Mayoral Column - 4 February 2026

Published on 04 February 2026

Great news for bookworms – Cessnock Library’s Big Book Sale is back! The annual sale of selected pre-loved books, magazines, CDs, and DVDs in the library foyer kicked off on 2 February and will run until 25 February, or until all stock has been sold. Don’t miss out!

The library team has hit the ground running in 2026, with some wonderful events already complete and an exciting schedule over the coming months. Local historian Ed Tonks will discuss the unsung heroes of our region’s mining past in ‘The Forgotten Horses of Coal Mining’ at Kurri Kurri Bowling Club on 17 February, before author Sue Williams hosts a talk about her new novel, ‘The Duke’s Secret’, at Cessnock Library on 21 February. Author, journalist, and historian Peter FitzSimons will share insights from his latest work about the life of Sir Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop at PACC on 28 March in a special ticketed event in partnership with Newcastle Writers Festival. Visit the library’s website for more information on events and how to attend.

Finally, huge congratulations to our Australia Day award recipients. We are lucky to have so many people in our LGA who have our community’s best interests at heart, and Australia Day is a great time to thank those – like Citizen of the Year Tracey Skene – who work tirelessly and selflessly every day. Tracey was recognised for supporting local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people through Kiray Putjung Aboriginal Corporation. Our sincere gratitude to Tracey, our Senior Citizen of the Year Janece Harrison, our Young Citizen of the Year Taylee Short, and each award recipient – they are pillars of our community!