Text Box: In 1996, Guyra’s major employer, an abattoir closed its doors placing 400 people (20% of the town’s population) out of work. As a result the town suffered an exodus with people leaving in search of work and businesses closing their doors. To find out what happened next be sure to visit the Community Forum at 6pm on 9th April at the Coonamble Bowling Club. Click here for details Text Box: Welcome to the April edition and the first newsletter for 2008. It’s been a very busy few months and there is lots to report and many exciting events planned for 2008. We were fortunate to have nearly 500 people visit Coonamble by Rail on the 13th January. Congratulations to Angie Little, the honorary curator at the Coonamble Museum who was awarded Coonamble Citizen of the year at the 2008 Coonamble Australia Day Awards. Congratulations also to Coonamble Arts Alive for organizing the fascinating art exhibition at the old Monterery Café on 8th March. Congratulations to the Coonamble Greyhound Club for their fierce battle to retain races in Coonamble and it now looks like they will only lose two. Click here for details. It was announced yesterday that Airlink Airlines has been awarded the license to operate the Coonamble to Dubbo route-more details click here. Last Thursday & Friday the shire hosted a visit by board members from Central NSW Tourism which included dinner at two eight two eight, a briefing with myself, the Mayor and General Manager, and a lunch with local accommodation operators. We also made a quick visit to the Text Box: Macquarie Marshes and saw one of the RAMSAR sites. Members of the public will have their opportunity to visit next weekend. Click here for more details. The long awaited Quambone brochure has now been finalised and copies sent to Visitors Centres in the surrounding area. Copies can be picked up from Council or the Visitors Centre at Cottage Industries. Coonamble Streets Ahead has scored a major coup by securing the renowned poet Murray Hartin for the 2008 Bush Poets Breakfast at the Plaza Theatre on 8th June. Murray is the author of ‘Turbulence’ and the emotional 2007 poem ‘rain from nowhere’ so we are very fortunate. I attended the recent Streets Ahead AGM and unfortunately key committee positions were not filled. Click here for more details. Some exciting news yesterday that the Coonamble Tourism association will meet again. Outback Arts has confirmed a busy schedule of events in the region. Click here Want to be 2008 Coonamble Showgirl? Click here Steven Baldwin Tourism Development Manager Coonamble Shire Council steven@coonambleshire.nsw.gov.au Text Box: Welcome to the April edition Text Box: New Owners at Gulargambone Caravan Park Text Box: 4 April 2008 Text Box: Volume 3, Issue 18 Text Box: Tourism Update Text Box: Special points of interest: Coonamble Shire Council meeting 9 April 2008 at 9am Latest Council minutes, and updates visit the council web site by clicking here Click here to subscribe and receive this newsletter each month Tourism Futures Conference 2-4 June 2008 Inland NSW Tourism Awards Launched

Farmstay Update

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Visit By Central NSW Tourism Board

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Rodeo Update

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Coming Coonamble Events

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Tourist Association to reform

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Coonamble In the Past-  1988, 1968 & 1958

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Industry meetings

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Text Box: The ‘Guyra Experience’ Community Forum 9th April 2008 Text Box: Macquarie Marshes Discovery Day 12th April 2008. Click here for full details. BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL Text Box: Graham & Pam Caroll are the new owners at the Gulargambone Caravan Park after moving from Western Australia. They have quickly set about a program of refurbishment and have some exciting new facilities planned. Gulargambone Caravan Park Skuthorpe Street, Gulargambone 2828 (02) 6825 1666 FAX: (02) 6825 1667 MOB: (0418) 992 026 bushchooks@yahoo.com

The ‘Coonamble Flyer’ 3801 Limited at Coonamble Railway Station with Angie Little on 13/1

Graham & Pam Carroll after arriving in Gulargambone earlier this year.