Several students from Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation in Melbourne were in Bathurst recently working on projects with Council and the Bathurst District Historical Society.

The students worked in Chifley Home, the Carillon and Rockley Mill. The opportunity is mutually beneficial for everyone involved. The students learn from the experience and incorporate the knowledge and skills acquired in their studies. Our community and heritage benefit through the projects that preserve our city’s charm, character and stories for future generations.

The students were also involved in the Heritage Trades Trail last weekend at Tremain’s Mill. They ran the Heritage Conservation Roadshow which provided people the opportunity to learn how to preserve family heirlooms and exclusive antique pieces.

Speaking of the Heritage Trades Trail, the event was a great success this year attracting our local community and visitors alike. Some of the region’s rare and lost trades were on display showcasing our region’s heritage that built Bathurst.

I am excited to announce that Bathurst is one of seven NSW locations selected to join a $2.1 million Local Innovation Network to support local entrepreneurs to grow and create new jobs in the region.

Funding of up to $300,000 will be provided by Jobs for NSW to support projects in Bathurst. We’re inviting applications from recognised leaders in the local start-up and innovation community including from incubators, co-working spaces, start-up networks, local universities and business groups.

We want these local groups to work together on projects that could include refurbishment and technology upgrades for local start-up spaces, and the delivery of events and workshops to support local start-up growth.

Jobs for NSW will also make its suite of financial products – including grants, interest free loans and loan guarantees – more readily available to our local entrepreneurs. I know the challenges that come with trying to set up and run a small business.

The new Local Innovation Network will help connect local businesses and entrepreneurs across the state, helping them to collaborate, and in turn benefit from the sharing of ideas and resources. Expressions of Interest will be open from May 14. For further information visit the Jobs for NSW website at www.jobsfornsw.com.au.

The Rotary Districts and Clubs of NSW are pleased to announce the launch of the Inspirational Women’s Awards 2018. While individual organisations have specific internal awards, the Rotary Inspirational Women’s Awards (RIWA) recognises service to the community across all sectors.

It is directed at the non-Rotary NSW community and is about commitment, dedication, perseverance and proactivity in improving the lives of others.

In keeping with Rotary’s motto of ’Service Above Self’, these Awards acknowledge and celebrate community service performed by women through their various activities and endeavours.

The awards are divided into two categories: Young Inspirational Woman of the Year – 18-30 years of age, and Inspirational Woman of the Year - 30+ years of age, with the addition of a special category for a spectacular volunteer.

Nominations close on June 13 visit http://rotarydistrict9675.org/.

Applications are open for $2 million in grants to support conservation by private landholders in NSW. The Conservation Partner Grants, offered through the Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT) are intended to help private landholders maintain the ecological values of their property. 

Funding is available for things like fencing, weed control, introduced pest animal control, supplementary planting and habitat restoration. This program is part of the NSW Government’s commitment through the BCT to support and encourage landholders to conserve and manage biodiversity on private land.

This will deliver major benefits to the environment and support landholders to carry out important conservation management on their properties. Landholders with a conservation agreement or wildlife refuge agreement with the BCT that do not receive annual conservation management payments are eligible to apply for grants.

Landholders participating in the Community Environment Network’s Land for Wildlife program or Humane Society International’s Wildlife Land Trust program are also eligible to apply. Details of the programs are available at the BCT website www.bct.nsw.gov.au, by email at info@bct.nsw.gov.au or by phone on 1300 992 688.