An idea to re-activate the local community after excessive rain and Covid isolation, was the topic of conversation for a group of Gilgandra residents around a year ago. The value of establishing a community garden was an idea agreed on to have maximum benefit and with recent access to funding, the group are thrilled to see progress finally underway.

Local resident, Jennie White was instrumental in writing the successful grant application but said the initial idea took a long time to get started.

"The simple idea of a community garden was easy but it took 18 months to find the plot of land to build it on. Ironically, once we settled on that, a month later we found out we were successful in receiving funding to get it underway."

Ms White said that after many different suggestions for the right location, the eleven member volunteer group eventually settled on an area near the Coo-ee Heritage Centre which was being upgraded by the Gilgandra Shire Council at the time.

"It was perfect really," Ms White said. "The council gave us permission and have been very generous with donations like soil, gravel and tanks to plant in. They also helped in writing the funding application and all up their support has been fantastic."

"We want to help reactivate the town. The benefits of gardens on mental health are immense. The garden will be a place to work but also a tranquil setting for everyone. It will be a place for all parts of the community to enjoy and will have wheelchair access also."

The group hope to work with the local school, aged community, people with disabilities and Indigenous people and Ms White stressed that everyone will be welcome.

"The next step is to get some tools, a shed, planting supplies and a rainwater tank," she said. "We want to be able to capture the rain so we are self-reliant in times of drought."

Another local group receiving Covid Recovery funding are the Warren Chamber Music Festival Group (WCMF) who plan to give 150 senior Gilgandra residents a day out to remember.

Artistic Director of WCMF, Frances Evans said the group have planned a "Better with Age" event where older Gilgandra residents will be treated to a catered meal with live music, interactive fun, story-telling and poetry.

Taking place on Sunday, 26th June, Ms Evans said that WCMF had previously run a similar event at Warren and the feedback had been great.

"Everybody loved it," she said. "And we are so keen to do it again for the Gilgandra residents. It is all about inspiration, social inclusion and wellbeing. We feel we often miss out on high quality musicians visiting here because of our isolation so we are thrilled to have a professional pianist coming along to play on the baby grand piano in the Gil Hall."

Ms Evans, herself a professional musician, said the pianist will be accompanied by other local highly accomplished musicians.

"We are letting people know how they can register for the event very soon," she said. "This will be able to be done at the Gilgandra Shire Council among other ways. We are reserving some seats for residents of the local residential care facility and hope the day will be as enjoyable as it was when we did it in Warren.