Have you been on birth control for more than two years? Do you find it hard to get in to see a doctor in a reasonable time frame? The solution is now there for you!Women in NSW can now a whole year's supply of birth control pills from pharmacists without seeing a doctor. That's right, no more GP appointments just to refill your prescription.The government has made this change after a successful trial, and it's now available to women aged 18 to 49. This is great news for anyone who's found it hard to get an appointment lately.Of course, there's been some debate about this. Doctors are worried that women might skip important check-ups, while the government says this will make things easier for everyone.If you're using birth control pills and have been for at least two years, you can head to a participating pharmacy. Just bring your pill box along so they can check what you're taking. They'll ask you a few questions about your health and give you a supply.Important to know:This only applies to birth control pills used for contraception, not for other conditions like acne.Women aged 36 to 49 might not get a full 12-month supply.So, if you're looking for a more convenient way to get your birth control, this might be for you!

The Ivanhoe Dry Times Truck Tractor Car and Bike Show was a raging success. President of the committee Allan Carmichael said the crowd was amazing, enough so the teams which were cooking could handle. "If there were many more we might have had a struggle, but it was enough for us to handle. “We can’t tell you how grateful we are for all of the support and help given to us. The Central Darling Shire came down before the event and helped us fix a lot of things, and put in a new dump point before the event. “So many businesses and people who donated things; business and people from Hay who have been behind us since 2019 and continue to be behind us. “We couldn’t be happier with the amount of money raised, people were so generous, bidding on the items on the auction truck. Lindsay McDonald and crew who come every time with their B Doubles full of tractors and vehicles for the tractor pull.” A WB ute owned by the Ingram family won best utility, and a red B Model Mack owned by Graham Danson won best truck. Pictured are Ivanhoe CWA members (from left) Marie Kelly, Ros Griffith, Keren Carmichael, Gerrie Carmichael, Kerry Harris, Barbara Danson, Marie Scott, Judy Turner and Trish Palmer put in long days catering for the event. President Trish Palmer said it was a great effort, with about $3000 raised for the branch. Images courtesy of Trish Palmer.

The Balranald Art Gallery (c1881) is a mecca for culture in the area. It is indeed so much more than a gallery. Run by a dynamic, faithful and motivated team of volunteers for over 40 years, and housed in a lovingly restored old freemason lodge, the ceilings are crafted beautifully in wood.The skill, attention to aesthetic and dedication of the volunteers sets the gallery apart from others. The gallery has both a collection of permanent works, and an ongoing range of exhibitions and events.It is worth a look every single time you are in Balranald. A wide range of district wares are kept in the entrance area; earrings, artwork, food, books and merchandise. Recent exhibitions include "Sista Girls"; First Nation's Creations, a collection of Contemporary art and crafts from a family of Wadi Wadi women. The works were truly amazing.The gallery have had a Waterbird Photography Exhibition from early October.They have an extensive permanent collection, one of the most popular of which is a painting of Ahn Do.M. Caccioniga is particularly striking.The Abbortsford Table is situated in the back room of the gallery. It is a 18 ft shearers table donated by the Turners of 'Abbotsford' Station, Ivanhoe.They recently had a lampshade workshop, a fabric mache workshops, and a lot of other workshops and events to keep the district's cultural muscles stretched. Their latest event is on Sunday October 20, from 10am to 5pm, a Mystery Garden Tour. There are limited seats, and is $50 per person. A light lunch, refreshments and lucky door prizes will be on offer. Contact the gallery on 0414563005 to enquire. RSVP is by 14 October, with full payment on booking required.

In Term four of the school year, the Bus Flashing Lights campaign will run from Tuesday 15 to Sunday October 27. It’s a good opportunity for all of us motorist to remember bus safety. Lights flash on buses to warn motorists that buses are picking up and dropping off children. You must slow down to 40 kilometres when overtaking or passing a bus displaying flashing lights, unless a lower speed limit applies.You can help keep kids safe by sticking to the speed limit and following the road rules in school zones, slowing down to 40 kilometres when bus lights are flashing, unless a lower speed limit applies, looking out for children crossing the road near bus stops, in school zones or along bus routes, and giving way to buses when they merge back into traffic.

