Will your mobile phone work after July 1?
April 11, 2024 in General News and Community
Updated May 6, 2024

Telstra will be closing the 3G mobile phone network on June 30, 2024. This is being done to free up bandwidth to allow better 4G and 5G services. TPG/Vodafone made the switch at the end of 2023, and Optus will be doing it in September this year.

If you have an old 3G-only phone you won't have any option except to replace it. The change will also affect some things other than phones which rely on the 3G network, such as some EFTPOS terminals, back-to-base security systems, some agricultural equipment and some medical monitoring systems. If you use one of these you will need to contact your supplier (if they haven't contacted you yet) to see what needs to be done.
Read the full story here

Letter - The state of Oberon's water
April 11, 2024 in Letters, Community and Business

The quality of the water in some parts of Oberon has been a problem for some time, and has now caused the closure of at least one business (the Laundry Pad). Proprietor Vicki Walsh explained her frustration and disappointment, with a plea to the community for action and support.
See Vicki's letter and some history here.

Easter around Oberon
April 4, 2024 in Community

The weather was perfect and there was a lot happening around Oberon over the Easter weekend, so Oberon Matters charged up the camera batteries and got out there pointing the camera at things and clicking.

Rather than a thousand words, here are lots of photos.
Read the full story here

A great big thank you!
March 28, 2024 in Community and General News

I want to say a great big "Thank You" for the support that this site has been getting since it was launched on February 1 this year. The number of visitors keeps going up, although it will take some time before a regular pattern of visits matches the schedule of updates. But it will come.

This site has an associated Facebook page that is also gathering likers and followers at an encouraging rate.

So once again, thank you for coming here, reading the local news and making it worthwhile to keep the site going.
Read the full article here

March 2024 Oberon Council Meeting
March 28, 2024 in Community

A change to the rate structure for 2024/25, some money for charity, the Reef Reserve additions are finished and Council is considering the move to renewable energy.
See the full article here.

Ruby Moon rises at Oberon High School
March 28, 2024 in Schools and Community

On Wednesday, March 27, the Preliminary Drama Class at Oberon High School presented a condensed version of the play "Ruby Moon" by Matt Cameron. With four actors each playing multiple parts (complete with costume changes) and without the ability to tell the complete story, it put the "absurd" in "Absurdism" into high relief.
See the full article here.

Coffee cups come back to O'Connell
March 21, 2024 in Community and Business

The coffee shop at O'Connell is back in business. It's now run by Sarah, Paula and Emily Coad. Sarah's "Get Roasted" van is well known at events round the area and now the business has a permanent home. Anybody who travels by road knows how welcome roadside cafes are, especially if they aren't just outposts of the normal fast food chains. They provide a little bit of local colour that the photocopied chain "restaurants" can't provide. And the coffee is better, too (Get Roasted serve coffee sourced from local supplier Fish River Roasters).
See the full article here.

The weather couldn't beat the St Joseph's Fete
March 21, 2024 in Community and Schools

The weather wasn't very kind on the morning of Sunday, March 17, and caused a bit of reorganising and rethinking about the Charity Fete at St Joseph's Catholic School. As much as possible was moved indoors, but it made for very crowded conditions. This wasn't really a worry except to anyone who wanted to roam around getting photographs. Still, nobody was complaining and the money raised will be distributed across a range of charities.
See the full article here.

International Women's Day Dinner
March 14, 2024 in Community

Each year Oberon Council sponsors a dinner to celebrate International Women's Day, and for 2024 it was held for the first time in the Community Centre. A large group of Oberon's women attended, plus five token males - two boys from St Joseph's Catholic School, the fiancé and a friend of one of the speakers and the photographer.
See the full article here.

Walk'n'Talk, one step at a time towards preventing suicide
March 14, 2024 in Community

March 10 saw a smallish group of people get together at the Edith Recreation Ground for a regular Walk'n'Talk for Life meeting to talk about suicide prevention. In case you think that suicide isn't much of a problem, the number of people who take their lives in Australia each year is about three times the road toll but we never stop hearing about driving safely.

The speaker on the day was Amanda Cass who told everyone about her attempts to get similar groups up and running in Bathurst and Blayney under the name Mental Health Mate.
See the full article here.

Do you want to be a Councillor?
March 14, 2024 in Community

Local government elections will take place across NSW on Saturday, September 14 2024. If you are not happy with your current Councillors, feel you can do a better job or just want to get more involved in community affairs, you might like to think about standing as a candidate. Council elections are held every four years on the second Saturday in September.
See the full article here.

February 2024 Oberon Council Meeting
February 29, 2024 in Community

As usual, Council considered a range of matters at this meeting. Among the more administrative things discussed were the uselessness of the security cameras at the Skate Park, the success and future of the End of Year Spectacular and the IPART recommendation for increases in rates in the 2024-25 year.
See the full article here.

Bowlers raise money for assistance dog training
February 29, 2024, in Community

On Thursday, February 22, Oberon RSL Women's Bowling Club hosted Defence Community Dogs. It was a demonstration of the training and capabilities of dogs trained as Assistance Dogs for serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members who need physical and emotional support for mood, depressive and anxiety disorders.

To quote DCD, "Defence Community Dogs provides highly trained Assistance Dogs to Australian Defence Force Veterans. Trained in specific tasks to support mood, depressive and anxiety disorders including Post Traumatic Stress."
See the full article here.

