I can only imagine how that must have felt.

They made a new life for themselves and their families and became members of this community.

Thank you for the contribution to our city and the Hunter region.

Pennie, these families have contributed so much to the Hunter region. Perhaps there needs to be a more formal recognition?

My Oma and Opa were at Singleton.

 How awesome were these amazing, hard working immigrants?

 I think Nan and Grandfather were up at Greta before they went to Anna Bay, when they first came to Australia.

It is important to put into context the Deputy Premier and Nationals’ leader John Barilaro’s announcement of a $100 million Regional Cultural Fund for community halls, libraries, museums and art galleries.

It is the same government that is providing $600 million to Sydney arts organisations like the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Theatre Company and the Art Gallery of NSW.

Yes, rural and regional areas are getting a sixth of what Sydney is receiving.

NSW Labor is calling on the NSW Nationals to revise the structure of its Regional Cultural Fund and expand it to include programs and staff – and not just the bricks and mortar.

The fund has a “dog-eat-dog” competitive nature – where the Nationals have pitted regional communities against each other in a desperate fight for funds in a rural and regional version of the Hunger Games.

While I welcome any funds for rural and region communities, I am unable - in good conscience – to welcome this announcement.

It is another cruel National Party trick.

In recent months, I have visited a range of art galleries across NSW and have spoken to curators, directors, staff and volunteers, including those in Broken Hill, Tamworth, Inverell, Orange, Bathurst, Cessnock, Grafton, Bega, Newcastle and the Margaret Olley Gallery in the Tweed.

They have world class spaces, but they need on-going funds for staff and to support their programs as well as cataloguing and digitalising their collections.

Sadly, under the Nationals, rural and regional families are not getting their fair share from the State Government – and this needs to change.

Nancy Knudsen has led a remarkable life and I am certain she will achieve the best result possible in what is currently an uncertain future for the Shire.

Nancy has a fundamental feeling and understanding for others. She has proven negotiating success at the highest levels of government and was the first woman in Australia given permission to operate an airline.

Having headed up her own television program Nancy will not wilt under pressure or when in the public spotlight.

The major demands of a Mayor are to manage, build a leadership team and create a culture that reflects the community’s needs.  Nancy, as a Telstra Business Women of the Year, has a track record of achieving outstanding results.