The Hatfield Bushrangers had a short career as highwaymen, rampaging across the Balranald, Hayfield and Ivanhoe districts for just four days in 1879 before being captured.The members of the gang were 21-year-old Thomas Gorman, a jockey and colt-breaker who was described in newspaper reports as being “determined looking man, hook nose, grey eyes, thin lips, spare whiskers, no moustache.”The description of Charles Jones, a stockman from Queensland was similarly blunt. “Short, thick set, bullet headed, dark hair cropped short, and slight moustache, about 21 years, and a determined customer, with a great amount of bravado.”The youngest of the fledgling gang was 19-year-old William Kaye, also a stockman from the area, who was described as “tall, slop built, fair complexion, no whiskers.”Perhaps the most uncomplimentary description was saved for the fourth member, William Hobbs, a cook from the Hatfield Hotel.“This accused is about 33 years, of stunted growth, and slight personal physique. He was formerly a sailor, and has his right arm de-formed, bowed inwards, as also his right leg. He, however, seems to have much worldly experience, combined with some mental capacity, and can so well supposed to have been not the least useful of his party, in spite of his inability to ride well.”In the weeks prior to their four men starting out as bushrangers, three of the gang had been running in wild horses from Tyson’s Juanbung Run into the Hatfield paddocks for themselves. In the process they “sweated two of Mr Grainger’s horses, badly breaking down a valuable mare.” This was apparently the cause of some “ill feeling and hard words”, which came to a head on a Friday afternoon in February 179Mr Grainger and his storeman, Day, were set upon by the gang with their fists, but defended themselves so the gang retreated into the Hatfield Hotel, pelting Grainger and Day with bottles and sardine tins as they fled. Mr Day jumped on a horse to head to Balranad for help but was held up by Gorman and Hobbs, each armed with a revolver. They ordered him to dismount but instead Day spurred on his horse, as Gorman took aim. Fortunately, the revolver misfired, but he was next confronted by the rifles of Jones and Kaye at the front of the hotel. Day again ignored their orders to dismount, but an insences Gorman appeared, snatched the rifle from Jones and fired twice at Day as he fled. The last bullet struck the horseman.It was about 6pm on Friday February 21, 1879 and the gang held up Mr Grainger, a neighbour named Hartshorn, the district bailiff, Hartwell, and his son. Unarmed, they were forced to comply, and watched on as the gang rifled through the cash box. Because banking had occurred the day before, the tin held only £2 and a cheque for £30. Grainger quietly let the cheque fall behind the counter unseen by any of the gang.After taking all they wanted from the store, the gang went to the dwelling house, taking Grainger with them, and demanded of Mrs Grainger a valuable revolver known to belong to Day. Finding no cartridges, they left it behind them, but helped themselves to news clothes, after trying on various shirts and pantaloons to find the ones that fit best. They then marched Grainger and the rest down to the public house, and made him shout drinks everyone, and covering the hostages with their revolvers.Bizarrely the gang taunted Mr Grainger, as reported by the Deniliquin Chronicle, and published in the Melbourne Argus.“Jones produced a tin whistle, which he plays well, and required Mr. Grainger (a very corpulent gentleman) to dance a hornpipe. The serio-comic appearance of the perspiring dancer, coupled with the grotesque appearance of the crippled sailor Hobbs, as he mounted guard with a loaded revolver in his gammy hand and a glass of shandygaff in the other, caused roars of laughter from the rest, even in this unpleasant predicament.”The gang left 10 pm, taking two of Hartwell’s horses and three. Gorman told Grainger that if he went to Balranald within four days he would blow his brains out.The following morning, having assumed the name of the Kelly Gang, they stuck up Freadman the hawker, at the Government tank a short distance from Till Till station. They bailed up a total of 14 men working at the tank, but robbed only the unfortunate hawker, taking £40 in money from a him and two valuable rings straight off his fingers. After they ransacked his cart, they headed off to rob Till Till Station.They first appeared at the men’s hut, and called the cook out saying they were the Kellys. Calm under pressure the cook replied if they were, they had better come in and have something to eat, but the gang declined. They rounded up the 20 or son men and herded them to the homestead.Mr Crombie, the manager, and the overseers were absent, in town, or out on the run, leaving Mrs Crombie and the servants home alone to face the novice bushrangersMrs Crombie was assured by Gorman that if all the cash and the firearms were delivered up, no onewould be “molested ‘. He ordered the store to be opened, and they took rations and ammunition.They then ordered one of the men to bring in certain horses which they knew