NSW

A healthy herd and healthy habitat are possible. The Casino Food Co-op worked with Coffee Camp landowners Gary and Clare Brown in water catchment health and in establishing a koala habitat ... “It’s a win all-round, the cattle have clean safe drinking water, the creek banks get a facelift after years of erosion and weed infestation and the koalas get a new home,” Casino Co-Op chief executive Simon Stahl said.

In 1865, a boy named Henry – later known as Harry –was born in Tabulam. That boy grew up to be General Sir Harry Chauvel and he was the first Australian to attain the rank of lieutenant general and later general and the first to lead a corps – as commander of the Desert Mounted Corps. At Beersheba in October 1917, his Light Horse troops used speed, surprise and bayonets to capture the town and its vital water supply in history’s last great cavalry charge.

Death or blindness. It’s not a choice anyone would want. But it may be Steve Sun’s only option. He’ll find out after his next brain tumour scan in June. After that, he faces the reality of doctors operating on his tumour – an operation that will leave him blind. If they don’t operate, he is likely to die.

Following a dominant victory in a recent maiden handicap at Dubbo, the Kris Lees trained gelding, French Marine, is ready to take the next step in the John Oxley Motors Benchmark 58 Handicap at Port Macquarie on Monday.

Ali Bohn. Last week I was thrilled to return face-to-face with our Pioneers after almost a year apart. Although we were not permitted to meet indoors, we sat under the tree out the front of Murray Haven and Barham’s stunning autumn weather did not disappoint; so much so in fact that it was cool drinks on offer in place of the usual hot cuppa. Today’s discussion topic was wartime and what our Pioneers’ memories are of such time with family members heading off to the unknown, and the uncertainty of ever seeing them again.

Alex Ross strode home to win the half marathon in Narrandera’s Town2Beach Run, Walk and Ride on Sunday in a time of 1.24.42 ... Nate Mingay won the all ages 1km walk/run on 3 mins 55 seconds ... The event was held as a fund raiser for Narrandera Bidgee Boxing and drew 196 entrants.

Narrandera may be a future home to a critically important research centre for one of the nation’s most iconic species, the koala. A notice of motion was submitted by deputy mayor David Fahey to Narrandera Shire Council to lobby Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke, Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley and the NSW Parks and Wildlife Service to establish a Koala Research Centre in Narrandera. Cr Fahey said the centre would research and protect the koala population in the Shire, create a tourism opportunity and employment for the town, and protect the disease-free status of the local koala population.

NSW Farmers Vice President and Liverpool Plains farmer Xavier Martin said the agreement ends 13 years of uncertainty for the region’s farmers. “It was the wrong mine in the wrong place,” Mr Martin said. “This area has some of the best soils and water in Australia and as a nation, short term energy extraction gains should never compromise long term food and fibre production goals.” Mr Martin said the Shenhua project also had an “unmanageable risk” factor on the quality and quantity of groundwater resources.

The National Farmers’ Federation welcomes today’s announcement to end plans for the development of the proposed Shenhua coal mine on the Liverpool Plains. "After more than 13 long years, farmers and the Liverpool Plains community can almost breathe a sigh of relief that this process has finally ended," President and Liverpool Plains farmer Fiona Simson said. "The fertile black soil of the Liverpool Plains is some of the best farm land in Australia. It is a region of national significance.

Only a few weeks until the Kyogle Writers Festival kicks off ... Authors attending include Melissa Lucashenko, Stuart Rees, Daniel Browning, Ellen van Neerven, Nardi Simpson, Scott Bevan, Laura Elvery, Jessie Cole, Lisa Walker, Kristina Olsson and many more ... Local authors at the festival: Jarrah Dundler, Paul Shields, Linda Woodrow, Odette Nettleton, Gwendolyn Gray, Hayley Katzen, Andrew Johnston and Thor Phillips.

Ken Vary knows a lot about Tabulam and about horses ... Ken is a regular at the Bonalbo Show where he sat watching the horse competitions. In his younger years, Ken mustered and went to rodeos. At 77, he may ride less but he can spot a quality horse with no trouble at all. In 1976 he won Campdraft Horse of the Year at the North Coast National with his horse Gift.

Emma Pritchard. Proudly holding his beautifully framed certificate in his hands, Grafton man Ian McGaw remains humble and appreciative as he shares the story behind it. After dedicating more than 60 years of service to local shows, including the Grafton Show, Mr McGaw was recognised for his selfless contributions by the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW who recently presented him with a certificate of appreciation for his ongoing support and service to the most famous show in Australia, the Royal Easter Show ... Describing the “friendships formed through volunteering” and being able to “share your knowledge with others” as highlights throughout his association with local shows and the Royal Easter Show, Mr McGaw said he felt very humble upon receiving his certificate during the Easter long weekend, and he is looking forward to adding “a few more years” to his impressive portfolio.

Geoff Helisma. Clarence Valley Council [CVC] has restated its opposition to any diversion of the Clarence River or mining within its catchment. The council’s general manager, Ashley Lindsay, concludes in CVC’s submission to the draft North Coast Regional Water Strategy: “Council reiterates its position that any proposal to divert the Clarence cannot be justified from an economic, environmental or social perspective.”

Geoff Helisma. The latest data from Liquor & Gaming NSW has revealed that Clarence Valley local government area residents lost $20,727,573 to poker machines in the last six months of 2020 ... There were 691 poker machines distributed across the Clarence Valley Local Government Area (LGA); 214 of which were in 22 hotels and 477 of which were in 12 clubs. There has been a reduction in the number of machines since the Liquor & Gaming NSW started publishing the statistics from December 2016 ...

Forestry Corporation of NSW is halfway through the delivery of 25,000 koala food tree seedlings to Port Macquarie Koala Hospital for their annual koala food tree giveaway program ... The seedlings were grown at Forestry Corporation’s Grafton nursery and have had an exceptional start with the perfect growing conditions and look extremely healthy and luscious, said Forestry Corporation’s Partnerships Leader, Sandra Madeley.

Following a training treble on the program and many winners owned by close family and friends, the Milligan training establishment was the dominant force at the Port Macquarie race meeting on Friday. With Bob’s experience and expertise as patriarch of the team and the operational guidance of son, Glen, the stable was successful in landing a treble with wins by Being Naughty, Hold all Tickets and Dr Demon.