Strong but friendly competition marked the eighth annual competition the Bywong Trivia Challenge shield. Players commented on the atmosphere of friendship and fun which has become a feature of the event.

A number of local teams competed against visitors from other parts of Palerang. Bungendore team XX , which has won several challenges over the years, and a formidable team from Carwoola have been notably stalwart supporters of the event over a number of years.

Last month's event was remarkable for the closeness of the scores. All teams scored well, and in the final countdown previous winners XX were beaten by only half a point. The proud winners were a local scratch team competing as the Bywong Miners.

Warwick Cathro and Diana Dack again conducted the evening, and continue to devote their considerable skills to the event in spite of having moved from the area. The Community is in their debt. The Community also thanks its sponsors and donors - Lambert Winery for their handsome wine prize for the winners, Wagonga Coffee for their upmarket product, D'lish Cafe for sweet-tooth prizes for individual events, the Garlick family for their PA system, committee members and friends who provided a cockle-warming selection of supper soups and Wamboin Hall for lending extra chairs.

The Committee is planning to present proposals for the future of the Community to members at the AGM, presently planned for September. Watch for the date and don't miss the chance to express your views.

Bywong shares with Wamboin a desire to see their significant populations well represented on Council. We are hoping our new Council will have a Shire-wide view, an open and inter-active style, and a care for our environment. We look forward to seeing local names among the nominations, which close on 13 August.

We hear that not everyone is aware of the battery of recycling bins now handily available to both Bywong and Wamboin. They are on the corner of Denley Drive and Woolshed Lane, between Macs Reef Road and Weeroona Drive.

Again under the sure organisational hands of Warwick and Jenny Johnston, thirty-nine volunteers collected 95 bags of rubbish and a number of other major items too large or too numerous to go into bags. These additional items included numbers of roadside guideposts, and what appeared to be callous dumping on the Old Federal Highway of materials including 62 tyres, quantities of foam packing and about 300 kg of scrap metal. The dedicated team on the Old Highway deserves special mention for a sterling effort, as does the small team which managed to clean up more than 3 km of Shinglehouse Way.

Landcare as usual rallied to the call and took on the section of Macs Reef Road between the top of the hill and the highway - which seems to be a favoured littering ground for travellers to the coast. The rubbish as usual included quantities of McDonalds packing and beer bottles. Other trophies included a windscreen, a bedhead, a set of gold clubs and - for those who couldn't bear it any longer? - a bong.

We wonder whether Clean Up Australia Central - wherever that may be - assumes that local volunteers are cleaning up the local park. Do they know that the little band doing the work in Bywong is covering 60 km of road, and other localities are covering similarly vast territories?

Is Bywong indeed the promised land? This seems the only explanation for the charmed life which the Bywong Car Boot Sale seems to lead in respect of weather. For the thirteenth time (not a Friday!) the sun shone on the annual event, and again records fell in terms of numbers of stallholders. The sun shone during much of a crisp cool morning. The festive feel of this year's event was boosted by the lively performances of Irish set dancers and a delightful mix of music from local instrumental and vocal group Honey Groove. The local Geary's Gap Pony Club and the dogs of the K-9 Krusaders Flyball Team again provided top line entertainment on a number of occasions, and the Fire Brigade gave displays as well as performing their essential role as mashalls and purveyors of fine food. The Pony Club provided top quality light refreshments.

As in previous years, Bywong Community is indebted to the many local businesses who supported the day with help and raffle prizes. Wagonga coffee as always came to the party, and for some jaded helpers the coffee was the party.

Still not too late to drop in for a drink or a free taste of Gidgee wines on Saturday 8 December! Everyone who lives locally is welcome. Drop in on the way home and bring a plate if you can - we shall be there between 6pm and 8pm. Gidgee can supply any of their vintages on order and deliver direct to you. The venue is the Community Hall in Birriwa Road, off Macs Reef Road.

The Community promises a stimulating programme of guest speakers during the coming year. Dates are still to be settled, but expect to learn about local hydrology, climate change, local history and bushfire preparedness

Ten days before the election Bywong and Wamboin residents met at Bywong Hall to hear statements from five of the candidates for the Federal seat of Hume, which now takes in Bywong and Wamboin. The event was jointly sponsored by Bywong Community and the Wamboin Community Association. The sitting member Alby Shulz sent an apology and did not attend.

