A variety of activities and entertainment will be available for all seniors to enjoy, including bus tours, music, morning teas, open days and much more.

The festival is a chance to say thank you to all the senior members of our community for their service and contribution. It's also an opportunity to make new friends or get together with old ones and participate in many community events.

I would like to thank the senior members of our community who contribute immensely to the region by being involved in community groups, clubs, charities and volunteering.

Some of the activities include:

For dates, session times and more activities, pick up a Seniors' Festival booklet from businesses around the CBD or download one from www.bathurst.nsw.gov.au

Begonia House and Fernery now open

I AM very happy to let you know that the Begonia House and Fernery in Machattie Park have reopened.

Visitors and residents can now enjoy the stunning display in the Begonia House, which has become a yearly must-see.

Opening times for both the Begonia House and Fernery are weekdays 9am to 4pm and weekends 11am to 3pm.

Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour

THE atmosphere and energy returned to Mount Panorama last weekend with the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour and I'm certain the event provided a good boost to our local economy.

It was a great line-up with lots of action that saw defending champions Tim Leahey and Beric Lynton finishing as runners-up.

ORGANISATIONS with projects that empower women and promote their wellbeing can now apply for a share in the NSW Government's Investing in Women funding program.

I would encourage organisations across the region to put their hand up for funding, with applications open until Friday, April 23.

This is a great initiative with the potential to benefit the whole community by supporting projects that will encourage innovation and lead to increased productivity and prosperity for the region.

We're building a safer, stronger NSW and this program will mean that women in our area will have greater access to programs designed to improve their financial, physical and mental wellbeing.

Initiatives funded under the program would support women in a range of objectives - from employment and training to leadership development.

From finding ways to improve women's financial wellbeing and security to promoting health and mental fitness for all ages, we are looking for projects that can really make a difference to people's lives.

Past projects include a 'cook and connect' program for young and mature women who are experiencing homelessness, a project to help more women work in regional communities and a coffee cart which provides valuable skills to Aboriginal women.

These are just a few examples of projects which have helped change women's lives and shape a better future.

Visit www.women.nsw.gov.au/commissioning/investing-in-women-funding-program to find out more or submit an application.

Strengthening social services sector

SOCIAL services organisations can now apply for up to $200,000 to support initiatives that aim to improve service delivery, encourage digital transformation and assist with workforce capacity building.

The Social Sector Transformation Fund aims to support small to medium sized charities and not-for-profits to future-proof their organisations.

Our social services sector has worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to provide care and support to some of the community's most vulnerable people.

This fund is designed to support the important social services sector, giving providers the resources to make changes that will improve the services and support they deliver.

The grants will help organisations invest in their operations, fostering innovation to ensure they remain efficient, effective and viable long into the future.

Social Sector Transformation Fund grants range from $20,000 to $200,000 and will support a wide range of community services, including homelessness, disability, health and family services.

Not-for-profit organisations operating in the health and social services sector with annual revenue of less than $5 million can apply for the grants.

Applications can be made online before 5pm on Monday, April 26, 2021.

As part of the Social Sector Transformation Fund, hundreds of organisations currently delivering services on behalf of the NSW Government will also receive an immediate cash boost of between $20,000 and $40,000 to improve technology and digital service delivery.