Take the opportunity, Balranald, to recognise that special and hardworking community member. Balranald Shire Council is seeking nominations for the 2026 Australia Day Awards, recognising the community for their contributions during the year. The following categories will be recognised on 2026 Australia Day; Citizen of the Year, Sports Person of the Year, Community Event of the Year, Sporting Team of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Young Sports Person of the Year, Environmental Citizen of the Year, and Special Achievement. Nomination forms are available from Council's website www.balranald.nsw.gov.au, pop into the council offices and grab one, or by emailing [email protected] to request a form to be emailed to you. Nominations must be submitted by Friday 28 November 28. 2025.

The 2025 Pud Forster Memorial Poker Run has wrapped up with organisers declaring the event a resounding success, attracting 166 registrations and perfect weather conditions. Held in Euston, the annual event saw numbers continue to climb from 156 in 2023 and 157 in 2024, with organisers now setting their sights on reaching 200 participants for next year's run. The day featured a mix of classic cars, custom vehicles and motorcycles, with the distinctive smell of burning rubber filling the air as enthusiasts gathered to honour the memory of Pud Forster. Michael Falvo claimed the best poker hand with four threes (registration 156), whilst Brad Brown secured second place with a flush (registration 38) and Ross H took third with a straight (registration 150). The event recognised excellence across multiple vehicle categories: Best Twin Cam: number plate 1N9HX - Best Shovel: number plate 2U6IC - Best Custom Trike: number plate LQK88 - Best British: Helen Ferguson - Best Japanese: number plate 5074H.Best Ford: John Goss Special (Bunchie) - Best Holden: VF Commodore (Paula Stevens) - Best Hot Rod: Blue F100 (Rocky Dawn Potter) - Best Custom: XR Wagon (Peter Sue Murphy) - People's Choice: XY GT - Best Burnout: XL Falcon (Joe Brigante). Tony Atkins travelled the furthest on a motorcycle, covering 421 kilometres from Kilmore, whilst Bobby Tyrell claimed the longest car journey, travelling 493 kilometres from Werribee. The Hard Luck Award went to Paul Sarah Forster after leaving significant amounts of rubber on the road. The major raffle drew considerable interest, with prizes totalling $3,800: - First prize ($2,500): Savannah Shannon Griffiths - Second prize ($1,000): Steph McAlpine - Third prize ($300): Mick "Chook" Christine Middlebrook.Event organisers Diane Forster, Brian Shirley, Paul Forster, Josh Forster, Lynden Stevens and Rebecca Stevens thanked all participants for their attendance, participation and ticket purchases. "We hope everyone in attendance had a wonderful time and enjoyed the day and night as much as we did," the organisers said. "Rest up, clean off the rubber, and we look forward to seeing you and who you round up for next year." Winners who have not yet received their prizes or trophies are asked to contact Rebecca Stevens. Further appreciation and merchandise posts are expected to follow.

Major power line construction underway on Yanga Way Construction work on a significant transmission line project will cause temporary disruptions on Yanga Way near Balranald over the coming weeks, with motorists advised to expect delays and changed conditions. Elecnor Australia has been contracted by Transgrid to deliver part of EnergyConnect, which involves the construction of 700 kilometres of new power lines from the South Australian border to the regional energy hub of Wagga Wagga. The project will connect the electrical grids of New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria, improving reliability of the nation's energy supply. The stringing work is part of continuing advance construction activities on the transmission line from Buronga, New South Wales, to Dinawan, near Buronga. Work is scheduled to take place from Wednesday, October 22 to Sunday, November 16, weather permitting. Construction activities will occur across the Yanga Way, approximately 18 kilometres north of Balranald township. The approved hours of work are 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday 8am to 1pm Saturday.Activities are scheduled to conclude by Friday, December 12 2025. This timeline ensures these activities are carried out safely and to minimise disruption to the community. Stringing works across roadways will take place, with weather permitting, on Monday to Sunday, 7am to 7pm, including public holidays. Motorists can expect increased construction vehicles, plant and machinery operating in the area during works, with potential delays of up to 25 minutes while the conductor stringing work is carried out. Temporary traffic changes will be in place to ensure the work zone is safe, with road users urged to drive carefully and exercise patience. Several measures will be implemented to minimise disruption.There will be traffic control in place at affected locations with varying speed limits from 100km/h to 40km/h whilst works are being conducted. Motorists are asked to observe all directional signage and conditions, keep to the right speed limits, follow the direction of traffic controllers, and drive to the conditions. Machinery and equipment will generate some light, noise and vibration, with efforts made to minimise impacts - Minimising the operation of machinery and vehicles at night where practical - Turning off machinery and vehicles when not in use - Fitting equipment with devices to minimise noise - Monitoring dust, noise and vibration to manage any potential impacts and adjust work if required The stringing process involves several technical steps: Once the conductor is pulled, the new conductors are lifted into position on the steel towers and will be pulled into place using a stringing rig featuring pulleys positioned at ground level at multiple locations. The conductor is pulled out under tension through the pulleys along the alignment. It is strung in sections of several kilometres, with conductor spooled out from drums between a powerful winch (puller) and a controlled braking system (tensioner). Pulleys are fixed to the tower at each location where the conductor will be attached. A stringing rig is then used to keep the new conductor above ground level during the stringing section. The conductor is erected under tension to give the required sag (correct ground clearance) before being attached to the insulator string on each tower. Equipment is then repositioned, and the process is repeated for the next stringing section.For questions about the stringing works or general enquiries about the project, contact the Project Community Engagement Team on 1800 317 367 (free call) Email: [email protected]