Restoring the Dray
February 22, 2024 in Community

A piece of Oberon's history is back on view after a major restoration work. It's the Robinson Dray. It had been stored at the Oberon Museum for some time. Some money was found and it was decided to restore the dray to as close as possible to what it had originally looked like. The work was coordinated by Col Roberts with the assistance of volunteers and local businesses.
See the full article here.

Guest editorial - Lets give Oberon Men's Shed a secure future
February 22, 2024, in Community and Opinion

Oberon Men's Shed has been operating since 2009, providing company and support for may of the men in the district. Up until three years ago the Shed occupied its place in Oberon Showground on a lease, but since then has only been offered short term licence agreements. To future of the shed requires a lease to ensure security of tenure, not short term licences that can be cancelled at any time.
See the full editorial here.

The 124th Oberon Show was the best yet
February 15, 2024, in Community

The 124th running of the Oberon Show on February 10 was a great success. The weather was perfect, the crowd was large and enthusiastic, everything you would expect at a country show was there and the entertainment was first class.
See the full story with photos here.

The official start to construction of the new sports complex
February 15, 2024, in Community and Sport

Earthmoving and site preparation might have started on Oberon's new sports complex, but the official start of any project is the "Turning of the first sod", and this happened on Tuesday, February 13. Fittingly, there were representatives of all three levels of government in attendance, as this is not just a council project but is largely funded by both state and federal governments.

Present at the occasion were the Federal member for Calare Andrew Gee, State member for Bathurst Paul Toole, several Oberon Councillors, representatives from Rugby League, Hockey and the Leagues Club and representatives of Borg who are doing the construction.
See the full article here.

Media Release from Andrew Gee MP
NAB refuses to reverse decision to axe Lithgow and Oberon branches
February 15, 2024 in Community

Independent Federal member for Calare, Andrew Gee, said that it was extremely disappointing that the National Australia Bank has refused to reverse its decision to close branches in Lithgow and Oberon.

"Today I met with NAB representatives at Parliament House in Canberra and asked them to reverse their decision to axe their Lithgow and Oberon branches. They refused, which is true to form but nevertheless is extremely disappointing to say the least. I also asked them whether they would keep their ATM facility open at Lithgow and open one up at Oberon," Mr Gee said.
See the full article here.

Snowing on Christmas Day. But when?
February 8, 2024, in Community

Every time it snows in Oberon someone mentions the time it snowed on Christmas Day. Questions posed to several local Oberon Facebook groups provided a lot of memories of the occasion.

It has become part of Oberon's mythology and maybe it doesn't really matter if it ever happened. It possibly did, and maybe even probably did, but whether it did or not won't stop everyone from turning to the person next to them when it starts to snow and saying "Remember when it snowed in Oberon on Christmas Day?"
Read the full story here

Did you go to the markets?
February 8, 2024 in Community and General News

One of the nice things about living outside the big cities is the availability of Farmers' Markets. The regular markets closest to Oberon are at the Oberon Showground on the first Saturday of each month (except January) and at the Tarana Fire Shed on the fourth Sunday (except December). At both you can see and buy a range of locally produced goods, have something to eat, meet your neighbours and generally have a good time.
Read the full story here

The new sports complex. At last!
February 1, 2024, in Sport and Community

There has been talk around Oberon for some time about the building of a new sports complex, and now it looks like something is really happening.

The complex is planned to have two rugby league fields, which can also be used for soccer and union, two sealed netball courts, a hockey field (maybe grass, maybe synthetic), car parking and a grandstand which will incorporate change rooms as well as the licensed club.

Better and more convenient sporting facilities increase the likelihood of residents taking up sports. Oberon already has an excellent golf course, reasonable areas for athletics and one of only two indoor tennis centres in regional NSW. The new sports complex will make the sporting life of Oberon even better. And what could be better than watching the Tigers from a comfortable grandstand seat rather than standing out in the rain?
Read the full story here

Australia Day 2024 in Oberon
February 1, 2024, in Community and People

About 230 residents packed out the Oberon Community Centre for the 2024 Australia Day celebrations. The event was preceded by a community morning tea, capably organised by the Oberon Junior Hockey teams, with entertainment supplied by the U3A ukulele group.

The formal proceedings started with an Acknowledgement of Country by Elloura Nielsen, followed by the unfurling of the Australian Flag by the Kathy Sajowitz, the outgoing Citizen of the Year. Everyone then joined in the singing of the National Anthem, beautifully led by Lyn Hancox, followed by an address on the meaning of the day by Australia Day Ambassador, Peter McLean....
Read the full story here

National Bank branches to close in Oberon and Lithgow
February 1, 2024, in Community

If you had received an after tax income of seventeen billion dollars over the last six months would you think that you needed to reel in the household budget to save money? Maybe it wasn't just you, and there were four families in your street getting $3.8 billion, $5.2 billion and two getting $4 billion?

From these figures it must be obvious that all four major banks are in severe financial difficulty and desperately need to cut costs.

One of the ways the banks are cutting costs is to close branches in regional areas. NAB have announced that the branches in Lithgow and Oberon will be closing in April. The announcement about Oberon was made in a telephone call to Mayor Mark Kellam at nine o'clock one morning, and it can be assumed that Lithgow Mayor Maree Statham got the news in the same way...
Read the full story here