The newest stories across general, sport, community, and business coverage.
Youth Crime
QUEENSLAND is delivering three new post-detention intensive rehabilitation programs for young offenders, in a key initiative to help make the state safer. Staying on Track offers up to 12 months of rehabilitation for youths exiting detention, including at least six months’ intensive support to reintegrate them into the community and prevent them falling back into [...]
Education
ALL public school students from years 5 to 12 will soon have access to the NSW Department of Education’s purpose-built, state-of-the-art generative AI app following a successful trial in 50 schools. NSWEduChat will be rolled out to all schools from the start of Term 4. As the sophistication and use of generative artificial intelligence rapidly [...]
Small Business Month
WITH Small Business Month about to launch in October, a recent Business NSW survey shows small businesses across New South Wales are being squeezed by rising costs, worker shortages and compliance pressures. Meanwhile, the state government has axed Business Connect, a vital support service for small businesses, on the eve of month-long celebrations. The NSW [...]
Racing Legacy
IN 1999, Nyngan racehorse trainer Rodney Robb bought a brand-new Isuzu horse truck and started driving to race meetings across Australia. During the next 25 years, Robb clocked one-and-a-half-million miles in the Isuzu – but it’s how he got the cash to buy the truck in the first place that makes for a better yarn. [...]
RBIA
AN alliance of regional banks and community organisations has provided Treasury with a detailed plan to ensure the sustainability of essential face-to- face regional bank branches, amid a continued crisis of branch closures across Australia. The Regional Banking Investment Alliance said the modest and easily implementable plan involves an industry community service obligation which, links [...]
Running Room Only
THERE was running room only in Balo Street Friday night when Run the Plains 2025 was launched in front of a record crowd under perfect conditions. Hundreds of spectators lined both sides of the main street as runners of all ages and abilities contested a series of running events designed to promote health, fitness and [...]
Northern Tablelands
THE Armidale branch of the Country Women’s Association has launched a $5000 scholarship (in perpetuity) for a female medical student from regional, remote or rural New South Wales to put towards their studies at the University of New England. The student is to study locally at UNE and the intention of working in the region [...]
Brazilian jiu-jitsu
DUAL Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Roberto Frias – Professor Bob – will be in Moree in October to exclusively teach super-classes for kids and adults. Brazilian jiu-jitsu, known as BJJ, is a self-defence martial art and combat sport based on grappling, ground fighting and submission holds. Moree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club will host Frias at an [...]
Gunnedah Petition
A new e-petition calling on the government to address safety concerns in the Gunnedah region has been launched. Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson earlier this week joined Gunnedah Chamber of Commerce president Ben Hennessy and Gunnedah Shire mayor Colleen Fuller to launch the petition. “The Gunnedah community have had enough of unacceptable levels of serious [...]
Regional Crime
MEMBER for Dubbo and leader of the NSW Nationals, Dugald Saunders, said the stabbing of a 41-year-old man at a park in Dubbo on Tuesday is yet another example of how Labor’s weak bail laws are failing regional communities. Police have since arrested four youths over the incident – one of them was on bail [...]