A 21-year-old man sentenced to 14 months' imprisonment for filming and uploading acts of animal cruelty to social media has been released into the community after serving less than three months behind bars. Jet Jai Johnson successfully appealed his sentence in the Broken Hill District Court on Friday, with Judge Clive Jeffreys reducing the remainder of his sentence to nine months to be served in the community under an intensive correctional order. The Broken Hill station hand was originally sentenced on July 30 after pleading guilty to five separate acts of animal cruelty with a non-parole period of six months. Johnson filmed himself committing offences against native animals and livestock, including a kangaroo, a joey and three kid goats. The videos were shared widely on social media, one of which showed him performing a run-up kick on a young kid. Defence barrister Rebecca Mitchell described the original sentence as "stern" and presented a psychological report suggesting Johnson likely suffered from ADHD. "Two-and-a-half months in custody has been a significant wake-up," Ms Mitchell told the court. "He has very good prospects of rehabilitation and he is unlikely to reoffend, and he has expressed a lot of remorse." The defence supplied character references from Johnson's employer at the time, who described his actions as out of character and stated that he loved animals. The court heard a former employer had offered Johnson immediate employment in a position "away from animals". In delivering his decision, Judge Jeffreys took into account several factors, including Johnson's age of 20 when he uploaded the videos, noting that males do not intellectually mature until their early 20s. The judge also noted it was unclear when Johnson actually committed the offences. "It's been a wake-up call. He had to celebrate his 21st birthday in custody," Judge Jeffreys said. "As a result of these offences and the great deal of publicity, the appellant lost his employment and will not be able to return to that sort of work – animal husbandry." The judge acknowledged that Johnson's previous work in animal husbandry, which included euthanasing animals, may have led to desensitisation. "He became desensitised. That is not an excuse, but needs to be taken into account," Judge Jeffreys said. Under the intensive correctional order, Johnson must not commit any offence and must continue seeing his psychologist. Friends and family who attended the hearing embraced each other as news of his release was announced.

" Forty Degrees in the Shade" is a novel by Linda George which will launch in White Cliffs. The book launch will take place at the White Cliffs Hotel at 11:30am on Cup Day. The event will include readings from the novel, a book signing session with the author, and a question-and-answer session where attendees can discuss the work with George.The book features artwork by Jenny Hayes, with the cover showing the distinctive landscape of opal mining dugouts against a dramatic outback sunset. "I was riveted from the start by this depiction of life in an out of the way place where lawlessness, the harsh environment and the heat bring out the best and worst of human nature," says reviewer Guya Nichols.Copies of "Forty Four Degrees in the Shade" will be available for purchase at the launch.The story is set in a tiny speck on the map in the vast Australian outback where fortune hunters seek the most elusive and glorious of gemstones – opal. In this god-forsaken place, temperatures regularly reach 44 degrees Celsius in the shade during summer, forcing residents to retreat to the cool of their underground dugouts for relief. George describes life as raw in this pressure-cooker environment. The heat and isolation, combined with the lack of police presence and absence of a moral authority or any structure representing the whole community, means that power falls into the hands of whoever makes a grab for it.The narrative follows two contrasting characters navigating this harsh landscape. Matt has escaped the constraints of his soul-less city life to seek his fortune in the opal fields, whilst Tess has been living and working in the town for six years, struggling with the power players and town politics. Throughout the story, George weaves humorous and thought-provoking observations on the nature of wankers, romance, truth, quality, wisdom, despair and human nature. The novel paints a picture of modern life and the current state of the world in general, exploring the challenges of being human and examining how a cohesive community of likeable misfits can become a dysfunctional town full of vicious backstabbers out to hurt each other.

