NSW

Farmers and regional communities are bracing for yet another soaking with the Bureau of Meteorology confirming another summer of La Nina ... “People are trying to rebuild and get back on top of things, but another huge rain would just be devastating for us”: Northern Rivers farmer Neil Baker.

Emma Pritchard. Members of the Clarence River Historical Society were saddened to hear of the passing of Britain’s longest serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II last week. President Steve Tranter said Her Majesty was a friend of Australia who was widely loved, respected and admired by many people.

Rodney Stevens. When Brian Elvery was offered the opportunity to ride his bicycle more than 500km to raise money for Ronald McDonald House he didn’t hesitate to accept. Last week, along with a core group of a dozen other cyclists plus support crew, Mr Elvery got in the saddle on Tuesday at Inverell, for the 2022 Ronald McDonald House Northern NSW Ride For Sick Kids, aiming to raise $200,000.

Australia woke to the news that Queen Elizabeth had died in the early hours of the morning. Memories and tributes to the Queen filled posts on social media ... On February 10, 1954, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip visited Lismore before flying out to the Evans Head aerodrome in the afternoon.

After six months of silence, steam from the sugar mill chimneys punches into a clear sky before quietly dissolving into the blue. It is a welcome and familiar sight for residents of the small riverside village. Finally, cane is being crushed again and its back to work at Sunshine Sugar in Broadwater.

Out now!

Customers in regional NSW have now had access to real-time data on more than one million bus trips across the state. Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway announced the milestone, ahead of the new tracking technology system being rolled out on buses in Orange and Griffith from Monday.

The latest issue of Australian Zoologist is titled “Out of the ashes: Lessons learned from bushfires and how we can better manage our fauna”. But the editorial wrap-up suggests we’ve learnt nothing. It seems our fauna will continue to suffer from mismanagement under a Lock It Up and Let It Burn conservation’ paradigm. The abstract mentions monitoring, mapping and research, but the only reference to management is “use of supplementary resources such as nest boxes and artificial roosts to replace those lost in fires”.

Located in the Central West of New South Wales, Tullinga White Dorpers was established in 2005.

With construction of the Tweed’s new inclusive play space in Goorimahbah – Place of Stories underway at Jack Evans Boat Harbour, focus is now turning to the planning and delivery of Stage 2 of the park.

The most ambitious rewilding project in Australia is achieving incredible results, with 10 locally extinct species now thriving after being reintroduced to three feral-free areas in NSW national parks ... “It’s incredible to see that in such a short period of time, we’re on track to remove at least 10 animals from the NSW extinct list – the first time this will have happened anywhere in the world”: NSW Minister for Environment James Griffin.

David Lee. There aren’t many people who can say they have stared into the face of danger in order to show the world a story that needs to be told, but Narrandera resident and cinematographer Jordan Bryon has done just that; and one of those ventures has led him to work on a feature film for the New York Times (NYT). For almost six years, Jordan has been living in Afghanistan and more recently working alongside colleague, Farzad Fetrat on the feature film.

David Lee. A once popular pastime that possessed a great deal of culture and funk has once again rolled its way into the hearts of the Narrandera community, with local resident Briana Bryon kickstarting Glow Roller Disco. Beginning the business less than two months ago, Briana was not surprised by how popular her venture has become in such a short period, which offers one-on-one basic coaching, birthday parties and school holiday sessions.

Yanco Agricultural High School celebrated its centenary and family day at the college grounds last weekend ... Our speciality in developing students with a focus on agriculture, with students having the opportunity to work as an integral part of the school's sheep, cattle and show stock teams, as well as our equine program, is what makes us most proud": Principal Marni Milne.

When I think of tragedy and tales of woe, it is hard not to go past history’s greats like Romeo and Juliet, but Australia as a nation is penning an even more tragic story, one sadly not confined to fiction ... With water or the environment not being big enough portfolios for the Albanese Government to separate, Tanya Plibersek has the job of forcing Southern Basin communities to swallow the pill promised to South Australia in the federal election.

A diverse range of views were heard at the River People’s Forum held in Swan Hill on September 2. What do we want our river communities and river to look like? What is the balance between regulated flows and floods and natural ones? Do we want concrete giants like the KP regulators? Nothing was out of bounds.

Kendall Jennings. Local lad, Jye McNeil, was awarded his first Scobie Breasley Medal on Saturday night, with 56 votes. The Scobie Breasley Medal dates to 1996 when Damien Oliver won the inaugural award, an award he has won 11 times ... The annual jockey’s award sees votes cast by racing stewards on a one, two and three point basis of the best horse ride of the day, of which Jye has had a few this season with 114 wins and a Group 1 win.

Out now!

Out now!

Urbenville School students travelled six hours to Gunnedah to recite poetry on Friday, September 2. The trip was worth it. They came back winners of the prestigious Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards. The school was awarded the highest honour ­‑ winning the primary school section and the national school winner ... The winning didn’t stop there.

Emma Pritchard. The name is synonymous with producing some of the most recognisable and sought-after speed-boats to race across the country, and the world ... Founded over 70 years ago by renowned shipwright Harry Hammond who was later joined in the family business by his son Mark, Hammond Craft built some of the most versatile speedboats in the country during the 1950s and 1960s.