The newest stories across general, sport, community, and business coverage.
Regional News
ROSES, ranunculus and rhododendrons will replace racehorses and running rails in early November – Melbourne Cup week – when Armidale racecourse hosts the New England Garden Festival on November 2-3. The two-day event is part of a week-long gardening and growing expo across the New England region, including open garden events at Walcha, Uralla, Guyra, [...]
One Foot Forward
IN 2023, Moree’s Luke Woods and a group of volunteers raised more than $22,000 as part of the One Foot Forward campaign to raise awareness and funds for the Black Dog Institute. The group walked nearly 30 kilometres from Weebolla rugby grounds to Pallamallawa to support those suffering from mental health issues and remember those [...]
Community health
FAMILIES across the Moree Plains are strongly advised to be vaccinated against whooping cough, with reported cases in the district on the rise. NSW Health is urging pregnant women, parents and carers of babies, grandparents and other people in close contact with babies to be vaccinated to protect babies from severe disease. Associate Medical Practice [...]
Regional News
NEW South Wales Ambulance will roll out eight specially designed vehicles known as Hazardous Area Rescue Ambulances to optimise response capabilities during natural disasters and in difficult terrain. The vehicles are the first of their kind in the world, with one designated for Tamworth. Minister for Health, Ryan Park, said communities will benefit from the [...]
Skills and Training
MOREE apprentice boilermaker Ryan Hunt will head to the Australian National WorldSkills Championships in Brisbane next year after last month scooping a gold medal at regional level. The regional championships, held at Tamworth, drew competitors from across the north-west. The 17-year-old trainee is midway through a four-year Cert 3 Engineering and Fabrication apprenticeship with Blake [...]
History
HER name was Ike, and at three years of age this black-and-tan sheep-dog was wise beyond her years – and stubbornly faithful to her best mate, 22-year-old farm worker Abel Davis. In mid-October, 1931, Abel, known widely by his middle name, Arthur, was ringbarking near Yetman, about 70 miles north of Inverell, on a property [...]
Regional News
NARRABRI Shire councillors have been sworn in at an extraordinary council meeting on Wednesday. Darrell Tiemens and Brett Dickinson were re-elected unopposed as mayor and deputy mayor. Cr Tiemens will serve as mayor until September 2026, with Cr Dickinson holding the deputy mayor position until September 2025. Both leaders retain their roles after initially being [...]
Storm Season
THE Bureau of Meteorology urges communities to get ready and prepare for Australia’s severe weather season. Thunderstorms are forecast today, October 9, for the north-west slopes and plains. While severe weather can happen at any time, every year between October and April is Australia’s peak time for tropical cyclones, severe thunderstorms, flooding, heatwaves and bushfires. [...]
Photo Gallery
It’s a familiar question in Chinese restaurants across regional Australia, and one that fascinated Lin Jie Kong when she discovered the rich culture of Chinese restaurants while travelling across the countryside. So much so, it became the namesake for a six-part ABC TV series featuring herself and Jennifer Wong. These stories have now been immortalised [...]
Local elections
IN 2021, Kerry Cassells missed a seat in the local government elections by the skin of her teeth. A second term as a Moree Plains Shire councillor was not to be, but Cassells got across the line this time around and has locked in a spot at the table for the next four years. “I’m [...]