In the red dust and relentless heat of White Cliffs, where most people see waste and hardship, Hayley Atkins sees possibility. The 43-year-old mother of four has built an extraordinary life from the fragments others discard, turning worthless opal chips into luxury soaps, kangaroo fat into healing balms, and personal heartbreak into business success. Her story reads like a masterclass in rural resilience and creative innovation, proving that sometimes the most unlikely ingredients can create something magical. Hayley's journey to White Cliffs began in the sophisticated world of television production. After studying design for theatre and television, she landed coveted positions in Sydney's entertainment industry, first at Wonderland Sydney's wardrobe department, then at Channel 7 working on the hit medical drama All Saints."I was still a country kid in the city," she reflected, describing her years navigating Sydney's fast-paced television world. Her career came to an abrupt end when a new boss brought in her own crew, leaving Hayley unemployed and disillusioned. She retreated to Albury, working at the White House Theatre, where she met her future husband, an opal miner with big dreams and bigger promises. With three children under four, Hayley found herself following him to White Cliffs, a decision that would transform her life in ways she never anticipated. "My grandfather used to come up here as a 'wintery', that's what they call the winter visitors," she explained. When her grandfather grew frail, they proposed a deal: he'd buy a dugout, and they'd maintain it for his visits. "So he took the deal and we found a dugout. Then he never came up." What started as a family arrangement became Hayley's introduction to one of Australia's most challenging and rewarding communities. As a young mother with four children under five, she found herself running an opal showroom seven days a week while her husband focused on mining. "He was a very good miner. He used to pull out a lot of opal, but not all of it is pretty stone," she recalled. "There was a lot of potch, a lot of colour that wasn't worth anything." It was this apparent waste that sparked Hayley's entrepreneurial genius. With her design background and outside-the-box thinking, she looked at the piles of discarded opal chips and saw opportunity where others saw rubbish. "I thought, surely there's something you can do with all this. So I crushed it up, I took great pleasure in crushing up those little bits of colour," she laughed. "But then I actually scratched my leg with it because it's essentially glass. I was like, 'Oh, that's not going to work.'" Trial and error led to breakthrough. Using the finest sieve to remove dangerous particles, Hayley created a useable crushed opal powder that she incorporated into soaps, nail polish, and candles. "I'm the inventor of crushed opal products," she said with justifiable pride. "Nobody else does it." As her marriage deteriorated, Hayley's determination to provide for her children led her down an unexpected path. A local kangaroo harvester needed an offsider for nighttime work, and despite having never handled firearms or processed game, Hayley took the job. Her routine became almost superhuman, up early to get the kids to school, run the opal showroom until 3 PM, prepare dinner for the family, then head out for nighttime kangaroo harvesting, returning home at 3 or 4 AM for a few hours' sleep before starting again. "I did that for quite some time just to earn some extra cash to try and get ahead financially," she remembered. Leaving a marriage with four young children in a remote town requires extraordinary courage. For Hayley, the decision came down to her children's wellbeing. "I didn't want to admit that I'd failed, because you didn't fail. But I only wanted to get married once." The man who'd hired her as his kangaroo harvesting offsider became something much more significant. "My now partner is the guy," she said simply. "He's lived on the land all his life. Down to earth. And my kids, like, they were little at the time and they just gravitated towards him." Her new partner brought stability, routine, and most importantly, taught Hayley to find her voice again. "He taught me to speak up. Do you find it liberating? Really liberating. I love it. We get in the biggest rows, like the biggest rows, and I just say to him, 'You taught me, so you just cop it.'" Hayley's innovative spirit didn't end with crushed opal, but introduced her to another waste product with hidden potential, animal fat. "He was out there doing killers for other people, and the fat came out of it, and he'd go, 'Do you want to keep this?' And I'm like, 'Yeah, I don't know what for, but it just turns into tallow.'" Research revealed tallow contains a lot of vitamins making it particularly beneficial for skin health. After learning the rendering process and removing impurities, Hayley created what can only be described as a miracle balm. "I tested it on myself. That summer, cracked heels, gone. My close friend who does catering with me has autoimmune diseases which make her allergic to sun. She has to cover up when she goes out, and if she doesn't, she breaks out in this fried skin rash. She's had antihistamine constantly, and she tried my kangaroo tallow and it cleared it up in no time." Despite creating genuinely innovative products that solve real problems, Hayley faces the classic rural entrepreneur's challenge; limited resources and markets. She jokes about her early ambition to "sell a million soaps at a dollar each and make my million dollars," but the reality of turning cottage industry into commercial success remains elusive. "I don't have the finances. I don't have the space. I don't have the marketing or business skills to get it further than where it is," she admitted honestly. Yet her innovation continues. Natural shampoo and conditioner join her product line, each receiving rave reviews from friends and family who serve as her testing ground. "I haven't had a bad review yet," she said with quiet satisfaction. Hayley has created a beautiful home from her partner's former bachelor pad, complete with a massive kitchen bench perfect for making pizzas in their 900-degree oven. The dugout she once lived in now operates as a bed and breakfast that lets visitors experience underground living. Shopping requires military-style planning, a six-hour round trip to Broken Hill, with winter daylight hours limiting shopping time to avoid animals on the road. "You literally crack the whip, hit the ground running. Click and collect saves the day. You do everything you need grocery-wise, run around for all the other specialty shops, get all your appointments done, and three hours home." Despite these challenges, Hayley has built multiple revenue streams; the bed and breakfast, a catering business called "Heart of the Back" with her friend, and her innovative product lines. She's also juggling four teenagers while maintaining her relationship and community commitments. "I can't imagine myself anywhere else," she said.This contradiction captures something essential about life in remote Australia, it's simultaneously the hardest and most rewarding place to build a life. The isolation that makes simple shopping an expedition also creates space for innovation and community bonds impossible in cities. Hayley's teenage children have adapted to their unique environment, spending school holidays in Dubbo, helping with the family businesses, and learning resilience from their mother's example.At 43, Hayley Atkins represents a new kind of rural entrepreneur, someone who sees opportunity in waste, possibility in hardship, and innovation as survival strategy. Her story challenges assumptions about what's possible in remote Australia and what resources actually matter for business success. Her crushed opal products and tallow balms may never make her the million dollars she once joked about, but they've created something more valuable; a sustainable life built on creativity, resilience, and the ability to transform the discarded into the desirable. "People coming into the showroom wanted opal but no jewellery," she recalled of her breakthrough moment. "I thought, surely there's something you can do with all this waste." That question, what can be done with waste, has become the driving force behind a life that turns challenges into opportunities and proves that sometimes the most unlikely places produce the most extraordinary innovations. In White Cliffs, where the red dust settles on everything and the nearest major shopping centre is three hours away, Hayley Atkins continues her work as an accidental alchemist, transforming the overlooked and discarded into products that heal, beautify, and inspire. Her story is proof that innovation doesn't require venture capital or technology hubs, sometimes it just requires the courage to see potential where others see problems, and the persistence to turn possibility into reality. From television wardrobe to underground luxury accommodation, from crushed opal soaps to kangaroo tallow healing balms, Hayley's journey proves that reinvention isn't just possible in remote Australia, it's essential. And sometimes, when you're brave enough to follow an unconventional path, you discover that the life you never planned is exactly the life you were meant to live.

