It is with great sadness that I am confronted with the news of the passing of Colleen Duffy.

Michael Johnsen MP, Member for Upper Hunter was joined today by Minister for Early Childhood Education to announce that Dungog Preschool has received $10,000 to create a covered paved outside play space, install timber decking and for additional storage space through a NSW Government initiative aiming to improve the environment of preschool services.

Michael Johnsen MP, Member for Upper Hunter joined Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Sarah Mitchell today, to welcome a grant of $3,998 for the Walhollow Aboriginal Land Council to purchase a new ride on lawn mower.

Michael Johnsen MP, Member for Upper Hunter was joined today by Minister for Early Childhood Education Sarah Mitchell to inspect the progress of the Capital Works extension at Singleton Heights preschool. Ms Mitchell said she is thrilled to see the project taking shape.

Michael Johnsen MP, Member for Upper Hunter this week informed the Scone community that work on the $137 million New England Highway bypass of Scone is progressing well.

After successful representations to the Minister for Education, the Hon. Rob Stokes, Quirindi High School P&C Association received a once-off donation of $7,000 to assist with the purchase of science equipment in support of the School’s bid to host the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) NSW Schools Titration Competition.

Michael Johnsen MP, Member for Upper Hunter, and John Barilaro MP, Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional today announced the Nationals in government would “go it alone”, and commit the full $266 million required to fund the New England Highway Bypass at Muswellbrook.

Dungog Mayor Tracey Norman said it was a fantastic outcome for Dungog, and expressed her gratitude to Michael Johnsen and the NSW Nationals in government.

From day one, road safety has been one of my top priorities, and I’m glad to be able to deliver as a Member of this NSW Government to make our roads safer, and $10,538,325 will be delivered through 11 projects in Upper Hunter  to help save lives and improves roads.

This $6.7 million dollar TAFE facility is going to absolutely turbocharge education and training opportunities in Scone, for although Scone TAFE is already offering world-class training to students, this TAFE Connected Learning Centre is going to take this offering to a whole new level.