“Our family has a proud history, building a winemaking business that we believe is a true Australian success story. It has been achieved through hard work, self-sufficiency, determination and vision, built on foundations laid by Vittorio and Giuseppina De Bortoli who carried their dreams of a better life from the alpine foothills of Italy’s north to the fertile Riverina region in New South Wales.From humble beginnings we now have an international business, employing more than 450 Australians and making wine that is enjoyed throughout the world, and in doing so bringing valuable dollars into our nation.But I have concerns for the future and I believe my fellow Australians, especially those in capital cities, need to understand the pressures being applied across the board to those who grow the quality food and beverages, including wine, that you enjoy.We are being asked to carry an unfair burden, not in the name of the environment or sustainability, but merely to appease ill-informed ideology.For example, in the Riverina we need water to grow grapes, rice, fruit, vegetables and a whole range of other produce. That should not be a problem because, in reality, there is enough water available to both grow food and protect our environments.Some people, mainly those living in cities, may argue this is not the case, though we do not often see them in our fertile food growing regions, educating themselves and listening to those with lived experience. They mostly remain within inner-city confines, sipping their latte and glibly expressing their ideologies that impact others, especially those in rural areas.My issue is they generally do not understand what is needed to grow food, and have even less understanding of water management and sensible ways to use this precious resource for productive and environmental benefit.I am writing this letter as an appeal to my fellow Australians. I am passionate about protecting rural communities from unnecessary and often ill-informed environmental ideology.So please think carefully about this, including how you cast your vote at any upcoming election. We need politicians who are prepared to listen, learn and develop policy that not only protects our environment, but also my fellow citizens in rural Australia and the cost of living for all of us. If we do not provide the platform and resources for those who grow our food, ultimately everyone will suffer.I don’t generally get directly involved in elections or political parties, but like so many others across rural and regional Australia I am seeing unprecedented damage to our way of life from illogical policies and their implementation.For the sake of our farming communities, and to ensure we can continue to grow fresh, clean Aussie food, this needs to change.”Darren De Bortoli Managing Director – De Bortoli Wines, Griffith

Mallee Family Care are holding a free BBQ and playgroup on Wednesday February, 26.This is a great opportunity for families with young children to get together, have a chat and learn about the different services Mallee Family Care has to offer, including playgroups, self care, parenting groups, first aid, and supports and referrals.Raising families is hard, and there can never be enough supports to fall back on, and everyone is welcome.It is on at Greenham Park Hall from 11am to 1.30 pm. Mallee Family Care was established in August 1979 in response to the needs of the communities of north west Victoria and south west New South Wales. Commencing as part of Melbourne Family Care, it was separately incorporated in 1984. Today it’s a locally accountable provider of health, welfare and family services.Playgroups offer many proven benefits for children and their families, including helping children develop social and emotional skills, and make friends. They help children develop literacy and numeracy skills, and learn about the world around them. 

Look into these grants to make life easier for you, your business or your organisation.We're all so busy these days, it feels like nobody can afford time to do anything.But think of it this way: if you missed out on money you, your business or your organisation was entitled to and could dearly use, can you afford to miss out?Take five or ten minutes and visithttps://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding?suburb=2711%2C+HAY&lat=-34.3783&lon=144.8609&page=3Type in your location into the search criteria and see what pops up.There are so many grants available out there these days.Here's just one example. Did you know the Robinvale District Local Health service was smart enough to benefit from the Community Benefit Payment Scheme.What's that, you may ask? The Community Benefit Payment Scheme Community benefit payments are intended to benefit local communities and to offset the potential harm of increased gaming machines in a local government area. Community benefit payments are generally given to local not for profit and charitable organisations to support communities in the local government area where the funding is generated. When a venue applies to Liquor & Gaming NSW to increase the gaming machines on its premises, it may be required to complete a Local Impact Assessment which examines the impact that the additional machines may have on the local area. The Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority uses the Local Impact Assessment to determine if approving the application will have an overall positive impact on the community.If the application is approved, the venue must make community benefit payments to the Responsible Gambling Fund. The payments are calculated by the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority and are distributed to organisations that support the social wellbeing of communities in the local area.The Robinvale District Local Health Service was able to hire a social worker/counsellor to perform cross-referral and collaboration with GambleAware Far & Western NSW for two years.Community War Memorials Fund, Drought Ready and Resilience Fund loans, boarding scholarships for isolated students, scholarships and allowances for rural students, Prevention Innovation and Technology grants, $1000 Safe Work small business grant, and so much more.Yes it is time out of your day, but even one time in five times of taking a five minute scroll might prove a game changer for you, the organisation you volunteer for, or your business. Can't really put a price on that can you?