Member for Barwon Roy Butler said he is still waiting for a determination from Federal Attorney General Michelle Rowland, that could allow opal mining to continue in the outback township of White Cliffs.In Short:10-Year Bureaucracy: 134 opal mining claims and the freehold ability for dugouts in White Cliffs have been pending since 2015 due to the Barkandji native title determination.'Lies' and Mental Health: MP Roy Butler alleges dugout residents were 'lied to' by Crown Lands about their ability to freehold land until 2019, contributing to a "fragile state of people's mental health."Federal Decision Pending: The fate of the mining rests on a Section 26C determination by Federal Attorney-General Michelle Rowland, a ruling that would streamline low-impact opal mining but remains delayed despite recent contact.In May 2025 Mr Barwon raised the issues in NSW Parliament, saying dugout residents and miners had been lied to.“In 2015 native title was granted to parts of White Cliffs. To own land where there is a native title claim would cancel out that native title. However, until 2019, Crown Lands continued to inform dugout residents that they would be able to freehold. “The truth was that owning the dugouts outright would be impossible and they had been told a lie for years. “Not only that but, since the date of effect of the Barkandji native title claim, White Cliffs mineral claims have been pending—134 of them, in fact. So, through no fault of their own, the White Cliffs community can no longer own their family homes or mine for opal at full capacity.The native title claim of the Barkandji Traditional Owners was approved in 2015, meaning mineral claims and leases in White Cliffs have been pending for ten years.“Following approval from the Barkandji Native Title Group Aboriginal Corporation, a determination under section 26C of the Act is required,” Mr Butler said “That is where the State Attorney General writes to the Federal Attorney-General requesting that they make a determination, taking into consideration the approvals already received from the native title and the State Attorney General. For White Cliffs miners and some residents, the red tape has been overwhelming. My office in Broken Hill has received correspondence from members of the community about the fragile state of people's mental health.”Mr Butler’s office said Ms Rowland has been contacted as recent as a July, yet the official reply gives no insight into an end to this bureaucratic nightmare.“The Department is currently undertaking an assessment to determine these conditions.“I can advise that this assessment is in the final stages.“I am unable to provide further information in relation to the outcome until this assessment is completed.”A s26C determination refers to a specific provision within the 1993 Native Title Act related to the Future Act regime.It is not a determination of native title itself, but rather a determination regarding a specific class of activities that are excluded from the standard “right to negotiate” process with native title holders.A “future act” is an action proposed by a government or third party that affects native title rights and interests In White Cliffs it refers to the granting of working mining leases. Section 26C specifically deals with excluded opal or gem mining: It allows the relevant Minister to determine that a specified area is an “approved opal or gem mining area.”If an area is covered by an s26C determination, then certain low-impact activities related to opal or gem mining (like exploration, prospecting, or small-scale mining for five-year terms) are excluded from the more intensive “right to negotiate” process under the Act.In essence, a s26C determination is a mechanism to simplify and streamline the grant of certain small-scale, traditional types of resource-related rights in declared opal or gem mining areas, while still requiring consultation with native title parties.Read more:Dugouts Crisis: Native Title Extinguishes Freehold Dreams

The 2025 Tilpa Mud Marlin Muster has wrapped up with organisers declaring the annual fishing competition a resounding success, attracting 150 registered anglers and a record catch over the weekend.The competition produced remarkable results, with participants hauling in a combined 333.39 metres of fish from the river throughout the event. A whopping 795 carp were counted over the weekend, demonstrating the abundant fish stocks in the local waterway and the dedication of competitors. Organisers have thanked everyone who contributed to making the event a success, including participants, volunteers, sponsors and local businesses. "What an amazing turnout and incredible fishing," organisers said. "Thank you to everyone who joined in, helped out, sponsored, spent, and won." The Tilpa Mud Marlin Muster has become a highlight of the regional fishing calendar, drawing anglers from across the state to the small outback community. Further details about winners and prize categories are expected to be announced in the coming days.

A Griffith man facing multiple fraud charges appeared at a Sydney local court on Tuesday and will remain on bail as his case progresses through the legal system.Aaron Dennis Salvestrin is facing 17 charges, including 16 counts of dishonestly intending to obtain a gain and one count of using a forged document for a public official to accept as genuine.The matter was heard before Magistrate H. Donnelly, who set the next court date for December 9 at the Downing Centre in Sydney. The December hearing will be for charge certification, a procedural step where the prosecution formally specifies which charges will proceed against the accused.Magistrate Donnelly has permitted Salvestrin to be absent from the December 9 proceedings.The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions is prosecuting the case.The matter remains before the courts, and no further details are available at this time.