by name. Only one of those named - a fine black horse – was in the paddock, so they had to content themselves with three inferior ones. Kaye had previously worked on the station, and knew the best horses. They left all the horses taken from Hatfield, and proceeded in the direction of Magenta station.They next appeared in a totally different quarter, at the Victoria Hotel, about six miles from Clare station. The gang told the proprietor, Mr J Nolan, that they had stuck up Hatfield and Till Till, and that they were going to Queensland. They enjoyed a cool drink, paying their tab before they left.That same Saturday evening they reached Prentices well-known Clare Hotel, and joined in a dance that was being held there. The four men very well known to Prentice, but not as bushrangers, and the news of them sticking up at Hatfield and Till Till had not reached Clare.Gorman was dancing when his partner noticed something hard in his breast pocket and asked what it was. Gorman reported said “You’ll know in a day or so.”After a couple of hours drinking and socialising they left, once again stating they were headed to Queensland.They rode about 12 miles further, to a boundary riders hut, where they spent the night, hobbling their horses in a small horse paddock, not once considering thee Police were hot on their heels.  It is a significantThe gang unhurriedly left this hut the next morning after breakfast, going in the direction of Killera station, but separated in thick lignum in the Willandra Creek, not four miles from Kilfera.Gorman and Hobbs set up camp in the scrub, while Jones and Kaye rode up to the station, where they purchased some rations, and told Mr Rigg the storekeeper, they were travelling to Queensland with a mob of 8O bulls. They made other inquiries as to when the mail left Kilfera and were informed that it left in about 21 hours time. Armed with this information, they left Kilfera, no doubt with plans to rob the valuable Ivanhoe mail when it passed through, and then flee for the Queensland border.In the background, and unbeknownst to the gang, Moulamein police, who were on duty at Balranald when the information was received on Sunday morning, were about to appear. First-class Constable Beresford, Constable Power, and Special Constable Day, had started out on Sunday morning and managed to overtake the bushrangers, after riding 180 miles, from 9am on Sunday till 7pm, on Monday. Assisted by Aboriginal trackers from Clare, and ran their tracks to the Kilfera Station. Mr. Casey, J.P., manager of the Kilfera Station, supplied them with his best horses, and started with the police to Four-mile Down where the gang was camped.Blithely unaware the four men were preparing supper near two small trees, on the Cape Lignum scrub. When approached the bushrangers ordered the police to bail up, and the troopers answered by calling on them to surrender in the Queen's name. The gang fired twice wildly at the police without effect.The police promptly returned the fire, when Constable Power's horse, being unaccustomed to firing, broke away. Power, however, quickly mounted Mr. Casey's horse, and rejoining the troopers, again covered the bushrangers, who were by now trying to escape.Several shots were then exchanged, and Power was shot through the right shoulder. The police surrounded the gang, and all the bushrangers threw up their arms and surrendered.Their bushranging career has lasted just four days.The Hatfield Bushranger captors - Constables Beresford and Power and Mr Day. Image: From the original edition of the Australasian Sketcher.The gang of four was transported by Police and in April appeared in Deniliquin court before His Honor Sir William Manning.Hobbs made a statement that he had been a sailor for nineteen years, and was “unfortunate.” He once narrowly escaped being burnt to death on a ship and on another occasion fell from the topgallant mast. He told the court he thought it would have been better if “the Lord had taken him then than that he should come to the gallows.”His Honour said it was sad to see prisoners in such a position, especially with three being “so youthful” but said they had chosen bad careers. “Happily, by the mercy of God, they were spared the horrid crime of murder. I have but one duty to perform, which was to sentence you all to death.”The sentences of the men were commuted by the Executive Council. They served long terms of imprisonment, some of which was spent in painful irons.  Thomas Gorman received a commuted sentence of 21 years imprisonment, the first three in irons. William Hobbs and Charles Jones were sentenced to 14 years apiece, with the first three to be served in irons. Willaim Kaye received a sentence of 10 years.A news report describes the gang of four as they left Goulburn on a train, bound for Berrima Gaol.“The Hatfield bushrangers left here today, on their way to Berrima Gaol. They sat smoking unconcernedly in the train-, and cheered as the train left the platform.”The novice bushrangers spent the first nine months of their incarceration in solitary confinement.1840 image of the cells at Berrima Gaol. Image: Australian Migration Centre

