge to our cinema – and yet nothing compares to the real theatre experience, lights down, popcorn in hand. So the next time you log on to Netflix or any other of its billionaire-owned competitors and sit down to stream and enjoy the latest blockbuster, please reflect for a moment, on the importance of your local, independent, Goondiwindi Cinema.

(PS. Just an idea: a gift card or membership would make a great gift for Mother’s Day.)