I had the pleasure of attending the Regional Australia Bank Dubbo Chamber of Commerce Rhino awards where a deserving Westhaven took out the Gold Rhino.

I also attended the annual Volunteer Rescue Association Conference in Dubbo, Gulgong’s Gold and Mining Festival, the Wellington & Geurie Lions Club District 201N4 Convention and laid a wreath at a service remembering the Kokoda Campaign 75 years on.

The Cootamundra and Murray state electorates went to the polls last weekend with the NSW Nationals claiming victory in both electorates.

I congratulate our latest National Party MP’s in Steph Cooke and Austin Evans and offer my thanks for the many volunteers who helped out during pre-poll and of course on polling day.

It was moving service at the Dubbo Cenotaph on Sunday commemorating the service and sacrifice of those who gave up so much to defend our freedom 75 years on from the Kokoda campaign.

It is important that we remember the sacrifices of all service men and women past and present.

It was great to welcome all attendees to the District 201N4 57th Annual District Convention.

It was a great event and I am extremely fortunate to have great community groups in particular the Lions Clubs of Geurie & Wellington in the electorate who truly embody Lions Australia’s motto of “Making our communities a better place to live, work and grow” through their service to the local communities.

I had the pleasure of recognising some great members of the local community on Monday. Rhonda Betts and Helen Simmons who represented New South Wales in Dragon Boat racing at the national championship and Evan Elliott for 50 years’ service as a Justice of the Peace. It’s lovely to recognise those whose achievements often fly under the radar.

After years of hard work, more than 70,000 NSW students are on the final stretch to completing their Higher School Certificate with written exams officially starting today.

During the past 50 years, more than 2.3 million students have studied the HSC. That’s millions of Australians educated, nurtured, and guided to adulthood by our wonderfully dedicated teachers.

I want to congratulate every student on their diligence in getting to this final stage of their HSC. What you have learned will prepare you well for the next phase of your lives.

Work hard in this final lap, while exams can seem all consuming and defining, know that there is an end. There is a whole world of opportunity awaiting you, whatever path you may choose.

The 117 written exams will finish on Tuesday November 7.

Results are sent out via SMS and email from 6am on Thursday December 14.