The Hon Kristy McBain, MP, Member for Eden Monaro visits Bookham

Official Media Release - Bookham Community Association  Friday, 2 September 2022

Today, the Hon. Kristy McBain, Member for Eden-Monaro and Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories visited Bookham to celebrate a number of key local initiatives.

Kristy was welcomed to Bookham by Indigenous elder from the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people, Helen Wallace, and the Mayor of Yass Valley, Councillor Allan McGrath.

The visit gave her the opportunity to review the following initiatives:

Bookham Masterplan The masterplan, part of a larger project encompassing Yass and Wee Jasper was developed by consultants Salad4D in association with Yass Valley Council.

Recommendations have included turning Bookham into a “Healthy Hub on The Highway” by providing an enclosed off leash dog area, upgrading the tennis courts, cricket nets and oval at the recreation ground and commissioning a design for a playground including an accessible basket swing, circuit bike path and nature-play balance logs and steppers.

The Council aims to work with Transport for NSW to improve the highway pedestrian underpass between the rest stop and recreational grounds with lighting and wall art.

To encourage tourism, plans include an extensive tree planting program and provision of seating to encourage visitors to extend their time.

As part of the larger aim to encourage tourism, the Bush Cemetery will also be upgraded with a dedicated carpark and path and a fence within the cemetery to protect the remnant grassy box-gum woodland.

“Council is committed to enhancing the liveability and the tourism potential of all of our villages and our town,” Cr McGrath said.

“I am positive these features will not only enhance the liveability for residents within the village but will also be a tourist drawcard for those traveling along the Hume.”

Planting Trees for The Queen’s Jubilee Program Kristy McBain will dedicate a tree planting to celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, made possible by funding from the Federal Government. The Program supports eligible groups and organisations to honour The Queen and her legacy of achievements through community-based commemorative tree planting events.

“Planting trees to mark The Queen’s 70 years of service, will leave a lasting reminder of The Queen’s service for future generations to enjoy,” Kristy McBain said.

Initiated by Noeleen Hazell as President of the Bookham Red Cross & Auxiliary this grant is a fitting start to the beautification of Bookham, a key plank of the Masterplan.

Opening of The Old Bookham Church With an eye to the burgeoning tourism market developed by Yass Valley Tourism, Tess and Marguerite Julian have developed one of the two historic local churches into welcoming accommodation for up to 8 people.

The Old Bookham Church, formerly St Columba’s Catholic Church, is a local heritage listed building made out of green porphyry stone mined nearby. The exterior has been preserved with assistance from Yass Valley Council which provided heritage grants towards replacing the roof and other key features

In its new guise, the church has retained its graceful charm including the sweeping jarrah ceiling, original timber floors and the diamond designed stained glass windows. A major talking point is the exquisite French stained glass window donated by the owners’ great grandmother as well as a painstakingly restored shearer’s table from a nearby property.

Opened in 1911, the church’s existence owes much to the local community of the time with significant contributions towards the 900 pound building cost as well as many donations in kind.

With impetus provided by the Bookham Community Association, it seems the time has come for Bookham, described by Banjo Patterson“ as a village with a pub at each end and nothing in the middle” to make its mark as a yet another part of regional Australia to experience a revival.

1 2022

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