The Birdsville Big Red Bash is set to return to the Simpson Desert across July 7-9 next year after a one-year hiatus, while the Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash prepares for another record year across August 20-22, with both blockbuster outback music events announcing stacked line-ups for 2026.The 2026 festival line-ups are a roll call of Australian music royalty, with Missy Higgins, The Teskey Brothers, Hoodoo Gurus, Jon Stevens, John Butler, The Living End, Birds of Tokyo, Jessica Mauboy and other legendary acts set to hit two of the most extraordinary stages on earth.Birdsville Big Red Bash will feature Missy Higgins, Hoodoo Gurus, The Teskey Brothers, The Living End, Birds of Tokyo, Jessica Mauboy, Shannon Noll, Kate Ceberano, The Whitlams, Tim Finn, Troy Cassar-Daley, Chocolate Starfish, Ross Wilson, Furnace and the Fundamentals, '50 Years of Fleetwood Mac', Shane Howard, Wes Carr, Jem Cassar-Daley, Tom Busby and Gypsy Lee.In a special family moment, 2026 will see Gypsy Lee join her mother and Bash regular Kate Ceberano for the first time in Birdsville, while Jem Cassar-Daley will also join her father Troy at the event on the edge of the Simpson Desert.Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash will showcase The Teskey Brothers, Jon Stevens, John Butler, Boy & Bear, Baby Animals, Jessica Mauboy, The Whitlams, Leo Sayer, Tim Finn, Richard Clapton, Troy Cassar-Daley, Chocolate Starfish, Furnace and the Fundamentals, Wendy Matthews, The Radiators, Shane Howard, Fanny Lumsden, '50 Years of Fleetwood Mac', Hot Potato Band, Tom Busby and Wes Carr.Greg Donovan, Bash event founder/owner and Managing Director of the Outback Music Festival Group, which stages both events, says 2026 marks a joyful return to form."We're stoked to be bringing back the full Birdsville Big Red Bash after taking a breather this year. Our team are recharged and ready to give festival-goers an unforgettable outback adventure," Mr Donovan said.For Mr Donovan, the Bash festivals are about more than music—they're about moments."Watching families dance in the shadow of the 40-metre-high Big Red sand dune as the sun sets behind it, or seeing thousands on the Mundi Mundi Plains under that endless sky with the Barrier Ranges behind them is pure magic," he said.Missy Higgins is looking forward to headlining the Big Red Bash's return."My band and I absolutely love playing in the desert for The Big Red Bash. Surrounded by giant sand dunes and people having travelled miles in their dusty caravans to get there... it's so unique and so Australian. There is an incredible line-up set for 2026 and we're all thrilled to be invited back to play again," she said.The Teskey Brothers are eager to make their Bash debut, with Josh Teskey saying: "We've heard a lot about these desert shows from our friends and we can't wait to get out there in the red dust and see what it's all about. Very excited for these shows."The 2026 edition of the Big Red Bash will also mark the return of crowd favourites Hoodoo Gurus, with frontman Dave Faulkner declaring, "We're psyched to be making a return visit to The Big Red Bash next year. Our first and only time there in 2023 was one of the most memorable gigs of our lives! "What an insane idea; gather a motley crew of merry misfits and savvy self-starters and head out to the back-of-beyond to enjoy a few days of music, mirth and merriment?! "Whoever thought of that is a genius because it was amazing and I can't wait to experience it again."With Jon Stevens bringing his trademark powerhouse performance to the Mundi Mundi Bash, with hits including "Touch" and "Take Me Back" destined to echo across the plains, and The Teskey Brothers' soulful "Pain and Misery" set to melt into the desert dusk, the outback will once again become Australia's biggest stage.The camping-based festivals, renowned as the world's most remote music event (Birdsville) and Australia's biggest outback music festival (Mundi Mundi), will each feature three days of music and unique outback entertainment—from world-record attempts and charity fun runs to camel rides, comedy and outdoor film nights.Event organisers are working on a new activity to replace the world-record-breaking Nutbush dance-offs at both Bash events, with further announcements to come.Both events are all-ages, dog-friendly and BYO, and offer a rare kind of freedom where thousands of campers share songs, stories and sunrise views that stretch on forever. Heavily reduced ticket prices for children under 18 years old are available.The festivals offer up uniquely Australian destination adventures for families, grey nomads, camping and caravanning enthusiasts and intrepid travellers alike, with around 10,000 expected to converge on Big Red outside of Birdsville and close to 15,000 on the Mundi Mundi Plains.While both festival locations are remote, they are also easily accessible by road. The Mundi Mundi Plains location has a sealed road leading right into the event site, while the Big Red Bash location has sealed road options right to Birdsville and a short distance of graded gravel road to reach the festival site.Self-driving to both events is the most popular way to get there; however, bus tours are also available to the Birdsville Big Red Bash, and scheduled flights and train transport are available to Broken Hill for the Mundi Mundi Bash.While ticket holders are able to bring their own food as well as alcohol, a large range of food vendors selling both hot and cold food and non-alcoholic beverages will also be on offer at both sites.Tickets for the Birdsville Big Red Bash go on sale from 10am AEDT on 23 October, and the Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash follows at 10am AEDT on 24 October.Applications for volunteer roles at each event will open on 18 and 19 October from 10am AEDT to past volunteers, with new volunteer positions available to all for both events from 10am AEDT on 22 October.Event Details:2026 Birdsville Big Red BashWhere: Big Red sand dune, 35km west of BirdsvilleWhen: July 7-9 2026More info and tickets: www.bigredbash.com.au (tickets released October 25 2025 at 10am AEDT)2026 Broken Hill Mundi Mundi BashWhere: Belmont Station, on the Mundi Mundi Plains, 9km north of Silverton—35km north of Broken HillWhen: 20-22 August 2026More info and tickets: www.mundimundibash.com.au (tickets released October 24 2025 at 10am AEDT)

After the judging took place last week, the Balranald Discovery Centre precinct has now moved forward in the 7 NEWS NSW and ACT Community Achievement Awards in the Council Crown Land Management Excellence Award category. So they are now the top five in their category. The Awards Dinner is on November 29, where the result will become clear. The Balranald Discovery Centre precinct is a tourist complex in Balranald, NSW, in Market Street, that includes a visitor information centre, interpretive pavilion, and Discovery Café. It also features recreational facilities like an interactive playground, skate park, and 24-hour RV stop with amenities such as free warm showers and toilets. The precinct is home to historical buildings like the Museum, Old Gaol, and Wintong School, providing a hub for tourists and locals.The Centre has gained rave reviews from visitors and won a Silver Award at the 2015 NSW Tourism Awards and Bronze at the Inland Tourism Awards in 2015. It Also won a Bronze Award at the 2017 NSW Tourism Awards. Recently the centre received a 2017 Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor for the consistent great reviews earned.