Services Australia vanServices Australia's Mobile Service Centre van will be travelling around the Parkes electorate throughout October to provide face-to-face support with Centrelink, Medicare, NDIS and DVA matters. The 'Golden Wattle' van will be at:Menindee (near the community hall, Yartla Street) - 10am-3.30pm on Wednesday 16 OctoberWilcannia (near Baker Park, Reid Street) - 11am-4pm on Thursday 17 October and 9am-2pm on Friday 18 October

Congratulations Susan Balshaw and Linda Nelson, two hardworking and humble ladies who go out of their way to do what they can for their community. Linda was recently recognised for 20 years of Volunteering with St. Vincent de Paul Society Centres. Sue received 20 years membership of St. Dympna Conference Assistant Arm of St. Vincent de Paul Society of NSW. It is lovely to see two wonderful women get much deserved recognition.

Shear Outback’s Sam Barnes (far left), master of ceremonies and fellow inductee (2019) David Lawrence with 2024 inductees Alan Williams of NSW, Peter Orcher (NSW), Peter Black from Western Australia, Brian Sullivan (NSW), Damien Boyle (WA), the first and only female and inductee Cathy Wendelborn from Quilpie QLD, who presented awards at Saturday evening’s gala event, and induction panel member Mark Baldwin.Another five shearing legends have been inducted into the Australian Shears’ Hall of Fame.The induction took place during the Festival of the Blades event last week, with a visit to Shear Outback on Sunday morning.The new inductees are Peter William Black, Damien Patrick Boyle, Peter William Orcher, Brian Anthony Sullivan and Alan Arthur Williams.These men represent the cream of the shearing industry as instructors, state champions and contractors.Peter Black has had a lifetime of involvement in the shearing industry as a shearer, trainer, advisor, judge and software development.Peter managed/coached the Australian Shearing and Wool Handling Team at three World Championships.Quick to apply technology to the betterment of shearing he developed the website shearingworld.com and also created the app LOJIK Shearing.Damien Boyle is an inspiration to the shearing industry with his competition shearing record which will be admired and stand alone in the Western Australia shearing industry for many years to come. At age 37, Damien had 22 years of competition shearing under his belt and has made the finals of 99 per cent of competitions he has entered.In 2003, 2005 and 2006 Damien won every Australian Open competition he entered, totalling 31 wins.Peter Orcher began his shearing career at age 17 and mainly shore in North Western New South Wales with narrow combs.Peter became a contractor, with his teams being in great demand due to the high standard he set and expected from his shearers and shed staff who on occasions were all indigenous.Brian Anthony Sullivan, known as ‘Sully’, is a left-handed master shearer always shearing with precision placement of blows.Brian has won eight State titles and 60 Open Shearing titles.As a shearer trainer for AWI, Brian is dedicated to support young learners training at shearing schools and in-shed training support. He is widely known for dropping in and assisting learners on the job.Alan Williams is a NSW State Champion (1965) and in 1970 won the Australian Strongwool Championship at the Melbourne Royal Show where he also reclaimed the NSW title.As a shearing instructor from 1973 at Echuca Technical College, Alan worked throughout the Riverina and Victoria and was very widely respected.A total of 53 legends have now been inducted at the Australian Shearers’ Hall of Fame since its was opened by Member for Riverina, Kay Hull and Patron Tim Fischer on Australia Day, 2002.

You’re cruising along the Cobb Highway, it’s a wonderful drive, and your music is on and it’s loud. Suddenly you come across a crash, injured people, but you don’t have service to contact essential help.What do you do? Well, if you have the app Emergency Plus, you’re covered. The Emergency+ app is a free app developed by Australia’s emergency services and their government and industry partners.The app uses GPS functionality built into smart phones to help a Triple Zero (000) caller provide critical location details required to mobilise emergency services.For a simple search and download in the Apple Store or Google Play, you’ll never have to worry about being in a black spot or no service area if an emergency crops up.

So it's official: Ivanhoe Postal services are now operational at Central Darling Shire's Multi Purpose Outlet in Columbus Street.People can call down to the MPS for all the activities they used to undertake at Ivanhoe Post office.This is a very welcome outcome for the community which has approximately 196 residents. It secures a vital postal and banking service for the town and surrounding district. This comes after the town’s post office closed its doors when no buyer was found after two years on the market. To ensure that Ivanhoe wasn’t left without a licensed post office discussions between Council and Australia Post resulted in the successful outcome. Central Darling Shire Council earlier welcomed news from Australia Post that it would provide the necessary financial help to enable Council to ensure that a licensed post office would continue in Ivanhoe. This week Australia Post and Council staff have been setting up the new service in the Council building. Staff have also undertaken training with Australia Post. The Ivanhoe Licensed Post Office is operating with existing staff and facilities. It was not viable for Council to purchase an additional building to host the postal services, as this would result in additional costs in building operations and maintenance. The services being provided include banking via Bank@Post, bill payment, postage and mail delivery services.

Ivanhoe is forming a car club, the Ivanhoe Historic Car Club. Founding members of the club have put the call out for people to dust off their old vintage beauties sitting in their sheds, and join up.Cars 30 years and older can be registered, and the club will operate on the logbook system.President is Allan Carmichael, and Vice President is Mark Slade. Publicity Officer will be Ray Longfellow, and Treasurer Jan Longfellow.Max Bradley amongst others, will be scrutineer. Their first open meet will take place after the Truck Show, with the committee’s first meeting to take place beforehand. Cars will need to be roadworthy, and able to pass inspection by a qualified mechanic.Clubs are an optimum way of people to get together on a social basis, and the club will be aiming to get together once a month. The aim of the club is to implement various get-togethers, such as barbecues, coffee days, inspection days, visits to people’s collections, and trips away to other car clubs. “Ivanhoe has relied on the motor vehicle heavily throughout the years,” the secretary of the club said. “Trains trucks and cars have been the livelihood and backbone of the town.”Stay tuned folks for details on how to join up to the club.

