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Barossa Council Update
JUNE, 2023
Going Live and Local
A new initiative is music to the ears of local musicians and business owners looking to boost the vibe at venues while celebrating homegrown talent.
The “Barossa Live and Local” program launched earlier this year with a micro-music festival at the Barossa Vintage Festival Hub. The event provided a glimpse into how professional development workshops and forums for local musicians, venues and businesses, can have a positive impact on the future of live music in the region.
Co-financed between The Barossa Council, the South Australian Government’s Music Development Office and APRA AMCOS, the program is structured to be sustainable and will continue to provide results well into the future after the project’s conclusion.
The Barossa Council Mayor Bim Lange said it was a wonderful avenue to participate and contribute to the vibrant music scene of the region.
“The Live and Local program is an innovative way to support the growth of the local music industry, and it is an opportunity for the Barossa Valley to showcase its unique culture and entertainment offerings,” said Mayor Lange.
Footy fever
Nuriootpa Centennial Park, home of the mighty Tigers, will host the SANFL Round 12 clash between Central District and Adelaide Football Club on 8 July when the THINK! Road Safety SA Country Football Championship rolls into the region.
Featuring a number of past local players, footy fans will see the likes of Jarrod Schiller, Captain of Central District and Jack Madgen, from Adelaide battle it out in familiar territory.
Jarrod is eager to lace up his boots where his career began playing junior football with Nuriootpa Rover Football Club before joining Central. “It’s super exciting and something I have been looking forward to for a long time,” he said.
It will also be a home-coming of sorts for Adelaide marquee signing, Jack Madgen, who grew up in Williamstown playing his junior footy at Barossa District.
The former Collingwood defender still has fond memories of taking on Jarrod during their junior days in the BLGFA and is up for an action-packed reunion on Tiger turf.
“It’s been awhile since I played here,” Jack said. “The last game I played for Barossa District was on this very oval.”
A space for reflection
People will have three new places to reflect and connect thanks to beautifully crafted Reflection Sofas destined for Angaston, Lyndoch and Mount Pleasant.
The unique symbols of hope are a result of a community-led collaboration between Seeds of Hope Suicide Prevention Network, local mosaic artist Kristin Wohlers and major sponsor Black Dog Ride Australia.
Network spokesperson Sue Raven said the role of a Reflection Sofa is to reduce stigma which is a barrier for people to reach out for help.
“We hope the sofas will be a prompt to ongoing discussions about suicide prevention and a place of solace for those impacted by suicide,” Sue said.
Pawfect destination
We know Barossans love their sport, but the two ovals at Tanunda Recreation Park aren’t only used by footballers and cricketers.
Every morning members of our four-legged community gather for their daily outing during which they enjoy time with their humans and a good sniff with their puppy pals.
All this fetching of tennis balls is thirsty work, so a new water drinking station has been installed, especially for pooches!
“It’s fantastic,” said Clare Portis whose dogs, “Charlee” and “Trixie” were among the first to have a thirst-quenching slurp from the fountain.
For close to 20 years, Clare and her pups have visited the oval and she looks forward to catching up with fellow dog-lovers.
“It’s not just for oldies, there’s young people too, kids kicking the footy and playing with the dogs,” said Clare.
“We’ve had up to 25 dogs here on a Sunday morning. For me, it’s a community of like-minded people getting together to enjoy our dogs,
and the friendships I’ve made are really great.”