NSW

Emma Pritchard. The Grafton Model Aircraft Club is hosting its annual flying weekend on November 26 and 27, and they are cordially inviting Clarence Valley residents, and visitors in the region, to journey to the Tancreds Lane Flying Field at Clarenza, for two days of spectacular aerobatics and flying demonstrations. Visitors will also have the opportunity to learn more about model aircrafts and get up close with some phenomenal displays...

The NSW Sugar Milling Co-operative, which is a 50% stakeholder in the Sunshine Sugar business, held its 44th Annual General Meeting for members last Friday. Good news for cane growers is that the Sunshine Sugar business continues to operate profitably, with the Refinery delivering valuable returns.

Researcher Jacqui Kennedy knows how to save photos and history. She helped Coraki Museum, Ballina Library and Ballina Naval Museum digitise their photos collections … a visit to Ray Hunt’s home at Tuckurimba two years ago led Jacqui to some astounding photos.

Tegan George. Agents yarded 1325 head at the Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange regular prime sale on Wednesday, November 16. About 900 were young cattle with a large percentage of weaners in condition to suit restockers. There were very few showing enough finish for the trade.

Dorrigo & Guy Fawkes Agricultural Association Inc Dorrigo Show is BACK! Bigger, Better and Brighter than Ever! There has been much detailed planning for Dorrigo’s first...

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Lake Macquarie will be the first council area in the state to welcome shared e-scooters, with a 12-month trial along selected routes to begin from Monday December 5. Minister for Active Transport Rob Stokes said the NSW Government has worked closely with Lake Macquarie’s economic development company Dantia and e-scooter provider Beam to ensure the trial will benefit their community and put safety first.

More than 100 rock fishers have walked away better educated in how to stay safe after Surf Life Saving NSW’s popular rock fishing safety program,  Gone Fishing, was successfully held at Avoca Beach ... more than 300 people ... learned all about vital safety measures and skill-building techniques specific to the popular but often deadly pastime.

The NSW Government last week withdrew what is referred to as the dual consent private native forestry bill, the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Private Native Forestry) Bill 2022. It is possible in the past week to look at news headlines concerning all mainland eastern States and see open contemptuous rampant hypocrisy at play.   But the conduct around this Bill is possibly the better example.

The critique of our study of fire history in southwestern forests illustrates the difficulty of discussion around such emotive issues. We reported that according to Departmental records, bushfires were seven times more likely in areas of forest that still had the dense understorey that had been germinated by prescribed burns than they were in other areas where the understorey had self-thinned because it had been left alone. These are the facts, but they leave us at an impasse.

The wild population of one of Australia’s rarest birds is being boosted after the release of 50 conservation-bred birds on Wonnarua Country in the Lower Hunter Valley this week. Minister for Environment James Griffin said this is the second large-scale release of conservation-bred regent honeyeaters undertaken in NSW.

Agriculture in NSW is contributing more to the economy than ever before despite this year’s devastating weather events, with the total value of the industry rising by more than $2 billion last year to a record $23.1 billion ... “Livestock industries also achieved a record value of $7.9 billion due to a recovery in sheep meat and wool production and higher lamb, beef and wool prices": Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders.

There has been a positive trend of increasing Regional Express passenger numbers at Narrandera-Leeton Airport since the beginning of 2022. Narrandera Shire Council’s General Manager George Cowan advised that positive comments continue to be received from Regional Express that the Sydney – Narrandera/Leeton – Griffith route was one of their most profitable routes flown.

Jeff Hanson. The word prodigious can get thrown around a lot these days, but it’s really the only way to describe 21-year-old athlete and rugby league star, Tristan Eldridge ... After choosing rugby league as his sport of choice, the talented outside back was nurtured in the Canberra Raiders system, playing Harold Matthews Cup, SG Ball Cup and Jersey Flegg Cup for the Green Machine.

A complex aerial operation has placed bulka bags filled with 78,000 kilograms of sand along a levee bank west of the Loddon River at Kerang. The levee bank, situated near properties and major arterial roads linking Kerang to Swan Hill, Boort and Quambatook, breached when the Loddon River reached major flood levels in late October.

Kendall Jennings. It has been nearly a month since public transport was available from the Kerang Railway Station, halted by the floods. The Swan Hill line was reactivated on Saturday, November 12, running trains for the entire service after the line was inspected and passed last week.

The latest two additions to the Koondrook Barham Red Gum Statue Walk were publicly revealed on Sunday, November 13. The Roy Higgins and Sidney Reid statues brings the Red Gum Statue Walk to a total of 20 features capturing the twin towns’ history, ecology and pioneering spirit ... “This walk is a very unique feature of our towns and highlights the versatility and magnificence of sustainable red gum timber": Tom Chick, KDC chairman.

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Whilst those who are located regionally ... are well versed in the gaps in healthcare availability, there is a lack of practical solutions to meet the demand and support these communities deserve ... Open Support offers a 100 per cent free of charge transport program which aims to help bridge the gap in access to healthcare for those who live in regional NSW by providing transport services across Sydney.