Local Land Services (LLS) is offering the 2024-25 $13.1 million Feral Pig and Pest Program on behalf of the NSW Government, from August 2024 to June 2025.It builds on the control actions that LLS has synchronized with landowners statewide in earlier years.The program aims to support landholders in controlling feral pigs and pest animals, reduce the impacts of feral pigs and pest animals on agricultural and environmental assets, build landholder capability in feral pig and other pest animal management, and maintain workforce capability to support pest animal control and coordination.Key activities of the program are many, and include a coordinated broadscale control programs targeting feral pigs and other priority pest animal species in key locations across the state to further support existing landholder driven programs.providing land managers with the knowledge, skills and support to implement control programs on their land, promoting and employing best practice management techniques for reducing feral pig and other priority pest animal populations.educating landholders in their General Biosecurity Duty responsibilities related to managing pest animals under the Biosecurity Act 2015engaging landholders to participate in control programsmaintaining a trained biosecurity workforce with the skills, experience and capacity to assist landholders to manage invasive speciescontinuing the role of the NSW State Feral Pig Coordinator to lead and coordinate the programestablishing localised monitoring programs of feral pigs and other priority pest animal speciesproviding subsidised 1080 poison to eligible landholders for feral pig baiting.Support for landholders includes coordinating regional aerial and ground control programs, delivering capacity building events to equip landholders with the latest tools and advice to continue actively managing pest animals on their property, providing free Vertebrate Pesticide Induction Training (VPIT) courses online and face-to-face at various locations around the state, fully subsiding the cost of 1080 poison to eligible landholders up to 30 June 2025 to help control feral pigsLandholder participation in control programs is essential. The more landholders taking part in control programs, the more successful we will be in reducing pest animal numbers and impacts, protecting farming operations and the environment.Under the Biosecurity Act 2015, all landholders have a responsibility to manage pest animals on their land, and this program assists landholders in meeting their General Biosecurity Duty (GBD). Your local biosecurity officer has the expertise to support you with advice to suit your situation. To get involved in the Feral Pig and Pest Program or find out what activities are happening in your area, call LLS on 1300 795 299 and ask to speak with your local biosecurity officer.

Do you know someone in the Central Darling Shire who has done fantastic things for the community? Nominate them for the Central Darling Shire Outstanding Community Service Awards.Awards will be presented in January 2025 for the following categories:  • Citizen of the Year • Young Citizen of the Year (aged 17 and under in 2024) • Service to the Community (examples; bravery, local business, environment etc.) • Volunteer of the Year • Outstanding Local Event (2024)The community benefits greatly from the contributions of residents and volunteers who work to improve the lives of others and make the Central Darling Shire a better place to live. The Outstanding Community Service Awards recognize Central Darling Shire residents who have made a significant contribution to the Shire and its community.Each year these awards provide an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of outstanding residents by publicly thanking them in a spirit of community pride.Nominations close at 4pm November 8. For more information, email Gabrielle Johnston at [email protected] or phone 0472 787 022.There is an option to place your nomination online or to print out a form and fill it in on Central Murray Darling website.

The man accused of transporting pipe bombs along the Sturt Highway pled guilty and did not apply for bail at a recent court appearance.33-year-old Timacoy Jason Williams remains in custody after pleading guilty to all charges at his October 4 appearance at Griffith Local Court.Appearing via video link, Williams faced two charges of possess explosive device in public place, two charges of prohibited drug and one charge of custody of knife in public place.The charges relate to the discovery of two suspected pipe bombs in a vehicle stopped on the Sturt Highway near Hay on September 30.The discovery resulted in 50 kilometres of the highway being closed for eight hours between Hay and Maude, while police investigated.The court heard Williams acted suspiciously during a routine traffic stop, where he was the passenger in the vehicle.Police said officers could smell cannabis in the vehicle and said Williams was not wearing his seatbelt correctly. When asked for his ID, an agitated Williams gave a false name.The driver produced a positive drug test on the roadside, leading Police to further search the vehicle. Officers searched the car and found a black sports bag in the passenger side footwell, which contained cannabis and two silver metal cylinders with fuses which officers identified as pipe bombs.A jewellery box and a satchel bag containing a wallet with Williams' true name on it were also found.The box and bag were searched and police found cannabis and a clear resealable bag containing a crystal substance believed to be methamphetamine. A 29.5-centimetre knife was also found under the passenger seat.Police also found other items including a 'Mongrels' outlaw motorcycle gang vest, a black ski mask and black tactical gloves.The court heard Williams has ties to bikie gangs and had what was referred to as an “extensive criminal history.” The magistrate adjourned the matter for sentencing on November 30.