Isa Lawson is one of the friendly faces you will see behind the bar at the White Cliffs Hotel.At twenty-three, Isa has already lived more lives than most people twice her age. Standing behind the bar at White Cliffs pub, wiping down glasses with the easy confidence of someone who's found their place, she tells her story with the matter-of-fact tone of someone who's learnt that life rarely goes to plan, and that's perfectly alright. "I originally come from Tibooburra," she said, her hands never stopping their work. The outback has a way of teaching you to keep moving, keep working, even when you're talking. Her family stayed there until she was about six, then packed up for Broken Hill for a year, before heading out eighty kilometres to work managing a station. For most kids, that kind of upheaval would be traumatic. For Isa, it was just the beginning of an education that no classroom could provide. From age seven to sixteen, home was wherever the work was. Her parents managed stations, and Isa was homeschooled in the vastness of outback New South Wales. "I didn't like it at the time, homeschooling," she admitted, "but now I look back and I go, thank God." It taught her work ethic, resilience, and something you can't learn from textbooks, how to be comfortable with yourself when there's nothing but red dirt and blue sky for company. But at sixteen, with that independence already coursing through her veins, Isa made a decision that would have terrified most teenagers. She moved to Broken Hill, rented her own house, and enrolled in mainstream school for her final year. "I lived by myself at sixteen," she says, and there's no boasting in her voice, just statement of fact. "I matured a lot quicker than all those monkeys in there." The classroom felt foreign after years of learning at her own pace, but she stuck it out. The station had taught her to finish what she started. After school, the roads called again. South Australia first, then up to the Northern Territory, working cattle stations and learning the rhythm of stock work. For a young woman barely out of her teens, the cattle stations of the Top End represented freedom; wide open spaces, honest work, and the kind of community that forms when you're relying on each other in the middle of nowhere. "Absolutely loved Darwin," she said when asked about her favourite place. "And White Cliffs." The two couldn't be more different, Darwin with its tropical intensity and White Cliffs with its understated outback charm, but both represent something essential about the Australian spirit. These days, when she's not pulling beers at the pub, Isa works in mining, contracting alongside geologists. Soil sampling, drilling, RC sampling, diamond sampling, technical work that takes her all over the country. "You get to see the country at the same time," she explained. A couple of weeks ago, Kondobobul. Next contract's down near Yass.The work suits someone who's never been able to sit still for long. But it was heartbreak that brought her back to White Cliffs. After her engagement fell apart, she needed somewhere to heal, somewhere that felt like home. Her uncle and aunt, Matt and Sarah, own the pub, keeping it in the family, as these things often go in small towns. They offered her work, and she grabbed it with both hands. "Matt and Sarah are the best people I've ever worked for," she said, and that's out of anywhere she's ever been. In a life that's taken her from cattle stations to mining camps, that's saying something. The pub has won Best Bush Pub two years running, and they're hoping for a third. During the rodeo in April, Anzac Day weekend, they get the mechanical bull out, bring in a live band, set up a dance floor, and somehow squeeze six hundred people into this tiny outback town. "Bloody hectic, but love it at the same time," Isa grinned.These days, Isa's learning new skills, tiling, plastering, painting. "I just learned this week," she says about the tiling, and there's something beautifully Australian about that, the willingness to have a go, to figure it out as you go along. The pub's undergoing renovations, and she's right in the thick of it. In the afternoons, she rides her auntie's horses, takes her two dogs out for runs. "You make your own fun," she says about life in White Cliffs. "Some of my best mates here are in their sixties." It's a truth about small towns that city people often miss, age becomes irrelevant when there are only a handful of people for hundreds of kilometres. Her family's scattered now. Cooper, her older brother, is in Darwin working criminology and psychology in the middle of the jail system. Her younger brother, just sixteen, has already been accepted into university in Sydney. "That's homeschooling for you," she says proudly. "You learn resilience, and to not be scared to get out and try new things." The Kerr family has been part of this community for generations, doing "magnificent things," as one local puts it. Isa's part of that legacy now, serving beers and laying tiles and making sure that when travellers stop in White Cliffs, they get the kind of welcome that makes them want to come back. She's got no plans to settle down anytime soon. "I'm not really tied down at the moment," she said, and there's contentment in that freedom. Between mining contracts and pub work, between the horses and the dogs and the community that's embraced her, she's found something that works. Standing in the pub as the afternoon light slants through the windows, Isa represents something quintessentially Australian, the ability to adapt, to move, to find home wherever you happen to land. She's part of a generation that's learnt to be comfortable with uncertainty, to see change not as disruption but as opportunity. The outback shaped her, but she's shaping it right back. Whether she's sampling soil in some remote mining camp or serving cold beers to mates who've known her since she was a kid, she's writing her own story across the vast canvas of rural Australia. "There's no place like home," she said, and she's talking about White Cliffs, but she could be talking about any of the places that have marked her journey. For someone who's moved as much as Isa, home isn't a place on a map; it's the people who welcome you, the work that challenges you, and the country that never stops surprising you. In White Cliffs, population barely in the hundreds, Isa Lawson has found all three.

