January 2026 Mayor's Message

Published on 19 January 2026

While we may have had a slow start to summer it certainly has come with a vengeance as the new year has emerged.  With three consecutive days with temperatures over 40 in the first full week of 2026 came extreme fire danger for Berrigan Shire.  The fire risk was realised in a number of fires in our adjoining councils, including a significant fire in the Yarroweyah area.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank the tireless efforts of community volunteers who keep us safe including the Barooga, Berrigan, Finley and Tocumwal fire brigades, the CFA in Cobram and the volunteer SES units across both states.  We are a cross-border community and these groups work together across the border to keep us all safe.  Your bravery does not go unnoticed.

Following on from these recent events, it is timely that residents of Berrigan Shire will receive the ‘First 72 hour’ toolkit this week.  The kit will help you to develop your own plans in the event of emergency and provides tips on other things you should have prepared in advance.  There is also a video which Council has available on its website, which I was honoured to be involved in, that steps you through some practical things to consider such as backing up harddrives, having copies of important documents ready to go and having a few dollars in cash just in case.

Australia Day will be celebrated this year in Barooga at the Botanical Gardens. Breakfast, a fundraiser for Barooga Public School and complimentary coffee from Odesi, starts at 8AM. Formalities start at 9 with a citizenship ceremony, guest speaker and Australia Day awards for those who have gone above and beyond in our community. I look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible to celebrate this great country of ours.