From 30 September 2024 to 31 March 2025, midwives relocating from metro NSW or interstate to rural and remote NSW will receive a $20,000 sign-on bonus.As part of the Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme, the midwifery sign-on bonus is offered to experienced midwives working in metro NSW or interstate who are looking to relocate to rural or remote NSW. This sign-on bonus aims to attract and recruit midwives to these locations in NSW.Midwives who start work with NSW Health in these locations will receive a $20,000 flat-rate sign-on bonus under the NSW Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme (RHWIS) and help deliver outcomes that matter most to our NSW community.The midwifery sign-on bonus is open to registered midwives starting work with NSW Health in a Commonwealth Government Modified Monash Model (MM) level 3 to level 7 location.Inclusions and eligibility for the scheme are:Midwives moving from work in an NSW MM1 and MM2 location to work in an NSW MM3 to MM7 location (inclusive)Midwives moving from interstate to work in an NSW MM3 to MM7 location (inclusive)Eligible midwife classifications include Registered Midwives Year 2 to Year 8 and thereafter, Clinical Midwife Specialists, Clinical Midwife Educators, Clinical Midwife Consultants, Midwifery Unit Manager, and Midwife Managers. Midwives who are already working in NSW MM3 to MM7 locations are not included for this scheme.What are the terms and conditions?In order to receive the sign-on bonus, you must relocate and start work with NSW Health in an eligible location and position according to the above criteria.The $20,000 sign-on bonus is based on a full time equivalent health worker's hours (average of 38 hours per week across a year).For employees who don't work full time, this amount is pro-rata'd to your contracted hours or ordinary working hours.You must commit to working for 18 months in that position with NSW HealthIf you were to leave before the 18-month commitment, then you would have to repay a percentage of the sign-on bonus relative to your time servedHow is the sign-on bonus paid?Once you start work with NSW Health as a midwife in an eligible location and position, your sign-on bonus will be paid as a lump sum through your payroll.The sign-on bonus is paid to you because of your employment with NSW Health and is subject to PAYG withholding.You may also be eligible for other incentives and benefits under the Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme after your first 12 months of service. The value of your incentive package will depend on the MM classification of your location and the vacancy classification of your position. You can find out more about incentives and benefits offered to you at Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme.