Funding has been awarded to six Far West community groups and service organisations through the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund, in partnership with the NSW Government, as part of the implementation of the Far West Regional Drought Resilience Plan (RDRP).The successful projects align with at least one of the objectives of the RDRP: to build drought resilience economically, socially and/or environmentally.In August, the programme was released, aiming to support community drought resilience through funding for community-focussed projects, events, initiatives and training. The programme supports events across Far West NSW, comprising Central Darling Shire Council, the City of Broken Hill and the Unincorporated Area of Far West NSW.Funded ProjectsThe Tibooburra Sports Club Inc. received funding to support the delivery of the Tibooburra Gymkhana, Bikekhana and Rodeo event, providing a platform for people to come together and support each other.The Broken Hill Branch Australian Stock Horse Society (ASHS) will use their funding for the purchase and planting of new drought-tolerant shade trees at the Topar Sports Club.The Rural Financial Counselling Service NSW secured funding to support the presence of a counsellor as part of the delivery of three workshops focussed on enhancing financial and emotional skills to prepare for and recover from drought and other events. The workshops will be delivered in Tibooburra, Broken Hill and Wilcannia for up to 40 people in November 2025.The Packsaddle Progress Association received funding for catering for the Packsaddle Community Melbourne Cup on November 4, a key event on the local social calendar.Milparinka Sporting Clays/Field and Game Association was awarded funding to support the delivery of the 'Shoot, Socialise and Support' community event to bring people together during the dry season. The event will be held at the Milparinka Sporting Clays range on November 15.The Pastoralists' Association of West Darling received catering support for the Pastoralist Forum and Dinner. This is an opportunity for NSW pastoralists to hear about drought advocacy from the Pastoralists' Association of West Darling and Western Local Land Services.The programme is an example of both the NSW Government's and councils' ongoing commitments to support the Far West region's communities to prepare for drought.Additional Far West RDRP implementation projects remain underway, including a Far West NSW water efficiencies guide, recreation space and community infrastructure needs assessments.Further information on the Far West RDRP can be found at www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/far-west-rdr-plan.pdf

Thanks to the ongoing efforts of Deniliquin residents, our region has achieved impressively low contamination levels in kerbside green waste bins. As a thank you, Council is offering free compost to residents of Edward River Council area.The giveaway will be held at the Deniliquin Saleyards on Saturday October 25 2025, from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm.“This event is a celebration of our community’s commitment to sustainability,” said Jack Bond, CEO of Edward River Council. “By keeping contamination levels low, residents are helping us turn green waste into something valuable – and now they get to take some of that value home for the garden.”Mayor Ashley Hall added, “It’s fantastic to see our community leading the way in waste management. This giveaway is a small way to say thank you and to encourage everyone to keep up the great work.”The compost, processed by Biomix using local green waste, is perfect for gardens, lawns and landscaping projects.Residents are encouraged to bring their own bags, buckets, trailers or utes to collect compost. For those bringing bags, don’t forget shovels! For those bringing trailers or utes, Council staff and a bobcat will be on standby to assist in loading the compost.Traffic management will be in place, and safety rules must be followed on the day.To find out everything you need to know before you arrive, visit:www.haveyoursay.edwardriver.nsw.gov.au/3-bins-collection-service/

Hay Shire Council is ending its participation in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Funding and Investment in Community-driven Literacy Programs for children, due to rising costs. Council resolved at a recent meeting to transition from the Imagination Library program to a suite of locally delivered early-literacy initiatives. Council plans to purchase over 500 new children’s books every year to benefit all families rather than the limited number of those enrolled in the Imagination Library Program at a cost of $70,000 per annum. General Manager, David Webb said the decision recognises the approaching conclusion of NSW Government funding for the Imagination Library in 2026, and the opportunity to reinvest resources into programs that are more responsive to the needs of the Hay community. Initial planning meetings have already been held with the Education Supervisor of Hay Children’s Services (HCS) to begin shaping Phase Two of the initiative. “HCS enthusiastically supports a partnership with Hay Shire Council Library to co-develop and implement a locally tailored intentional program aimed at improving literacy outcomes for children in our community,” Education Supervisor, Cas Tidey said. “We wholeheartedly back the Library Team Leader’s vision to increase consistently delivered programs and engagement with the library. “We believe there is a significant opportunity to create a deeper, more meaningful impact through a locally driven initiative – one that builds on, and enhances, the current Storytime program. “We have full confidence the Team Leader holds the necessary skills and qualifications to develop and deliver such a program at a drastically reduced cost to Council.” Mr Webb said.Discussions focused on how Council and its partners can best support children, parents, caregivers and guardians - both those in formal care and those on the current childcare waitlist - to build early literacy, confidence and lifelong learning habits, while strengthening community engagement with the library. To ensure this work reflects recognised best practice, Hay Shire Library will meet regularly with staff at HCS to formulate a detailed plan. These ongoing meetings will allow both organisations to co-design programs and resources that meet the needs of families across the community and provide consistent, high-quality early-literacy experiences. The library team is grateful for the time, insight and expertise being generously shared by HCS staff and looks forward to further strengthening this valued partnership as planning progresses. Phase Two planning will continue over the coming months to identify approximate costings, funding opportunities and program structures. Already, a range of positive and innovative ideas has emerged, such as enhanced parent–child literacy workshops, outreach story times, introducing ‘baby bounce’ sessions, interactive resources and expanded family programs. These initiatives strongly align with Hay Shire Council’s Community Strategic Plan, particularly the goals to enhance educational pathways and opportunities, create inclusive and empowered communities, and support youth and aged services. “This decision affirms the commitment to fostering a child-safe, inclusive and literate community, and highlights the library’s role as an integral environment for exploring literacy, collaboration and connectedness,” Mr Webb said. “By working in close partnership with Hay Children’s Services, Council will ensure the next stage of this initiative delivers sustainable, high-quality literacy opportunities for all families, both now and in the years to come.”

