Clarence Valley Independent

Publisher details

Print edition published every Wednesday

Distributed in the Clarence Valley and surrounding villages

Circulation of over 10,000 per issue
Tabloid

Digital editions available for purchase from the ARR.News Store

Free prior to 8 May 2024

Website with online news

Clarence Valley Independent articles

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Our Wallaby retires: Kane Douglas hangs up his boots

Rodney Stevens, Clarence Valley Independent
News
Former Yamba Buccaneers forward and Wallabies representative Kane Douglas is coming home after announcing his retirement from professional rugby union aged 37 ... “Today marks the end of a chapter that has shaped our family’s life for over a decade.”

Rugby Union football in the Clarence Valley

Contributor, Clarence Valley Independent
History & heritage
The first rugby union club to be established in Australia was Sydney University’s in 1863 ... On 12 June 1880, the game was first introduced to the Clarence River by James Ellis, quarry manager at the Clarence entrance breakwater works.

Thousands embrace Clarence Harvest Celebration

Rodney Stevens, Clarence Valley Independent
Agriculture
Thousands of people from around the region descended on Maclean for three-day Clarence Harvest Celebration embracing the beef, sugar cane, and seafood industries of the valley. The premier weekend of the 2026 celebration followed the Clarence Kids Colour Run and Crowning Carnival and the Cane Harvest Ball, held in the preceding weeks.

Erosion of local media

Rodney Stevens, Clarence Valley Independent -
Regional journalism has been dealt another blow with news that NBN Television will cut back broadcasts across the Northern Rivers region while staff remain uncertain of how many jobs will be lost. Last month WIN Corporation purchased NBN Television from Channel 9 for almost $15 million. Since the early 1970’s NBN Television has broadcast an hour-long news bulletin from its Newcastle base.

Massive Yamba Festival of Bowls

Rodney Stevens, Clarence Valley Independent
Bowls
Bowlers from around Australia descended on the Lower Clarence last week for one of the biggest events in Yamba Bowling Club history, the 2026 Yamba Festival of Bowls. The 2026 Yamba Festival of Bowls ran for six days, from Tuesday, May 26, to Sunday, May 31.

$5 million boost for nation’s largest modular social housing project in South Grafton

Contributor, Clarence Valley Independent
Community
A vacant block of land in Armidale Street, South Grafton owned by respected community and aged care housing provider, Clarence Village Limited, will soon house the largest modular social housing project in the nation ... “It will deliver 32 new self-contained one-bedroom social housing units designed specifically for older residents, with vulnerable single older women prioritised for the new homes,” Mr Williamson said.

Iluka’s top gun: Defence Force Chief of Capabilities Glen Braz

Rodney Stevens, Clarence Valley Independent
Community
Iluka Public School alumni Glen Braz has risen through the ranks of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) over the past 39 years and last Friday he was appointed Defence Force Chief of Joint Capabilities. Born at Grafton Base Hospital, Glen’s mother Sue told the Clarence Valley Independent her son says he had “the ideal childhood” growing up at Iluka with his elder brother Mark.

Australian artist celebrates 100th birthday

Emma Pritchard, Clarence Valley Independent
Arts
He flawlessly captures everyday life and nostalgic scenes of domestic and social euphoria perfectly in a variety of colours. And as he celebrated his 100th birthday on May 5, renowned Australian artist John Beeman is continuing to paint his own story.

Samuel Darke held a unique position

Emma Pritchard, Clarence Valley Independent
History & heritage
A Grafton man thought to be the last surviving link to an undercover British nuclear operation has passed away. Samuel Darke was a teenager when he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and was subsequently given orders to participate in a top-secret mission known as Operation Totem where a pair of British atmospheric nuclear tests were conducted in the South Australian outback in October 1953.

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About the Clarence Valley Independent

Established in 1994 the Clarence Valley Independent (formerly the Clarence Valley Review) is a wide-spread, comprehensive news source, putting the community in touch with local affairs, council issues, and businesses.  

We pride ourselves on our quality, unbiased journalism, covering local issues. Community organisations turn to the Independent to provide a medium to reach the wider community. We believe we have always been, and will continue to be, the voice of our community.

The Clarence Valley Independent offers a positive reflection upon the community it serves. It is not constrained by any external corporate agenda and prides itself on its balanced reporting.

The paper is produced to high standards, combining interesting content, local news and sport and high quality graphic design.

The Clarence Valley Independent is published every Wednesday as full colour weekly tabloid. Our circulation is over 10,000 and is distributed widely throughout the Clarence Valley and surrounding villages.

In a time when newspapers are downsizing and going online, we strive to maintain a printed format we know works, especially on a local scale.

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