Canola Way Connections

  Welcome back to the Canola Way Connections blog space! You’ll be hearing from writers in various guises. Primarily I’ll be writing from my home in Boggy Creek about my travels along the Canola Way. Since the Canola Way is not just about Canola in its glorious golden beauty (admittedly spectacular!), I’ll be spruiking all of the other breathtaking attractions that wayfarers might enjoy on day trips, weekends or holiday stays. You’ll hear from my alter egos too. The Cool Bookie operates a second-hand space ( that’s ‘brocante’ to you if you are French) which offers books and more in Faraway on Ford St, Ganmain. Articles about all things book-ish already appear in the monthly Coolamon Chronicle sponsored by Coolamon Rotary and published as a joint activity with Coolamon Central School. You’ll have another chance to see the articles here. Wednesday’s Child writes for the Ganmain Guardian, a monthly publication delivered to letter boxes around Ganmain. Wednesday’s Child writes about th...

  In the recent Federal election, commentators were generally agreed that it was a “COST OF LIVING” election. That stand out issue was closely followed by Housing/Homelessness with the Climate falling to something like fifth place in our 2025 priorities. The Canola Way has answers to all of these issues packed up in just a day trip or two around our towns. The circular economy aims to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill by recycling unwanted furniture, clothing, homewares and books to be resold in the second-hand markets of one type or another. The sales of such items at a price well under the cost of new items provides much needed income for the many charities being relied upon increasingly to pick up the gaps between people’s income and their day-to-day expenses. Often charities such as Vinnies, Salvos and Anglicare are providing direct income support to the less well-off and homeless. Additionally, community organisations use the second-hand space to raise funds for oth...

  Stories abound in canola country: amidst the ghostly streets, buildings are resurrected, redeemed from the ignominy of the passing years by energetic, committed entrepreneurs breathing new life into old buildings and businesses, streets becoming a lifeblood of hope for tiny villages and towns along the way. We’ll start with the pub at Grong Grong, part of Narrandera Shire. The pub was slated for closure, unsurprising in a town of around a hundred and fifty, when an enterprising local mobilized the townspeople to form a co-operative to purchase and make over, renovating The Royal so that it would continue to be the meeting place that all could enjoy. A good night out with tasty pub food can be assured. Further along, entering Coolamon Shire, a new venture sees the local Advance Matong Committee serving locals at the Harvest Café. Mothers’ Day lunch was a treat. When do they open? If the sign is up near the road into the footy ground, there’ll be food of one type or another on offe...

  To the experienced traveller, the Information Centre is an invaluable first stop in any town. Not only can you be guaranteed a clean toilet, you will be given an overview of the broad selection of tourist options available to you as you explore any given area. Whatever your explorer identity, be it walking, cycling, riding, off- road or self-guided: your predilections will be catered to in the precinct’s information bureau. In our fact-finding Canola Way investigation, we were surprised to find a dearth of these tourist friendly centres. Although Grong Grong, at the extreme end of the “forgotten” end of the Canola Way is an end post of the Narrandera Shire, it could be said that this shire has a glowing example of an Information Centre. Newly built, its promotions branch far and wide beyond its Shire borders, generously promoting attractions within a broad reach, genuinely assisting the travelling public, as well as providing the best from local providores. (I heartily recommend ...

It all began with a simple idea—spoken over coffee at Ganmain’s  Faraway Bookstore. Wendy had a vision: what if we created something that celebrated the spirit of our small towns? A way to spotlight the people, places, and businesses that make life along the Canola Way so uniquely special. The moment she shared it, we knew we were in. And just like that, Canola Way Connections was born—three women with a passion for community and a belief that local stories matter. The Canola Way itself is more than a route on the map—it’s a golden thread running through Matong, Grong Grong, Ganmain, Marrar, Coolamon, Junee and Temora. To some, it’s a daily commute. To others, a scenic road trip through canola fields in full bloom. But for us, it’s home. We created Canola Way Connections to shine a light on the beauty of small-town life—not just in the landscapes, but in the people. From butchers and bakers to artists and volunteers, every business and event has a story. Our mission is to tell the...