The newest stories across general, sport, community, and business coverage.
Border Racing
SIX years ago, heavyweight Inverell hoop Scott Sweedman took four rides at the Mungindi Cup meeting – Swiglars, Brown Brown, Valleseco and Newcastle Dancer – and returned home with four winners In 2023, he secured three rides at the once-a-year meeting – and rode two winners. On Saturday, the 48-year-old jockey drove to Mungindi for [...]
MACT Presents
MOREE Arts Community Theatre has climbed every mountain to present its latest offering to Moree, with well-known musical director Stevie Drenkhahn’s long-held vison to present The Sound of Music to a Moree audience only weeks away. The Sound of Music, one of the most beloved musicals of all time, will play consecutive weekends in late [...]
Regional Tourism
ON a normal day, the population of Bingara sits around the 1500 mark. But at the weekend, that figure more than doubled when the idyllic little town – nestled in the Gwydir River catchment 40km south of Warialda – hosted the annual Orange Picking Festival. The festival, covered at the weekend by the Weekend Sunrise [...]
Police Drills
NSW Police held spike training exercises at Moree Regional Airport on Thursday, teaching officers how to safely deploy tyre deflation devices – known as “spikes” – as part of advanced driving and tactical drills. Training included realistic scenarios on the airport’s main runway, using weighted training spikes, with a focus on safe pursuit management. Controlled [...]
Northern Tablelands
Long-term Gwydir Shire Council general manager Max Eastcott has retired after 24 years in the role. He has worked for more than 50 years at local government throughout New South Wales, including Sydney and Byron Bay before landing at Gwydir Shire Council in 2001. Gwydir Shire Council hosted a retirement dinner at the Roxy Theatre, [...]
Agriculture
NSW landholders are being asked to report their livestock numbers and land use information as part of Local Land Services’ annual farm census. The Annual Land and Stock Return collects important information that helps shape the delivery of essential animal health and biosecurity services and prepare for emergencies such as bushfires and biosecurity outbreaks. Landholders [...]
Regional Tourism
THE Big Chill Festival has once again proven regional events are more than just a good time – they’re a powerful force for economic growth and long-term resilience in communities like the Armidale region. This year’s sold-out festival delivered a staggering $3.6 million in total economic benefit, including $2.3 million in direct visitor expenditure. With [...]
Border Racing
ARMIDALE gelding Awesome Tycoon chases a hat-trick of bush cups when trainer Jane Clement legs up 3kg-claiming apprentice Bronte Simpson in the 1400m Namoi Cotton and B&W Rural Mungindi Cup on Saturday. Awesome Tycoon won the Boolooroo Cup at Moree picnic races in May, when ridden by Eloise Drews, before annexing the Walgett Cup in [...]
Drive to Survive
NSW Police are urging drivers to take extra care on the roads during the next two weeks, with data indicating 20 percent of fatal or serious crashes occur during school holiday periods. Motorists who plan to travel across the state are being urged to drive to the weather conditions which are typically adverse in the [...]
Local History
MEMBER for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan has welcomed news that $100,000 has been secured for places or objects with significant local heritage. Moree Plains Shire Council, Armidale Regional Council, Glen Innes Severn Council and Inverell Shire Council have each secured $25,000 as part of the 2025-27 Local Government Heritage Grants program. The funding will help [...]
