The latest Royal Life Saving Society - Australia report reveals some concerning statistics. New data reveals that over a 10-year period, 473 people drowned in boating/watercraft activity, only 8 per cent were wearing a lifejacket.

Alcohol was involved in 26 per cent of the cases, 59 per cent of those were over the legal limit.  People should be reminded to avoid alcohol when around water.  Alcohol impairs judgment and a person’s ability to swim to safety.  It is critical people wear a lifejacket and it is extraordinary how many people who drown weren’t wearing lifejackets. Our latest report also reveals 31 per cent of the cases involved drugs. You should never take a boat, canoe or kayak out under the influence of drugs.

Never go boating, kayaking, or canoeing alone, always check the conditions before heading out onto the water and learn how to save a life. This new study suggests boating and watercraft drowning deaths are on the rise. We ask readers to take great care so they can have a happy and safe summer.

On behalf of the North East Riverina Rural Counselling Service (NERRCS) committee, I would like to thank the committee and the local communities we served. 

The service commenced in 1991 and was a  free service with funding from the state and federal governments together with funds made available ‘by local councils such as the Coolamon Shire, Junee  Shire, Gundagai Shire, Cootamundra Shire, Temora Shire, Narrandera Shire, Greater Hume Shire, Lockhart Shire and community groups. 

The Rural Counsellor from commencement date until October 2006 was Tony Paton who worked with many farmers, small businesses and their advisors to ensure that they could make informed decisions and take advantage of rural  assistance and farm debt mediation. 

In October 2006, the federal government decided that rather than have individual counselling groups with committees there would be regions and the committee of the Southern Region based at Cooma organised for a rural counsellor to be based at Ganmain. As from October 2006, NERRCS continued to operate under Social and Community Services Funding to promote community development and the project was known as "Riverina Community Building a Future Together".

The project officer was Yvonne Hitchenor, who worked with the small businesses, health providers and community groups to ensure that they could maximise their assistance and funding through government schemes and also Yvonne was instrumental in organising regular meetings between service providers and members of communities to advance community development. Yvonne was able to encourage communities to take advantage of grants.

The committee, including Wendy Jennings Secretary, Andrew Pryor Treasurer. Steve and Sue Sutherland, Vina Jones Brungle, Jenny Hatty Matong, Wes Kember Ganmain, June McKelvie, Liz Furner Coolamon, Barbara Johnston  Currawarna, Jill Macauley, John and Lyn Foord Junee and Amanda Gay Temora.

NERRCS appreciates the administrative support and backup provided by Coolamon Shire Council.

Under the Associations Incorporation Act, any surplus funds have to be distributed to a community organisation within the area covered by NERRCS.

A donation was made of $10,164.53 to the “Together We Care” campaign to help fund the $5 million building project establishing a palliative care hospice at the Forrest Centre.