These awards recognise the people who work in museums and galleries across NSW and the contributions they make. 'Capacity Building, Capital and Sustainability Programs over $100,000' is the category for which the award was made.

In a short ten months, the team of volunteers and local tradesmen completed the project of fitting-out the Exhibition Hall and converting the old school rooms into a multi-purpose venue.

The project was supported by funds from Blayney Shire Council's Drought Communities Program. Congratulations to everyone who made this possible and who help run this wonderful museum.

The launch of two locally produced albums was celebrated at Club Millthorpe in November. Genni Kane's original album, titled Songs From the Kitchen Table, reminds us of the original talent, both as singer and song-writer, Genni is.

The album is a new collection of original songs from the heart about life, loss, chickens...all the good things!

Also launched was the album, Twenty Good Summers, the first collaboration of John Kane and Andy Gordon.

The songs reflect the stories of earned wisdom, connection and community, family and simple pleasures, of time and place.

In collaboration with Blayney Council, further footpaths have been completed in the Redmond Oval precinct, providing easier access to the playground and picnic area for those for whom wheeled transport is the best option.

Rain dancers please keep up the rituals, in the hope that at least some of the twelve days of Christmas bring drought-breaking, fire-quenching rain.

The timely online initiative, via Facebook, #buyfromthebush, is gathering velocity as a way to support rural producers during the ongoing drought.

If you're looking to source items large of small, check out this site.

Some local Millthorpe businesses have also been playing an active part in filling orders and despatching the goods from our district and surrounding regions.

This is a heartening way of directly helping local businesses and rural producers in these seasonally challenging times.