NSW

“The Victorian Government must answer questions why it is fast-tracking a project experts say could triple electricity transmission costs, whilst steam rolling our state’s farmers in the process ... The Victorian Government must explain to farmers why they are being forced to endure needless anxiety and fear over having their land carved up by power lines that may provide no benefit to the state": VFF President, Emma Germano.

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A leather mask made in a studio in Kyogle has won a second place ribbon at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. Artist Mario Sanchez Huertas placed second in two categories – art picture category and creative design and won two ribbons.

Gerrit Fokkema. Wesley Stacey died recently in Bermagui, where he had lived since the mid 1970’s. Between 1968 and 1972, Wes made pictures in Wilcannia of buildings and street scenes that were used in a book, ‘Historic Towns of Australia’.

Sadly anthropologist Jeremy Beckett passed away in the last months of 2022. A Celebration of his Life was held on 19 February 2023 at Chai Chak Wing Museum, Sydney University ... I would like to share memories of my association with Jeremy when I worked at Wilcannia River Radio in 2012-13.

Robbie Kerwin says, 'I started doing art when I was a kid ... I learnt a lot from Nana Jessie Kerwin and Aunty Elsie Jones' ... Vicki Dutton says, 'When I was a kid I loved going down to the river with my family, going fishing and hunting. I'd sit down with pencil and paper and draw from the Darling River, everything I'd see.'

Visitors to Yamba this Easter may be greeted with the same inquisitive looks that have been exciting locals over the past couple of months from a Coastal Emu that has taken up residence in paddocks near Wynyabbie House at Palmers Channel. Social media has been abuzz with sightings and photos of the critically endangered, world’s second tallest bird, which is only found on the NSW North Coast.

Emma Pritchard, Rodney Stevens. High school students will be banned from using mobile phones at school from Term Four 2023 in an election commitment from the Minns Labor government designed to improve students learning and social development ... While students will still be able to carry their mobile phones to and from school, the ban will apply during class, recess, and lunch ... I don’t really agree with it: Cooper.

Mystery still surrounds the disappearance of a woman who went missing while camping at Brooms Head in 2020 after the NSW Deputy State Coroner found she died close to where she went missing after going to amenities less than 200 metres from her camp. Annmarie Jeffery was last seen around 9am on Tuesday, August 25, 2020, at the Lake Arragan campground near Brooms Head.

Since she was a child,  Navanka Fletcher has helped her nan set up the district produce exhibit at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. Her nan Lyn Cregan, 76, has been involved in setting up the Northern District exhibits for 30 years.

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A smorgasbord of chamber music combined with a chance for students to be mentored by the masters and a world premiere is in store for Border audiences in May. Murray River Fine Music present the Inventi Ensemble and pianist Benjamin Martin live in concert across three iconic venues – The Cube, Wodonga, Peregrines, Table Top, and Albury Public School Hall, Albury – on May 6-7.

Richmond Landcare has set an inspiring precedent for reconciliation by being the first Landcare group in NSW to have its Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) endorsed by Reconciliation Australia. The Reflect RAP outlines the group’s dedication to increasing cultural awareness and knowledge, promoting engagement strategies, and building collaborative partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Volunteer-based not-for-profit organisations have received vital support through the Early Needs Recovery Program to help re-build, repair and clear fences in flood-affected areas ... "By providing this funding to ShoreTrack, BlazeAid and Rotary Australia to help with the fence rebuilding process, it is hoped to take some of the pressure off farmers to get this done so they can concentrate on other parts of their businesses and recover production quicker": Peta Holcombe, Early Needs Recovery Project Manager.

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The independent review of Inland Rail led by Dr Kerry Schott AO found major deficiencies in the governance and delivery of Inland Rail. It confirmed that Inland Rail is an important project to meet Australia’s growing freight task, improve road safety and to help decarbonise our economy. However, it also confirmed that the project is running significantly over budget and significantly behind schedule with just over 16% of the 1700km of track completed so far.

Narrandera Shire Council General Manager George Cowan assured residents of the town that water quality is the Council’s number one priority, but relief is estimated to be three years away. Claims have been made that many residents are living off bottled water because the town supply is leaving them with irritated bowels and skin rashes.

330 primary school students participated in the successful hip hop dance program run by Stomp Dance Company after a $9,000 donation by cluBarham ... The program included the Cohuna, Kerang and Koondrook schools after Cohuna Consolidated School teacher Michelle Howard saw a need to bring students, families and the community back together in a fun and interactive way...

The Bendigo Bank has announced that it will terminate 16 agencies as the bank seeks to build on last year’s measly profits of $488,000,000 ... Customer advocacy, satisfaction and community prosperity seem to be far from the driving force behind the decision that will see the closure of Barham, Cohuna and Pyramid Hill Bendigo Bank agencies on Friday, July 28, 2023.