Vicki has been heavily involved in Bathurst's community life since the day she arrived to work with Elders Merchandise, when the world was a few years younger.

She now conducts the very successful Town and Country Rural Supplies in Bathurst.

Every recipient of honours recognition is a great asset to their community and they deserve to be applauded.

LAST weekend's 15 millimetres of rain was welcome winter rain and the season continues to remind us of better times many years ago.

Memories of aerial contractors spreading many tons of single super mixed with sub clover and Vic rye are being revived and I hope that this winter stays wet and continues through spring.

There haven't been many chances to spread grass seed on River Hills since the mid-1970s and farmers are hoping that forecasts of an end to a 40-year weather cycle could be accurate.

This forecast may be correct or otherwise, but lots of fingers are crossed.

OTHER RECENT RURAL NOTEBOOK COLUMNS:

FIREARM owners, please be aware that police officers are currently conducting random checks of registered guns and rifles, ammunition and gun safes.

Many of these are stored in homesteads on rural properties and owners must be extra careful of registration details and the proper locked storages have to be done to satisfy legal requirements.

Please take extra care with these matters as failure to fully comply can develop into a criminal offence.

JOSH Grassick mobile mechanical is an interesting new small business that is now operating in the districts of Bathurst, Oberon, Blayney and Orange.

Josh's one-man operation covers service, repairs and maintenance for all motor vehicles, including earthmoving equipment and vehicles on your site.

His mobile is 0439 193 829.

I know Josh quite well and I know you will appreciate his work ethic.

THE preliminary announcement of a proposed solar farm on a broadacre greenfield site on Thomas Drive near Eglinton has drawn many favourable comments from local residents and landholders.

Nearly every development in Bathurst and district has drawn the NIMBY protest (not in my back yard), but the steady development of alternative energy cannot be denied as we see thousands of roof solar panels, charging stations for fully electric cars and a great range of hybrid vehicles that are practical and reliable.

I hope that Bathurst supports its proposed solar farms.

BATHURST Merino Association (BMA) met on Monday night and some points of discussion included:

ONE of this week's photos shows some of Bathurst Regional Council's road plant carrying out routine grading of a gravel road in the former Abercrombie Shire.

There was much opposition to Department of Local Government plans to amalgamate Turon and Abercrombie shires in the mid-1970s and the later combination of Evans Council and Bathurst.

As time has rolled on, the extra financial strength of Bathurst Regional Council has provided services to country ratepayers that could never have been afforded by the former small country shire councils.

The recent sealing of another section of Hen and Chicken Lane between Perthville and Evans Plains is an example of what is being afforded.

This land was once a road so bereft of traffic that it was well recognised as one of Bathurst's most noted Lovers' Lanes.

TO hand this week is a copy of the Central Tablelands RLPB (Rural Lands Protection Board) newsletter of January 2004, titled "Drought survival", which was a snapshot of the board's activities.

It included research, pest animal control, an NLIS (National Livestock Identification System) update, rates and finances, etc.

Newsletters were costly to mail out, but they gave a rural ratepaying public some value for money and gave the board system a profile.

Ron Coomber was chairman, and directors John Byrne, Sam Connell, Sandra Larnach, Tony Toole, Jenny Barnes, Kaye Jenkins, John Seaman and Doug Wright made up the board.

Tim Johnston was general manager, there was a staff of 17 (eight full-time rangers) and the board only consisted of the amalgamated Bathurst and Carcoar boards.

All directors were elected by voting ratepayers and the chairman was elected by his peer directors.

FARMER Dave said COVID had forced him to spend four weeks at home with his wife and three little kids. He said they seem like quite nice people.

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"The best way to make great tea is to agitate the bag," he read in an old book. So each morning, he yelled: "Keep stirring the cup, fat-tail."

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THE long-suffering wife apologised for the first time in 40 years. "I'm damn sorry I ever married you, boofhead," she said.