NSW

Geoff Helisma. The decision to cease producing hot and/or locally prepared meals at the Iluka Meals on Wheels (IMoW) kitchen has drawn pleas from volunteers to “reverse this decision”. In a letter to Page MP Kevin Hogan, a volunteer writes, “I would like to make you aware, if you're not already, of the above devastating decision which will affect many residents of the Lower Clarence community.”

Geoff Helisma. Multi award-winning, Yamba fine food manufacturer Peter Nicholson hasn’t entered his creations in shows around Australia for about four years – but that changed recently when his Spiced Beetroot Finishing Vinegar took out the champion trophy at the recent Royal Tasmanian Fine Food Awards ... "What food would I put it on?" "Vanilla bean ice cream, and I implore you to try it."

Water extraction from the Nymboida River is on track to see Shannon Creek Dam reach its maximum storage capacity ... “Frequent heavy rainfall events in the Nymboida catchment throughout the summer continued to cause issues with river water quality and delayed the refilling of Shannon Creek Dam. We also experienced issues with extraction infrastructure which further limited the amount of clean water which could be taken from the Nymboida River to replenish water levels in the dam,” says Greg Mashiah, Manager for Water Cycle at Clarence Valley Council.

Tourism businesses and organisations are invited to come on board to work together to build greater awareness and encourage visitation to the Wagga Wagga + Surrounds region ... “Domestic travel is booming in regional areas as people are exploring a little closer to home, which is a significant opportunity to leverage off.”

Groundbreaking research funded by the NSW Government has today revealed feral pig control programs can save landholders up to $100 per hectare, Minister for Agriculture and Minister for Western NSW Adam Marshall has announced ... “Feral pigs are one of the most wide-spread pests which cause significant economic losses to primary production and other agricultural enterprises in many parts of the State and also damage environmental and cultural sites."

Kendall Jennings. As a part of a border community, you can enjoy both sides of the river without thinking you are in a different state – until the state governments have a difference of opinion over COVID-19 safety.

The current erosion has been spiralling out of control ever since the Australian Federal Government developed a plan to ironically ‘save the Murray’. Under the current Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) management, over 300km of the Murray’s natural constraints have been severely eroded taking with it trees, habitats, infrastructure, and any last remaining hope that the MDBA actually care for the country and her communities.

Wakool Burraboi Public School students will write and star in a new play being shown at Wakool and Barham this month, as part of the ACRE21 festival. Local communities are invited to see the show for free. Theatre maker, Angela Frost, has worked with the Wakool school’s 12 students this term to write a play called Heading to Yallapenya ... “A little girl gets lost in a place like Wakool, she visits a farm, goes to a big community event called ‘The Classic’, and everyone helps her get on her way.”

Barellan Rams are on a roll, notching up their second win for the season in the ProTen Community Cup rugby league at Goolgowi on June 5. At half-time, Barellan were 10 to Ivanhoe 6 and the full-time score was 14-10.

Nicholas Rupolo. Health Services Union paramedics across the Riverina will only attend to serious emergencies today following NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet’s wage increase offer the union describes as “humiliating and insulting” ... Health Services Union Riverina organiser Mick Grayson said regional paramedics were at a significant disadvantage from lower pay and costly work practices.

The greatest black hole in the universe is how Michael Donnelley describes mobile phone connection at the Country Inn Motel in Kyogle ... Kyogle mayor Danielle Mulholland said reliable and affordable high-speed internet was vital, “this is just as important in terms of infrastructure as some of the more traditional kinds like roads, bridges, footpaths and so on. People are making real estate purchasing decisions on a range of factors important to them and telecommunications connectivity is now one of them.”

Two Kyogle women are united in doing something about how the housing crisis is impacting women. Lynda Clark and Wendy Bolden are not waiting for the state government to act, for funding policies to change or for more refuges to be built. They see the crisis and they are taking action to be part of a solution.

Readers may have noticed stories concerning Minister Pavey handing the operation of graveyards to the NSW Public Service ... The Jewish faith and the Islamic faith are supporting the Roman Catholic Church which is in Court with the Government. The People of the Book have united in the issue of looking after the dead.

Geoff Helisma. Glen Innes Severn Council (GISC) has voted to “support Clarence Valley Council (CVC) in seeking a moratorium on future mining and mining exploration in the Clarence Valley catchment”. Mayor Carol Sparks tabled a mayoral minute at the May 27 GISC meeting, outlining her motivation to table the minute.