A former mayor, who was at the helm of Bathurst City Council from 1984-1987, Bruce was known not only for his term as a civic leader but also as a true Bathurstian who had invested his time and energy in the city since moving here in 1974.

Bruce’s involvement in business and development is well known.

Throughout his years in Bathurst he ran nine diverse businesses and over the course of 40 years employed more than 1000 people across his various business ventures.

In 2015, Bathurst Regional Council recognised Bruce’s commitment to the city, naming him a Living Legend as part of our Bicentenary celebrations.

At that time his investment in the city was estimated at $27.5 million through his many and varied projects.

He was an outstanding citizen of this city and his developments contributed greatly to the visual appeal of our CBD. 

His latest project in George Street recreated the look and feel of the many historic buildings which still line our streets.

Bruce’s dedication and involvement in the local community was honoured in 2014 when he was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his service to the community in the Australia Day honours list.

His commitment to Bathurst extended to community groups and individuals, providing assistance to sporting groups, charities, and families experiencing medical hardship.

He was a mentor to business-people and the young, a supporter of the Bathurst Gardeners Club and the National Open Garden scheme.

His contributions to this city are far-reaching and will be remembered for many years to come, and the legacy of his development and investment in our CBD will be a lasting one.

He will be missed by many – he was a true Bathurstian.

Gary Rush, Bathurst mayor

THE NSW Government has announced that as of January 1, 2017, $115 million in funding will see a reduction of around 30 per cent in pre-school fees, making a preschool education more affordable for families.

This boost is fantastic news for families in our electorate, and right across NSW.

Children aged four and five years who have completed around 15 hours per week will be eligible for the reduced fees, while children from Aboriginal and low-income households will see almost all fees removed.

Research tells us that a quality pre-school education for at least 600 hours per year gives children a head-start in their learning journey.

Young entrepreneurs

A $12 million Boost Program to connect start-ups and small-to-medium-sized businesses with qualified professionals, university resources and technology will assist young business owners across NSW.

The program is about encouraging and supporting young entrepreneurs and boosting business innovation in the cities and regional NSW.

Visit www.industry.nsw.gov.au/

Regional festivals funding

EXPRESSIONS of interest are open, so regional event organisers should apply for grants under the NSW Government’s 2017 Flagship Event Fund.

The fund will offer a one-off annual grant of $20,000 or a triennial grant of $27,500 each year for three years to events which have been running for more than two years.

Applications are open until October 9, 2016. Applicants whose expressions of interest sufficiently meet the criteria will be invited to submit a full application in November. To lodge an expression of interest, visit http://www.destinationnsw.com.au/rfep ​

Paul Toole, Member for Bathurst