NSW

With a thrilling victory under her belt last start and the ability to handle rain affected ground, Kris Lees-trained Endorphins has strong credentials in the Trackside Photography Class 3 Handicap at Port Macquarie on Monday.

Despite lingering COVID restrictions, the Armidale Show Committee has worked hard to develop a full schedule for the public to enter and compete in, and a jam-packed entertainment program over two nights.

Petrol prices across Narrandera jumped to a new high last week, with local service stations charging almost $1.80 for a litre of Unleaded 91. The average unleaded petrol price in Narrandera was $1.77.4 per litre. The town’s motorists could be forgiven for pointing the finger at nations throughout the world which are flexing their military might.

Charles Sturt, in collaboration with Lockhart Shire Council and The Rock Progress Association, officially opened The Rock Regional Observatory on Friday. The observatory will be used for educational astronomical observation and research activities for residents and visitors.

Jeff Hanson. Narrandera harness trainer Ellen Bartley is preparing for one of the biggest nights of her young training career with Miss Chantilly set to contest the Group 1 NSW Oaks at Menangle on Saturday.

Kirstin Nicholson. Ben Timms, of the Barham Licenced Post Office, was out on his delivery run when he came across another driver in need of help at around 10am ... Rushing to assist, he grabbed the fire extinguisher from his own vehicle to prevent the fire from spreading. While performing his good deed, the driver of the burning vehicle fled in Ben’s utility, driving east along Barham Road.

Kirstin Nicholson. Let us introduce you to Sidney CP Reid JP. Sidney Reid was born in 1889 in Grafton. He came to Koondrook to manage Arbuthnot Sawmills in 1918 ... instrumental in establishing the Barham-Koondrook Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital ... operated a dairy farm ... "possessed a tremendous capacity for getting things done."

Kendall Jennings. The second day of the SHDCA Under 16s held at Murrabit on Friday evening, February 18, was a nail biter. The Murray Raiders entered day two with a two-run lead. However, Wandella’s third batsman, and captain, Bohden McKnight, was strong at the crease, making 74 runs before retiring (not out), a vital batsman for Wandella. Harvey Macri (2) and Thomas Graedy (1) were not out. After 40 overs, Wandella eight for 161.

The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) has launched a new commemorative book, at a function held at Government House in Sydney, honouring the bicentenary of the organisation in July this year.  

On the 19th February, Gulgong Show Society hosted its 134th Gulgong Show. It was a huge success and we were pleased to host a fun packed show for the local families and the visitors that came with over 3,500 visitors coming through the gate.

It’s not until you’re up close to the mural drawn onto Casino’s water tower that you can really know the scale of the artwork. It is huge. Mural painters Steve Falco and Jordan Bruce are aware of the impact the mural will have on the town’s residents. The water tower can be seen from nearly everywhere.

The timber mill at Wyan has been sold. The Tarmac Sawmilling site on Tenterfield Rd went into liquidation last July and recently sold. The Tarmac Sawmilling Pty Ltd parent company is in South Australia and a staff member there said the mill was forced to close after the 2019 bushfires.

Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for Resources Paul Toole has announced the NSW Government will not support commercial applications for offshore mineral, coal or petroleum exploration or mining, in or adjacent to, NSW coastal waters.

Minister for Resources and Water Keith Pitt has announced that new light will be shed on the potential for additional groundwater resources in the upper Darling River region ... Geoscience Australia, in collaboration with the NSW Government, will commence an airborne electromagnetic survey across this section of north-west NSW to better understand the location of groundwater resources and their movement beneath the floodplain and its surrounds.

Geoff Helisma. The cost of vital repairs to the rock gabion dam at the foot of the Shannon Creek Dam spillway has blown out from the awarded $1.145 million (ex GST) contract to a “foreshadowed variation” budget of “between $3.16 million and $4.13 million”.

Emma Pritchard. The Grafton Chamber of Commerce hosted its first breakfast meeting of the year at the Clocktower Hotel last week ... In assuming his new role with the Chamber, Mr Jablonski, a passionate advocate for local youths, spoke to the crowd about encouraging mentorships for young people and getting them actively involved in entrepreneurships and business.

Geoff Helisma. ‘Not out’ septuagenarian Bob Walker came to comedy relatively late. “It saved my life. I was deeply depressed when I took it up – it’s changed how I think about myself and my outlook on life.” ... the Tucabia man is back with a stellar line-up of comedians at the Maclean Bowling Club – and all of the money from ticket sales will be used to potentially save lives.

Moves by Water Minister Kevin Anderson to pave the way for the handing out of licences for floodplain harvesting as early as this week are likely in breach of the Commonwealth Water Act and could set up a future government to have to fork out billions of dollars in compensation, says Cate Faehrmann, Greens MP and water spokesperson and chair of the recent NSW Upper House Committee into Floodplain Harvesting.

The state’s peak agricultural body has criticised union calls to scrap the Ag Visa, saying it will only lead to further disruption in food supply chains. The Australian Workers Union waded into the political chaos this week claiming the Ag Visa had failed to attract workers to farms, ignoring the impact of COVID on international travel.