In recent months, Balranald has lost two of its oldest and most active community members; Adrian and Pat Gorman (pictured). Adrian passed away on August 14, just eight weeks after Pat, his wife and soulmate of 70 years. They were immensely proud of their eight children, 28 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. Adrian was the youngest of the five children of Richard and Kathleen Gorman who had moved from Berrigan to take up ‘Meilman’ Station, near Euston, in 1926.Adrian spent his early childhood at ‘Meilman’ on the banks of the River Murray and completed his secondary education as a boarder at Xavier College in Melbourne. He moved to ‘Willow Vale’ in the Balranald district in 1950. In 1954, he married Patricia Anne Daly, the daughter of a medical doctor from Sydney. Adrian was an independent thinker who was engaged in community activities throughout his long life. He took action where he identified a community need, such as initiating the Abercrombie Pumping Scheme in 1959 that ultimately supplied stock and domestic water to 15 properties between Hay, Moulamein and Balranald. In 1968, he also purchased a bus to take his and other children from properties east of Balranald into school. Adrian was also willing to enthusiastically take up new projects at various times in his life, such as learning to weld in his 70s in order to produce ‘sculptures’ from parts of discarded farm machinery and other scrap metal. He was an active participant in a range of sports at different stages of his life – VFL for Euston as a youth, cricket for Euston and Balranald, tennis and golf. This included involvement in the construction and maintenance of tennis courts, golf links and bowling greens. Lawn bowls became a great passion from around 1980. In later years, he and Pat enjoyed regular card games with Balranald friends. Adrian had a life-long passion for the history of the district. He believed district history to be a valuable but under-utilised community asset. He was also concerned that the loss of local knowledge and social memory would weaken community resilience and its ability to deal with future crises. In his last years, he self-published three books that record the changes he had seen during his life. However, long before that, he had taken action to record and promote local history. In 1982, he chaired a committee that received a grant from the Commonwealth Schools Commission Country Areas Program (CAP) to establish a program for district schools to study Australian history from local perspectives. It enabled district school children to examine first-hand local links to Australian history through excursions and the use of local resources such as newspaper files, historic photographs and senior residents. Children recorded stories, produced booklets, developed board-games and participated in plays to ‘bring history to life’. The Balranald, Euston, Tooleybuc History Project was developed by David Eastburn. This began a productive 42-year collaboration with Adrian to record the history of the district; to highlight its natural, cultural and environmental assets, and to honour its people by telling their stories. A later collaboration that Adrian was most proud of was the Balranald and district Military Heritage Walk consisting of 47 story-signs honouring local service men and women and eight larger contextual signs. It was triggered by a booklet Adrian compiled in 2005, titled Balranald Boys of the Skies about local airmen who served in WWII. The process made him aware that their stories, and even the stories of those whose names were listed on the local war memorial, were increasingly being forgotten. The centenary of World War I provided an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of all members of the community – men, women and children - to war efforts.It included stories about the actions of community members both at home and at the front in all wars. The long collaboration directly and indirectly included the production of 120 interpretive signs in the district (at Balranald, Maude village and Yanga National Park); studies of the natural, cultural, economic and political histories of the lower Murrumbidgee floodplain wetlands; major histories of district pastoral stations (‘Paika’, ‘Clare’, and the people associated with ‘Clare’); and numerous booklets, discussion papers and newspaper articles. The benefits of the collaboration were two-way. The contacts made and lessons learnt from the Balranald, Euston, Tooleybuc History Project helped in the development of the Murray-Darling Basin primary schools’ environmental education – literacy – intergenerational equity program, Special forever. That unique writing and art program, involving up to 38.000 children per year, operated throughout the million-square-kilometre Murray-Darling Basin between 1993 and 2010. Adrian was a successful grazier-farmer as evidenced by the fact that after supporting eight children through boarding school and university, he still owned his property! However, he was very happy to hand over the operation of ‘Willow Vale’ to his eldest son Terry, in order to pursue other interests, including overseas travel. Adrian’s enthusiastic and inquisitive temperament appeared to reflect the most positive aspects of his Irish ancestry. However, the actions of his great-uncle Emanual E J Gorman of Berrigan, also made him aware that community members could take the initiative and ‘make a difference’. Around the turn of the twentieth century, E J Gorman played strategic roles in conferences at Corowa which led to the achievement of Australian Federation and to the sharing of the waters of the River Murray. Adrian was unafraid to put forward big ideas, but this was combined with a willingness to work with others to modify them and to use his time and networks to bring them to fruition. In recognition of his lifetime of active involvement in, and services to, the Balranald community, he was awarded the Balranald Australia Day Citizen of the Year in 2019, followed in 2024 by an Order of Australia Medal. Every rural community needs at least one Adrian Gorman, supported by a very understanding Pat: Vale.

ALERT: There was a small grass fire in Hay, in the laneway behind McGregor Street. A neighbourhood resident extinguished the small fire before emergency services arrived, and was deemed resolved before the emergency services left the scene.

Transgrid executive general manager of delivery Jennifer Hughes and Carbonix CEO Philip van der Berg. Image: Transgrid.Transgrid has launched an innovative trial of advanced drone technology to inspect its high-voltage transmission network in NSW and the ACT to help keep local communities safe from bushfires.“We take preparation for bushfire season very seriously and the safety of our people, landowners and communities is our first priority," Executive General Manager of Delivery Jennifer Hughes said.“We are trialling the use of cutting-edge drone technology to conduct 3D-laser surveys of our network using LiDAR* technology to detect vegetation growing in the vicinity of the transmission easement and enable us to undertake timely vegetation management.“Transgrid embraces innovation to continually improve how we manage the network and drive efficiency in delivering access to affordable, safe and reliable energy to more than three million homes and businesses in NSW and the ACT.”As part of its annual bushfire prevention program, Transgrid uses conventional crewed aircraft (helicopters or light planes) to carry out LiDAR surveys to detect vegetation encroachments across its 13,000km network – the equivalent distance of travelling from Sydney to Perth four times.Australia’s largest transmission business has now engaged Sydney-based, fixed-wing drone manufacturer Carbonix to trial the use of its long-range, hybrid powered un-crewed aerial vehicles. These vehicles are CASA approved units and are operated by licensed pilots.The Carbonix Ottano drone, which is capable of flying 500km in a single mission, has already been tested in the Megalong Valley in the Blue Mountains.The fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing drone captured data insights and high-quality imagery of transmission lines at a speed of approximately 90km/h and an altitude of below 400ft making it a safer and significantly more cost-effective alternative to traditional methods.Ms Hughes said specialist drones have the potential to drive even greater efficiency in Transgrid’s comprehensive asset management program and provide genuine safety benefits for personnel and communities.“Compared to conventional crewed aircraft, drones would provide significant operational and environmental benefits, reducing costs and carbon footprint while improving safety and efficiency,” Ms Hughes said.“In fact, drones could reduce the need to conduct 185 hours of LiDAR inspections using a crewed aircraft, resulting in a reduction of more than 12 tonnes of CO2 emissions.“Drones are also more easily deployed than conventional aircraft, potentially accelerating asset inspection cycles, and ensuring early bushfire risk identification and mitigation.”The trial is also assessing the potential for drone technology to lower noise and disturbance for landowners, livestock and wildlife.Carbonix CEO Philip van der Burg said the company was proud to support Transgrid in the initiative.“The Ottano’s ability to cover vast distances and capture high-quality imagery at speed and lower altitude ensures thorough inspections without the logistical challenges and environmental impact of traditional crewed aircraft,” he said.“This trial represents a significant step forward in modernising asset management and demonstrates the tangible benefits of drone technology in real-world applications.“It not only enhances operational efficiency but also aligns with our shared goal of reducing carbon footprints and promoting sustainable practices. Together, we are setting new standards for safety, reliability, and environmental stewardship in the energy sector.”Trials with the Carbonix Ottano 6.5m carbon-fibre drone, including Beyond Visual Line of Sight missions, will continue this year.Transgrid plans to progressively introduce specialist drones to conduct annual LiDAR surveys of the network from 2025.*LiDAR, an acronym for "light detection and ranging", helps build a 3D-model of transmission lines by targeting objects with a laser beam and measuring the time for the reflected light to return to the receiver.

