NSW

Geoff Helisma. “The total land value for the North Coast NSW region increased by 28.7 per cent between July 1, 2020, and July 1, 2021 – from $89.3 billion to $115.5 billion”, Valuer General NSW writes in its  January 18 report.

Emma Pritchard. The men, aged 84 and 87, were asleep inside a Hoof Street residence when an unknown person attempted to gain entry to the premises by removing a flyscreen and climbing through a bedroom window shortly after 4am ... “There have been a lot of thefts and break-ins across Grafton recently," said a nearby resident.

Emma Pritchard. As Irene Armstrong gazes up into the leafy canopies of the trees outside her home, she estimates the population of the newest residents, who first appeared at the end of January, has grown to more than 40000 ... Their constant shrieking, feeding, habitat destruction, offensive odour and waste products are driving locals batty ... In NSW, flying foxes are protected ... The grey headed flying fox is also listed as vulnerable ...

Tottenham Picnic Race Club

All the fun of the fair at Koorawatha - competitions, Tug.A.War., horse events, cattle, sheep, prince/ princess competition, woodchopping, music, markets.

“Sea spurge is now reappearing in NSW, this time in more regional and remote areas of NSW, and we suspect it’s spreading from Victorian and Tasmanian beaches .... A spraying program is underway, using a highly specific biocontrol agent of sea spurge, a fungus, which is native to France" : James Griffin, NSW Environment Minister.

Every palliative patient in our region deserves dignified treatment and care whether in home or in hospital. Chair of Jodie’s Inspiration, Jesse Smith, in partnership with St Vincent’s Hospital (SVPH), has delivered an $11,000.00 Christmas gift to support in home palliative care services from Lotus Palliative Care across the Northern Rivers.

Cases of Bovine Ephemeral Fever, also known as three-day sickness, are being seen in cattle on the NSW North Coast. The disease has been confirmed via laboratory testing in a herd within the Kyogle shire, and there have also been reports of clinical signs of the disease in the Tweed and Brunswick shires. It is expected that the disease will move south as the season progresses.

NORPA has revealed some of the adventurous, world-class performances that will transport audiences to different worlds in 2022. The theatre at NORPA will transform into a tennis court with court-side seating for Sunshine Super Girl, the triumphant story of Australian sporting hero, Evonne Goolagong ...

Attractions include the Eastend Bus Service Rodeo, free activities for children, Hot Air Balloon Rides on the Defence Force Balloon, Wood Chop, Beaut All Vehicle Show, Dog Show in Victoria Park, Young Farmers Challenge, Farm Livestock, Birds & Poultry, Horse Events, Pavilion Displays, Australian Wildlife Park Display, Side Show Alley, Live Entertainment including Step Up Dance Academy. Darsharni & Tayvin Martins, and the Moosic Man, the Mad Bucking Cow, Mid-Western Regional Council Mobile Library, and Captain Awesome.

The NSW Government has partnered with Ironman Australia to bring the prestigious Ultra Trail Mont Blanc (UTMB) World Series to Mt Kosciuszko in December this year.

Some stories just keep on giving! The ambush of Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the National Press Club on Monday 31 January by Peter van Onselen raises many questions. The first point is that we have only van Onselen’s word that the message was sent by Gladys Berejiklian and that a Minister was the recipient and replied. Van Onselen does not say whether the Minister is a Federal Minister or a State Minister.

Narrandera Shire Council Mayor Neville Kschenka was left "frustrated and heartbroken" as he witnessed the damage Narrandera sustained during the weekend storms. On the edge of Narrandera as the storm broke, Cr Kschenka reached the centre of town as the weather event gathered momentum with lashing rain and strong gusts of wind.

Many farmers in the Narrandera area agreed with NSW Farmers Grains Committee chairperson Justin Everitt that this year's harvest had resulted in a ''bumper'' year. Mr Everitt said the "end result" had been positive despite the challenges farmers had faced with worker shortages, high prices for supplies, a mouse plague and wet weather.

Jeff Hanson. A sense of deja vu must have swept over the Narrandera Rodeo Club committee on Friday night, with organisers reluctantly deciding to cancel their 2022 rodeo ... the hard-working committee was expecting a bumper crowd for a big night of thrills and spills but for the second year in a row, the Covid-19 pandemic has reared its ugly head.

With the benefit of recent barrier trial victory at Taree under her belt, Par Avion is poised for a successful return in the John Oxley Volkswagen Mid Coast Racing Association Preview at Port Macquarie on Sunday 6 February.

Ali Bohn. The river was decorated with an array of wildlife and household replicas last Wednesday as the annual (and now iconic) Lilo Race took place for Australia Day. Flamingos, swans, lounge chairs, traditional lilos, and even thongs floated down the mighty Murray River; quite a sight to see from the banks on a stunning January morning.

Ali Bohn interviews Bill Revill, now settled in Barham after a full and remarkable life ... "Our new place was in Rhodesia, which happened to be at the beginning of a very nasty guerrilla war. As we arrived, so did the terrorists. It was expected for you to be in the armed forces, so I decided to join the police reserve as I could farm at the same time."