Property market still surging
Nicholas Rupolo. There are no signs the Riverina property market is set to cool down as demand for new homes and low interest rates keep city buyers in the hunt for a switch to the country ... Median house prices in Coolamon and Narrandera have increased around 20 per cent and 17 per cent respectively this year.
Aboriginal students achieving well at NHS
Nicholas Rupolo. Narrandera High School’s Aboriginal Learning Centre is at the heart of better than expected results in this year’s NAPLAN. The number of Aboriginal students achieving results in the top two bands was more than triple than any previous year at Narrandera High School. More than two thirds of year nine Aboriginal students exceeded expected growth in reading and numeracy compared to the New South Wales average.
High prices at AMMO sale
The Australian Mohair Marketing Organisation’s (AMMO) auction at Narrandera last Friday achieved exceptionally high prices against a slightly downward trend in South Africa. There was a 100 per cent clearance and another Australian record average price of $34.65 /kg which was $4.60 higher than the previous best auction average.
Supermarket forging ahead
Narrandera’s second supermarket, IGA Narrandera +Liquor opened for business in August with a minimum of fanfare due to Covid-related restrictions but they are now forging ahead with plans to expand services and products ... “The town will see a white delivery van with IGA logo on the streets of Narrandera soon ... We also aim to go live with our online shopping portal ..." : Harry Ajwani.
NSW Labor moves to deregister Country Labor
Nicholas Rupolo. The NSW Labor party has moved to deregister Country Labor from the NSW Electoral Commission with new rules designed to boost representation of voices in the bush on policy and in parliament ... “For me the biggest change was the rule change where we now reserve 30 per cent of winnable seats in upper house ticket to people who live in regional NSW. That’s a substantial change from the way it currently stands:” Shadow Agriculture and Regional NSW Minister Mick Veitch.
Festivals a casualty of Covid
Covid-19 restrictions in 2021 led to the cancellation of four Narrandera Shire flagship events which traditionally draw large crowds and boost the local economy ... Narrandera Shire’s Covid casualties were the Narrandera Show, the Good Old Days Festival at Barellan, Narrandera’s popular 50s and 60s rock n’ roll festival Rockin’ on East and Narrandera Garden Club’s Camellia Show, most of which were cancelled for the second consecutive year ... The Good Old Days Festival drew a record crowd of 7500 in 2019 and has grown into the Narrandera Shire’s biggest event valued at $1.8 million to the regional economy.
James Sullivan honoured
Liz Lawrence. The Sullivan name has been synonymous with Australian football in Narrandera for decades and now one of its favourite sons James Sullivan has been honoured for his commitment to the game as a teacher at St Francis de Sales Regional College. James, son of Barry and Debbie Sullivan of Narrandera, has been named as a NSW/ACT Secondary School Ambassador for the game in the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards.