Member for Barwon Roy Butler MP has been active in NSW Parliament in recent weeks, as reported in his community newsletter."The sitting weeks kicked off for me with a hearing on the Review of the NSW Reconstruction Authority, which is a joint select committee of which I am a member," Mr Butler said."The committee heard from a range of stakeholders including NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Rob Rogers AFSM, NSW Ambulance Chief Executive Dr Dominic Morgan, NSW State Emergency Service Acting Commissioner Debbie Platz APM, Acting Deputy Commissioner Nicole Hogan and the Acting Chief Executive of the NSW Reconstruction Authority Ms Joanna Quilty. "There were also representatives from the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, Office of Local Government, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and the Premier’s Department. "They spoke about their experiences with the now defunct Resilience NSW and discussed what could be done to improve emergency management and coordination of all organisations under the Reconstruction Authority."The Committee’s report is due on November 28.Mr Butler also moved a notice of motion in Parliament of NSW regarding the Wilcannia weir replacement project.The motion to the house read,Notes the original consultation that resulted in an agreed design for Wilcannia Weir was nominated for an award.Observes that the design was changed without community consultation for contentious reasons.Recognises that the Wilcannia Community does not support the revised design.Agrees, as a disadvantaged indigenous community, Wilcannia should not be short changed.Asks the State and Federal Government to listen to the Wilcannia community and build the weir they agreed to and deserve."Since the revised design was unveiled in December last year, I have been talking to the Wilcannia community and to the government to find a way forward with the project, one that will take notice of what the community is asking for and will deliver what they need," Mr Butler said.Mr Butler also shared details of the work he has been doing on the Regional Communities Consultation Standards Bill."In about January my team and I began working on creating a bill that would set standards for community consultation on government projects," Mr Butler said. "That bill made it onto the business paper in May and last week it was finally voted on in Parliament."Fortunately, the bill received support from the government, with amendments that helped sharpen some aspects of the bill and did not affect the intent." The Bill now moves to the Legislative Council, where the Minister for Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty, has carriage of the bill, before it returns to the Legislative Assembly to become law."It is a long process, but it makes sure that everyone has their say and that the bill does what it is supposed to do," Mr Butler said. "I want to make sure the voice of regional NSW communities is heard and considered in the decision making for both agencies and NSW Parliament. This bill goes a long way to ensuring that."Mr Butler is also working on improving regional manufacturing in the bush."Years ago, in Australia, we made things—cars, fridges, lawnmowers. But a lot of our manufacturing has gone offshore," he said. "During the pandemic, we discovered this left us open to supply chain issues and greatly impacted our cost of living."I moved a motion for the Public Interest Debate (PID) in NSW Parliament. PIDs are a way of discussing topics that, as the name suggests, are relevant to the public. "My motion drew attention to NSW's vulnerabilities to supply chain disturbances, noted the commitment of the NSW Government to support manufacturing, and urged the parliament to revive manufacturing in Regional NSW."The motion received bipartisan support, and both sides spoke very respectfully about the need to see more local manufacturing. There was wide agreement that regional NSW is ready, willing, and suitable to contribute to a stronger NSW."To see the debate, head to the linkImages: Roy Butler MP