Steph Cooke MP
Member for Cootamundra

Steph Cooke MP and Sam Perry (Junee Shire Council) for the Canola Gateway Festival Junee has secured a $20,000 boost through the 2026/27 Regional Event Fund to support the launch of the inaugural Canola Gateway Festival, marking a major milestone for the region’s tourism offering. The funding recognises Junee as a destination of choice for new and emerging events, backing the community’s vision to create a vibrant celebration of the Riverina’s iconic canola season. Member

Steph Cooke MP participanting in school holiday activities at the Temora Library Community organisations across the Cootamundra electorate are being encouraged to apply for funding through the NSW Office of Youth’s Holiday Break Program – Spring and/or Summer 2026-27, helping to deliver free, fun and inclusive activities for young people over the break. Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the program is a fantastic opportunity for local organisations to create memorable

Steph Cooke MP with Paul Best (Mayor), Matthew Sykes (GM Weddin Shire), Sean Haylan (GM Destination NSW Central West), Belinda Power (HLF President) and committee members at the Henry Lawson Monument, Grenfell. The Henry Lawson Festival has received a major boost, with the iconic Grenfell event awarded $30,000 per year for three years through the Regional Event Fund 2026. Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the funding was a significant win for Grenfell and a reflection

Steph Cooke MP at the Seniors Week High Tea in Cowra (2026) Applications are now open for the 2027 NSW Seniors Festival Program with a share of $200,000 available to support events and celebrate older people and communities across the state. Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke is encouraging local councils, community groups and organisations across the electorate to apply for the funding to host their event in 2027. The 2027 Seniors Festival will run from March 1 to 14 wit

Monday, 6 July 2026 Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke MP has welcomed a $2 million NSW Government investment for Freeman Vineyards in Young to establish the state’s first dealcoholisation facility. The facility will position the Hilltops region as a national leader in the rapidly growing non-alcoholic wine market. “This is a landmark investment for Freeman Vineyard and the Hilltops wine region, cementing our reputation as a centre for agricultural innovation and premiu

Bruce Howard of Young has been recognised for more than 42 years of dedicated service to NSW Ambulance, with Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke presenting him with the NSW Government Service Medallion. Mr Howard joined the NSW Ambulance Service on 15 October 1979, beginning a remarkable career that would see him attend countless callouts, save lives, support families on their worst days, and serve his local community with extraordinary commitment. “I was a paramedic in Young

​​Tuesday, 30 June 2026​ The Cootamundra Turf Club has officially unveiled the newly named ‘John Barnes’ Grandstand, recognising one of the district's most influential pioneers as part of the Club's 150th anniversary celebrations. The naming of the grandstand honours the legacy of John Barnes, the Club's inaugural President in 1876, whose vision and leadership helped shape both the Club and the wider community. The event also celebrated the successful restoration of the

The Minns Labor Government’s final Budget has delivered continued funding for major health projects across the Cootamundra Electorate, but little investment in the new projects local communities have been fighting for. The Cootamundra Electorate joins regional and rural NSW communities in being short-changed, with critical infrastructure priorities outside Greater Sydney once again overlooked. Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, said the Budget was a disappointing result

Three remarkable local women have been recognised for their outstanding volunteer contributions, with Fiona Rynehart and Alicia White of Junee, and Jane Wilson of Young named on the 2025 NSW Hidden Treasures Honour Roll. The Honour Roll was established in 2010 to celebrate the vital role women and girls play in strengthening regional, rural and remote communities across New South Wales through volunteer service. The three women were nominated by their peers in recognition

Steph Cooke MP talking to students at Barmedman Public School Failings within the NSW Transport Department to ensure rural students can access their local school by bus are pushing small country public schools to the brink. Barmedman Public School is among the growing examples of facilities not serviced by a school bus, placing pressure on local families and risking the school’s future viability. Three school services are instead bypassing the only 40-kilometre school

Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, has welcomed a $25,000 investment in the Cowra Information and Neighbourhood Centre (CINC) to strengthen its Strong Ways after-school program. Strong Ways is an eight-week program for young people aged 10–17 in Cowra who are at risk of disengagement or early contact with the justice system, with priority given to Aboriginal young people and their families. Ms Cooke said the funding will enable CINC to further expand the support it provides

The Cootamundra electorate is staking its claim for one of eight new NSW Rural Fire Service maintenance hubs, with Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, making the case directly to the Minister for the major regional infrastructure investment. The push follows the NSW Government's recent $29 million commitment to establish a network of regional maintenance hubs to support the Rural Fire Service fleet across regional New South Wales. Ms Cooke said the electorate's extensive

Steph Cooke outside the existing Coolamon Ganmain Health Service. Pressure is mounting on the NSW Labor Government to deliver a new Coolamon Multi-Purpose Health Service, with this month's State Budget shaping up to be a critical test of its commitment to building regional infrastructure. In 2023, the former Coalition Government committed $56 million towards a redevelopment of the Coolamon MPS, however the project has not progressed under the current Government. Member fo

Hilltops Council, Directory of Infrastructure, Duncan McGregor, Member for Cotamundra Steph Cooke and Hilltops Mayor Brian Ingram in NSW Parliament on Wednesday. The 2026 NSW State Budget will determine whether the Boorowa Pipeline will move to construction, with Hilltops Council confirming design work is expected to be finalised this month. The project, estimated to cost $56 million, including 30 per cent contingency, is a critical piece of infrastructure to secure Boorowa

Working families in Gooloogong are being forced to cut back on work and travel long distances for care, as the town continues to wait for certainty regarding early childhood education and after-school services. The local P&C says families feel they have been ‘strung along’ after three years of working in good faith with the NSW Labor Government without a clear outcome or commitment. Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, said the community had waited long enough for answers

Steph Cooke MP attending the Henry Lawson Festival. Grenfell will take centre stage this June long weekend as the 2026 Henry Lawson Festival returns for an “epic” celebration of history, culture and country hospitality. Embracing the new theme, Larrikins and Legends, this year’s four-day festival will pay tribute to the humour and spirit that shaped Henry Lawson’s writing and continues to define regional Australia today. Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, said the festi

Steph Cooke MP with Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner, Jeremy Fewtrell last year (2025) on Thank A First Responder Day. Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, says there is more that the NSW Government could do to support the regions’ emergency service personnel and volunteers, ahead of Thank A First Responder Day. Falling on Wednesday, June 10, Thank a First Responder is an initiative run by Fortem Australia, an independent not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting th

Steph Cooke MP, with President of the New South Wales Legislative Council Ben Franklin, and student leaders from the Cootamundra Electorate. Student leaders from across the Cootamundra electorate travelled to NSW Parliament in Sydney this week as part of the annual Secondary Schools Student Leadership Program, to learn about constitutional and parliamentary processes The program, delivered jointly by the NSW Parliament’s Education and Engagement team and Government House, g

Steph Cooke MP with long-time Narrandera Resident Polly Rombola. The Deed of Agreement concerning Narrandera’s future Water Treatment Plant has been executed following sustained pressure from the Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke. The deed was critical in enabling Narrandera Shire Council to progress detailed design and business case work for the project, which aims to deliver clean water to the town. Until this week, the NSW Government had not handed the deed to the co

Junee Correctional Centre. Staff at Junee Correctional Centre have joined their peers in a statewide strike against the NSW Labor Government’s plan to close two more maximum security wings at Goulburn Correctional Centre. Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the industrial action by Corrective Services staff was yet another sign the corrections system is in crisis under the Minister for Corrections’ failed leadership. “Today’s statewide walkout is a damning indictment