With a number of Councillors, the General Manager and myself attending the Local Government NSW National Conference in Sydney last week, our November Ordinary Meeting was held on Thursday November 27, 2025.
Keep your eyes peeled this week as Brewarrina celebrates the festive season! The Historical Barwon Bridge will once again be the shining star of the community, bringing sparkling Christmas cheer, while new Christmas banners will welcome locals and visitors at each of the town’s entrances.
Councill is also once again proud to be supporting the Josiah Healing Centre Community Christmas celebrations, with fireworks displays in both Brewarrina on Saturday December 13 and Goodooga on Friday December 12.
In keeping with our theme to utilise local champions as our Australia Day Ambassadors, I’m very proud to announce our 2026 Australia Day Ambassador is well-known local shearer, shearing contractor and Australian Shearing Hall of Famer Peter Orcher.
Peter William Orcher, known as “Orch,” was inducted into the Australian Shearers’ Hall of Fame in Hay in 2024. Starting his shearing career at just 17, he became one of Northwestern NSW’s most respected shearers, earning recognition for his skill and professionalism. As a contractor, Peter led highly sought-after teams. Most notably many of his teams were fully First Nations, showcasing not only his leadership but also his commitment to providing employment, skills development, and opportunity for Aboriginal shearers across the region. His lasting impact on the wool industry and support for First Nations people secured his place among Australia’s top shearers and we are honoured to have him as our 2026 Ambassador.
It was also decided at the Council meeting we would extend nominations for our Australia Day Awards until Sunday December 7.
These awards provide an excellent opportunity to acknowledge and honour outstanding accomplishments and contributions made by individuals, events, and organisations throughout our entire shire, including Brewarrina, Goodooga, Weilmoringle, Gongolgon, and Angledool.
Nominations are open for Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year, Sportsperson and Young Sportsperson of the Year, Community Event of the Year and Australia Day Award.
To find out more about the Brewarrina Shire Australia Day Awards or to complete a nomination online, please visit www.brewarrina.nsw.gov.au
Submit your nomination online HERE
Nomination forms are also available at Council’s Offices.
All nominations will be reviewed by an independent committee, and winners will be announced at a special ceremony at the Brewarrina Memorial Pool on January 26, 2026.
A brand-new Brewarrina Shire Visitor Guide has been produced by the Tourism and Economic Development team and landed in town this week. This fantastic new guide, the first in years, spotlights and celebrates our incredible region – from deep cultural connections, rich heritage, unique landscapes and the vibrant spirit that defines our community.
The launch of the new visitor guide marks an important milestone for us. With recommendations and insights into key attractions, experiences, events and local businesses in not just Brewarrina but across our whole shire —including the iconic fish traps, vibrant cultural events and stunning natural wonders. The guide is designed to help guests make the most of their time in our unique region.
The tourism team will start distributing the new guides across our community and to Visitor Centres across the region in the coming week. Drop in to a local business or the Brewarrina Visitor Information Centre to grab a copy.
The Councillors and I, like thousands in not just our community but across Australia were incredibly excited to see pictures last week of the Goodooga Hall in all it’s glory for the Goodooga Central School graduation celebrations.
It has truly blown me away to hear over 52,000 people have viewed and over 1,000 have interacted with the Hall post on our social media pages.
Having a facility like the Hall back in Council hands and a place for the community to gather is an understated but significant achievement that we should all be proud of. Well done to the Goodooga Central team for their incredible job decking out the hall for this special celebration, and a big congratulations to all the graduation students.
Council has endorsed and will now publish our 2024/2025 Annual Report, outlining key achievements, major projects, governance milestones and workforce highlights during the reporting period. The report can be found on Council’s website, HERE and printed versions will be available at Council front desk in the coming week.
To help tackle the issue of free-roaming and stray cats in our region, it was very pleasing to hear the RSPCA would be implementing a new grant-funded initiative in Brewarrina, ‘Keeping Cats Safe at Home’. RSPCA NSW will implement a focused cat desexing program for residents of the Brewarrina Shire, with the aim of reducing populations of free-roaming and stray cats. The project will include community outreach, educational activities in schools, and local capacity building to assist cat caregivers in having their cats desexed, microchipped, registered and preventing them from roaming. The program will run throughout all next year, so keep an eye on Council’s socials for further details or visit www.rspcansw.org.au for more information.
Grid removal and heavy patching work on the Coolabah Road are progressing well, while on the Walgett Road, a total of 7,000 m² has been stabilised and is currently being sealed.
Recent completed maintence grading works on unsealed roads included 4kms of the West Culgoa Road, 40kms of the Bukulla Brenda Road, 39kms of the Gongolgon-Byrock Road and 60kms of the Monkey Bridge Road.
After another bumper season, a reminder the Goodooga Great Artesian Baths have now closed for the summer for essential maintenance and improvement works. The Baths will re-open on March 1, 2026.
Elected to Council – 2024
Elected to Council – 2024
Elected to Council – 2024
Committees – Roads and Maritime Services Regional Consultative Committee & Western Regional Weeds Committee
Elected to Council – 2021
Elected to Council – 2021
Committee – Tourism & Cultural Committee
Elected to Council – 2021
Committees – Murray Darling Association, Big Sky Library, Brewarrina General Cemetery Committee, Water Users & Tourism & Culture Committee.
Elected to Council – 2021
Committees – Aged Care, Brewarrina General Cemetery Committee & Heritage Committee.
Elected to Council – 2008
Email- markbrown2839@gmail.com
Committees- Aged Care Committee, Big Sky Library & Traffic Committee.
Elected to Council – 2008
Committees – Brewarrina General Cemetery, Tourism & Cultural Committee.
Elected to Council 2017