Approximately 40 residents of Bywong and Wamboin attended a ‘Meet the candidates for the electorate of Hume’ night at the Community Hall in Bywong. The night was jointly sponsored by Bywong Community Inc and Wamboin Community Association. Question time was lively, as members posed some confronting questions to the various candidates. Probably the topic of most interest to members of the audience from the number and depth of the questions was climate change. Bywong President Judith Miller introduced the candidates and Helen Montesin, President of Wamboin Community Association, chaired the event and kept the questions and answers to the point and to time. Audience members, who enjoyed supper with the candidates after the formal proceedings, agreed that the evening constituted another worthwhile example of cooperations between our two neighbouring community groups.

The Community has now received advice, confirmed by a Yass Valley Councillor, that the Community's old enemy Tiocliff has sold the controversial quarry at Sutton. The No Quarry Committee, which works in conjunction with residents' associations to oppose the development of this quarry, has not yet been able to discover who the new owners are or what their intention is in acquiring the lease of a development whose approval we believe to have lapsed. Naturally we want to let the new owners know how the community feels. We are concerned that estate agents seem not to be mentioning the quarry to people buying into Bywong and Sutton.

Bushwalks have become a regular feature of Community activities. After last month's successful Millpost hike, we look forward to another walk in the autumn. Watch the blackboards.

Community President Warwick Cathro will represent Bywong residents at the Wamboin meeting of the Rates Model Reference Group. If you have any points you feel should be raised, ring Warwick on 6236 9187.

The Community's Christmas drinks will be at the Community Hall between 6 and 8 pm on Saturday 3 December. All residents of Bywong and adjoining localities are invited to attend. Gidgee wines will again be in attendance and their vintages will be available for tastings. Bring anything you like - we have soft drink, some beer and nibbles.

More than fifty community members who attended the Community's public meeting on 17 October meeting expressed concern at plans to re-activate the Sutton quarry proposal, and unanimously passed a motion requesting Yass Valley and Palerang Shire Councils to oppose the development, and in the event that the development commences, calling on the Yass Valley Council to

In other developments, Community President Warwick Cathro joined Janet Smith from the Quarry Committee in addressing a meeting of Yass Valley Council, and Warwick also addressed a meeting of Palerang Shire, who advised that they were in touch with Yass Valley on the matter. Community members also spoke to a public meeting of Sutton and District Community Association, whose members decided to request representation on the Quarry Committee and to hold a public meeting to discuss the development.

Users of the Community Hall and grounds in Birriwa Road will meet for a morning working bee at 9 am on Saturday 19 November. Jobs to be done are general maintenance of the ground near the Hall, weeding, grass cutting, removing of dead wattles, cleaning of gutter, removal of rubbish. This activity helps keep rental fees down, so users, particularly regular users such as Pony Club, Community Association, Landcare and Guides, are urged to attend. The Hall Committee has decided to increase hiring fees for private functions for the first time in six years. The new fees are $75 for use from 1600 to midnight and $125 for a full day rental 0900 to midnight or for a rental overnight 1600 one day to 0900 the next day. The Hall Committee also decided to upgrade some of the Hall furniture, in particular to look for smaller size folding tables. The Community will share the cost.

The website address has been changed to make it easier to find it. The new address is: www.bywongcommunity.org.au Log on to find out about the Bywong Community and what it offers, local contacts, Landcare, Community Hall and recreational activities in the area.

The Community is now planning its activities for the new financial year, so it is a good time for anyone able to help with any Community activities to contact the President, Warwick Cathro, on 6236 9187. We are looking for helpers at functions such as the Car Boot Sale, Trivia Night and the Bush Dance or to take part in our interaction with Council and other authorities.

The Community has a a general concern with a current proposal by the developers to re-activate the Sutton Quarry proposal. Community members will be adversely affected if this goes ahead, some directly and personally and others by the general effect on the locality. It has therefore decided to take part in a presentation to Yass Valley Council, and to act in association with the re-formed Quarry Committee. Members of the Quarry Committee will make a presentation to the Community's next meeting on 17 October. Members and residents are urged to attend, particularly if they live in the Macs Reef/Bankers Road/Donnelly Road area or west of the Federal Highway. Quarry information will appear in due course on the Community's website.