Budding photographers and social media enthusiasts are invited to showcase their creativity in the Griffith Spring Fest 2025 Photography Competition, celebrating the colour, fun and vibrancy of one of the region's most loved events.The competition encourages locals and visitors alike to share their favourite moments from this year's festival by posting their best photos on Facebook or Instagram for the chance to win $500 worth of vouchers.To enter, post your favourite Griffith Spring Fest 2025 photo to Facebook or Instagram.Follow @GriffithSpringFest on both platformsTag @GriffithSpringFest and use the hashtag #GriffithSpringFest2025Make sure your profile is public so the entry can be seenEntries close at 11:59pm (AEDT) on Sunday, October 26.Griffith Mayor, Councillor Doug Curran, said the competition is a fun way for the community to get involved and share what they love most about Spring Fest."Griffith Spring Fest is all about colour, community and creativity," Councillor Curran said."Every year we see incredible photos capturing the Citrus Sculptures, Open Gardens and Street Party, and this competition is a great opportunity to showcase the festival through the eyes of the people who enjoy it most."The winning image will be selected by a judging panel based on creativity, originality and how well it captures the essence of Griffith Spring Fest. The winner will be notified via direct message by October 31.By entering, participants grant Griffith City Council permission to use submitted images for future promotional and marketing purposes, with photographer credit given wherever possible.For full terms and conditions, visit www.griffithspringfest.com.au or contact [email protected]

Are you an artist from the Far West who would like to participate in something meaningful and life changing? Far West Local Health District (FWLHD) are seeking Expressions of Interest from local Aboriginal artists in Broken Hill, Buronga, Wilcannia and Menindee to lead a Cultural Art Workshop as a Cultural Advisor. This project is part of the 16 Days of Activism events led by FWLHD and supported by other local services.16 Days of Activism is a global campaign from November 25 to December 10 which aims to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls by raising awareness, promoting education, and advocating for change in culture and attitudes.The aim of the Cultural Art Workshop is to bring community together through Aboriginal art and culture as a pathway for healing, learning, and empowerment, while raising awareness of respect, equality, and the importance of ending gender-based violence.The artwork created in the workshop will be showcased in the local health service in the location it was created.One workshop each from 12pm-3pm will be held in: Menindee (24/11), Broken Hill (28/11) Wilcannia (4/12) and Buronga (8/12).A cultural advisor / artist fee will be provided, along with materials and support for workshop delivery.Applicants must meet the following criteria: Identify as a local Aboriginal person Reside in the local community that you apply for Be an artist or have experience of participation in the arts Have experience facilitating art or cultural workshops Can engage respectfully with diverse groups, including young people, families and community members Are committed to the values of respect, equality, and community wellbeing Have a Working with Children CheckFor more information or to receive an application form, please email [email protected] of interest close Monday October 20 2025.

McDonald's annual charity campaign is gearing up for its biggest fundraising push of the year, with special merchandise now available across Riverina restaurants ahead of McHappy Day on Saturday, November 15.The fast-food chain has launched a range of limited-edition items to raise funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), which supports families with seriously ill or injured children requiring hospital treatment.From Wednesday, October 15 through to midnight on McHappy Day, customers can purchase crew-style "Silly Socks" for $6.50 featuring McDonald's characters Grimace and Hamburglar, or bucket hats for $3.95 showcasing the full McDonald and crew in two colour options.All profits from merchandise sales go directly to RMHC, helping families remain close to their children during medical treatment.Matt Gidley, licensee for McDonald's Griffith South, Leeton and Griffith, said the annual event brings the community together for a meaningful cause."McHappy Day is a favourite time of year for our crew and customers, when we come together to do something that means so much to our community," Mr Gidley said."Every year, we're blown away by the generosity of our customers. So come on in – we have Silly Socks, Bucket Hats and Helping Hands in stock right now – we're ready for you to join the fun and support families in need."Beyond merchandise, supporters can contribute through several channels. "Helping Hands" paper cut-outs are available for purchase at $2, $10 or $50, which customers can colour and display in-restaurant or at home. Direct donations can also be made online at mchappyday.org.au/donate.On McHappy Day itself, $2 from every Big Mac sold – whether individually or as part of a meal – will be donated to RMHC.Since McHappy Day launched in 1991, the initiative has raised more than $79 million for RMHC, helping support over 69,000 families annually. Last year's campaign alone raised over $6.03 million, providing more than 37,000 nights of accommodation for families with children undergoing medical treatment.The charity operates 19 Ronald McDonald Houses providing accommodation near hospitals for over 12,000 families yearly, along with 18 Family Rooms within hospitals, learning programs supporting more than 1,200 students weekly, six family retreats, and 10 hospitality carts delivering essentials to families at their child's bedside.RMHC programs are designed to keep families together during what are often the most challenging periods of their lives, providing practical support and emotional comfort when it matters most.The limited-edition merchandise is available at participating McDonald's restaurants nationwide through drive-through, kiosk, front counter, the MyMacca's app and McDelivery while stocks last.For more information about McHappy Day or to make a donation, visit www.mchappyday.org.au.

Landholders in Far West NSW can take advantage of a new incentive scheme for coordinated fox control this spring and next autumn. Western Local Land Services' fox baiting initiative offers participants who purchase 1080 fox baits this spring the opportunity to receive an equal quantity free of charge in autumn 2026, provided they meet eligibility requirements. The program has also reduced pricing for 1080 wing baits from $0.70 to $0.60 per bait. Western Local Land Services biosecurity officers will assist eligible landholders in calculating appropriate bait quantities based on property characteristics. Pest Animal Coordinator Danielle Barrett said the program presents a valuable opportunity for producers. "This incentive offers landholders an effective way to manage fox populations and minimise their impact on livestock, agricultural production and the environment," Ms Barrett said. "By essentially cutting seasonal fox baiting costs in half and encouraging neighbouring properties to work together, we're aiming to achieve substantial reductions in fox-related losses for livestock producers." Who can participate:Eligible landholders must: - Operate within the Western Local Land Services region and pay Local Land Services rates - Have no overdue payments to Local Land Services - Participate in a coordinated baiting program with at least two other neighbouring properties - Have purchased fox baits since March 1 2024 (for properties in wild dog areas) - Hold current AQF3 or Vertebrate Pesticides Induction Training certification (available online at www.nsw.gov.au/vpit) For more information or to confirm eligibility, contact Western Local Land Services biosecurity officers on 1300 795 299 or [email protected]