NSW

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.

Charles Sturt academic, Dr Joanne Connolly explores what makes koalas unique and how Charles Sturt University is contributing to saving endangered populations, including research into the Narrandera koala population ... ARR.News asks some questions of Dr Connolly.

Bushfire affected environmental recovery monitoring in south-west NSW by a Charles Sturt University PhD research student has revealed a hitherto un-noted lizard species in Woomargama National Park. Mr Grant Linley in the Charles Sturt Gulbali Institute of Agriculture, Water and Environment said his research obtained photographic evidence of a species, the heath goanna (also known as Rosenberg’s goanna), in Woomargama NP which has not been observed by scientists to occur in the park.

Emma Pritchard. When Clarence Valley resident Paul MacNamara decided to transition from an everyday teacher to an education officer in the prison system, he found himself in an unfamiliar classroom with strict settings and new students. Some were sex offenders and murderers, others were serving time for armed robbery, drug offences, or breaking and entering ... "I noticed that people of all ages would ask me about my job and what is was like to teach in a gaol," he recalled.

Nita was lying awake in bed at 2am in her unit in Casino. She was waiting for the radio to come on. She looked up and a figure was standing by her bed. He wore a hoodie, was barefoot and looked about 16, Nita said. He fled when Nita screamed. “I’ll never forget it,” Nita, 86, said ... They used to steal things out of the garage and off the porch but now they are coming into our homes, she said.

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This exhibition celebrates Margaret Olley’s favourite subject – the beauty and joy of flowers. Olley dedicated her career to exploring the endless possibilities of humble, domestic objects combined with colourful, textural and sculptural arrangements of cornflowers, delphiniums, calendulas, hydrangeas, poppies, marigolds, flannel flowers, hippeastrums and more.

Marine ecosystems and coastal communities will benefit from increased investment and restoration projects as a result of the new NSW Blue Carbon Strategy ... “The simplest way to understand blue carbon is to liken it to underwater forests – just as trees store carbon, marine and coastal plants and ecosystems do too, except even more efficiently” : Minister for Environment, James Griffin.

The state’s peak farming group says there is a clear opportunity for the federal government to help businesses transition to cleaner vehicles. NSW Farmers Business, Economics and Trade Committee chair John Lowe said targeted extension of the instant asset write off could be used to encourage farmers and other rural business owners to purchase more modern, energy efficient equipment.

The duplication of the Barton Highway is forging ahead with the focus now turning to construction of several intersections along a seven-kilometre stretch as part of Stage 1 ... ARR.News asked some questions for the Ministers and Members and received a response from a spokesperson for Minister King.

It was a beautiful winter’s day when Narrandera Golf Club hosted Juniors on the Move on Sunday August 21, with bright sunshine and no wind.

Narrandera High School finally celebrated NAIDOC Day, its first in three years, with the Welcome to Country and Didgeridoo welcome setting the scene for a day of inclusivity and education. The highlight of the day was the final event - the commissioning of the Stewart James mural.