The Community's Annual General Meeting re-elected Warwick Cathro and Judith Miller President and Secretary respectively for the coming year. Warwick Dix is the new Vice-President, and we are still looking for a Treasurer. The duties are light, and we would be delighted to hear from anyone prepared to help out. The President presented his annual report, which provides a good overview of the Community's activities for those who are new to the area. The report is available on the Community's website www.bywong-community.org.au.

The Community's spring Bush Dance will now take place in the Community Hall on Saturday 8 October. This is a change of date from 22 October as the musicians from the Monaro Folk Society have a conflicting engagement on the original night. However, they will again provide their lively music on 8 October and Diana will provide the calling of the dances. So, no need to know any of the dances, it's fun to learn and enjoy the dancing at the same time. This is a great family event, with an emphasis on ensuring that children enjoy themselves.

The Community is grateful to Country Energy Regional Manager David Bellew, who fielded audience questions after giving a frank and informative talk to members after the Annual Meeting.

The Community's AGM will take place at the Community Hall, Birrawa Road on Monday 15 August at 7.30 pm. The main business will be the presentation of President's and Treasurer's reports and the election of office bearers for the next year. The Community would love to see more residents attending these meetings, especially those willing to join the committee or help with activities. There is a vacancy for Treasurer: anyone volunteering would earn the community's undying gratitude in return for a small contribution in time and effort.

July saw another highly successful round in the ongoing Bywong Trivia Challenge. The XX team once again triumphed, although hard pressed on this occasion by teams from Macs Reef Road and Wamboin. The community hall was once again packed to capacity, and contestants enjoyed an even greater and tastier variety of soups than last year. Our thanks to Peter Garlick for lending his PA, which greatly enhanced the evening.

The Sutton Quarry development - a proposal of concern to residents in west Bywong, has again raised its ugly head since responsibility for the area pass from the old Yarrowlumla Council to Yass Valley Council. The developer (Tiocliff, a subsidiary of White Industries) is arguing that survey work it claims to have undertaken before the lapse date of the approval means that the approval is still valid. The Community is writing to Yass Valley Council seeking information. The Council is holding a public meeting in Sutton on 18 August.

The Community decided to investigate the possibility of donating all or some of maintenance money remaining in the Sugar Glider grant for planting of glider-friendly corridors in the Greenways.

The next General Meeting of Bywong Community will take place after the AGM on Monday 15 August at 8pm. Guest speaker will be David Bellew, Regional Manager of Country Energy, who will speak on a range of local power issues, including reliability of supply and plans for service improvement in the region. All residents are welcome to attend this meeting at the Comunity Hall, Birriwa Road, Bywong.

Palerang Mayor Terry Bransdon spoke to the last meeting of the Community about the Council's proposal to seek State Government approval for an exceptional rate rise. He said the increase sought in Bywong would be about 32%. He agreed with members who claimed that the financial crisis was a result of State mismanagement of the shire amalgamation, but said the Government continued to deny that it had made a mistake and refused to take any remedial action. Residents can obtain full details of the rate proposals by contacting Council.

The annual Bywong Trivia Challenge takes place at the Community Hall on Saturday 30 July. This event has become so popular that it is usually fully booked, so it is as well to reserve your place as soon as possible by ringing Warwick or Diana on 6236 9187. We welcome bookings for tables (up to 8) or requests to be included on a table. The Community will repeat its popular supper offering of hearty soups with rolls, tea and coffee, and players may bring their own drinks and nibbles. The cost is still only $10 per person.

David Bellew, Regional Manager of Country Energy, will speak to the next meeting on 15 August on a range of local power issues, including reliability of supply and plans for service improvement in the region.

The 15 August meeting will also include the Annual General Meeting, at which the Community will be filling executive positions for the coming year. We are particularly keen to have some new members on the Committee: participation need not make great demands on a member's time, but can help us balance and improve the degree by which we can reflect residents' concerns in these difficult times. If you can help, ring Warwick (6236 9187) or Judith (6236 9321) or just turn up at the meeting - 7.30 at the Community Hall in Birriwa Road (off Macs Reef Road).