Community Program

The event began with a Welcome to Country and a traditional smoking ceremony, before the official opening by the Deputy Mayor, Amanda Cohn.  This was followed by the raising of the Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Australian flags, and entertainment by local young people.

Every year, National Reconciliation Week is celebrated from 27 May to 3 June, with a different theme each year that reinforces and strengthen the journey of reconciliation.

Though a ‘Have Your Say’ process, council asked the community to once again nominate Albury’s worst streets for speeding, and received 357 responses nominating 157 streets.

That data was collated with input from police and this year, a decision was made to target eight streets that were deemed to be at high-risk from speeding drivers.

Those streets are:

The works – between the Five Ways and Burrows Road – have delivered 1.3 kilometres of new footpath along the northern side of Union Road and five pedestrian refuges in the road’s centre.

Four raised thresholds, or continuous footpaths, have also been built at roadside intersections. Drivers turning into these side streets must give way to people crossing the street.

The works will improve walking connectivity, with the refuges to make it easier to safely cross busy Union Road, while the thresholds will improve visibility at intersections.

The machines, sponsored by AlburyCity, have been installed by charity Share the Dignity at the Glenecho, Mirambeena, Orana, Thurgoona and Westside community centres as part of AlburyCity’s End Period Poverty Statement adopted last year.

They dispense free period packs containing six tampons and two pads to those who need them.

A Dignity Vending Machine has been installed at the Retro Lane Cafe since late 2021.

AlburyCity Councillor and Statement lead, Cr Ashley Edwards, said the machines’ installation was an important step in ending period poverty in the city.

Council’s kerbside bin assessment and education program was recognised with the Resource Recovery Award at the annual NSW Tidy Town Awards in Bathurst over the weekend.

Albury Mayor, Kevin Mack, said the award was fitting recognition for Council’s innovative work in the waste and community education space.

“It’s terrific to see a program like this, which has such a strong community focus and tangible and beneficial outcomes, regarded in this way,” he said.

The funding, part of a $25,000 pool, was approved under delegated authority and in line with AlburyCity’s Financial Assistance Policy and Community and Cultural Grant Guidelines.

Recommendations were provided by an independent assessment panel, which included Councillor Geoff Hudson, Kirri-Lee Larsen from the Red Cross (representing the community sector), and Tahni Froudist from the Flying Fruit Fly Circus (representing the cultural sector).

Pictured: Grant recipient (Round 1 2024/25) Jessie Bell, Ran Away Theatre. Project: In the Jungle - Sensory Theatre. Image credit: Helen Newman, Nomad Films

Up to $5,000 is available for each project, with a total funding pool of $25,000 to support fresh ideas that benefit the Albury community - whether through inclusive events, cultural programs, workshops, exhibitions or targeted community initiatives.

AlburyCity Councillor Geoff Hudson said the grants are a practical way to support local people undertaking work which strengthens and connects the community.