Are you or someone you know moving this year to attend university?Look into the Tertiary Access Payment (TAP).A payment to help students with the cost of moving from regional or remote areas for tertiary study, the Tertiary Access Payment (TAP) is a one-off payment of up to $5,000. It’s to help eligible students with the cost of moving to study. This is for study after you’ve finished year 12 or equivalent.To get the payment you need to meet some rules. These include moving from a regional or remote area for tertiary study, and starting tertiary study in the year after finishing year 12 or equivalent.Regional areas are places that aren’t in or near a major city. You can check if your family home is in a regional or remote area using the Student Regional Area Search.You can claim this payment in your first year of tertiary study only.You can still claim TAP if you get ABSTUDY, Youth Allowance or Relocation Scholarship in your first year of study.https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/tertiary-access-payment?fbclid=PAY2xjawIWOzZleHRuA2FlbQEwAGFkaWQBqxW-rv-rVgGmglR_5U0EzbqBgfe5MavwTF23YCJ3NdlHeZT7CYQ3aNErvOd65FZFz0BO_aem_Ro_e4bxdb8ASUW31iqNu1A&utm_campaign=doe-tap-202501&utm_content=video2-parents-and-students-burst&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=facebook+

Don't miss out on having your sayGriffith City Council is inviting residents to take part in its first Community Opinion Group (COG) meeting of the year on Wednesday, February 26, at 7pm at the Yenda Diggers Club. The COG provides an opportunity for community members to bring forward issues, ideas, and concerns in a relaxed setting, engaging directly with councillors and council staff. Council is currently calling for agenda items, with submissions closing at 4pm on Thursday February 20. Residents are encouraged to put forward topics they would like to see discussed. Mayor Doug Curran said the new initiative aims to strengthen communication between Council and the community. “We want to ensure our residents have a platform to voice their concerns and ideas in an open and welcoming environment,” said Mayor Curran. “The Community Opinion Group is about listening to our community and working together to shape the future of Griffith.” To submit an agenda item, contact council on 1300 176 077.

Member for Parkes Mark Coulton's weekly catch upFree student broadband extendedWith many across the electorate already back in school or about to start school this week, now is a great time to remind families of the School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI).Through this initiative the Australian Government aims to bridge the digital divide and expand educational opportunities for students who do not have home internet access.I am pleased to see SSBI has been extended, now offering free home internet to eligible families until 30 June 2028.To qualify, participants must:Have a child living at home that is enrolled in an Australian school;Not have an active NBN network internet service at home or in the past 14 days (having a mobile internet service does not affect eligibility); and,Live in a premises that can access the NBN network.This extension is available to all eligible families, whether they are existing participants of SSBI or new to the program.Only 30,000 places are available. To check your eligibility, call 1800 954 610 or visit: https://www.anglicarevic.org.au/student-internet/ .For more information, visit: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/media-communications-arts/internet/national-broadband-network/school-student-broadband-initiative-ssbi 2025 NAIDOC GrantsApplications for the 2025 NAIDOC Local Grants are now open to provide a co-contribution to the cost of activities and events being held around National NAIDOC Week (6 to 13 July 2025).Activities and events should align with the annual National NAIDOC Week theme The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy.More InformationReturn to ParliamentParliament returned for the first sitting fortnight of 2025 last week. It was a bittersweet week for me, marked by the reality that it was my last ‘first week’ back in Canberra.Speculation on when the election will be called was rife within the walls of Parliament House, but it was still business as usual for me with plenty of meetings, debates and events to partake in.It is clear that the Labor Government has realised, on the slim chance that they do win the election, they’ll have nothing to do because they have spent their entire term in government happily announcing and opening projects which were funded by the previous Coalition Government. I suggested to the House that they could maybe have a sod-filling ceremony for the section of Inland Rail that they stalled; they could also have a game of cricket on the parched cotton fields where water has been diverted to win South Australian Senate votes; or perhaps they could even try beating a road train across the Newell Highway where funding was cut for the $44 million overpass at Moree. These suggestions were unfortunately laughed off by those in Government, because they are only interested in opportunities which make themselves look good. The truth is Labor only cares about making promises and then fails to deliver.On Wednesday I also took the opportunity to speak in the Federation Chamber on the closure of Wee Waa Hospital. The community of Wee Waa have been very angry and upset by the decision, and despite reassurances from the Independent State Member and the New South Wales Health Minister, there appears to be no action by Hunter New England Health. It's time for the leadership of Hunter New England Health to get their skates on, get in the car and come to Wee Waa to find a solution. Basic health care is something that all Australians should have access to, and I'm backing the people of Wee Waa on this.

COMMENCEMENT OF LEGAL CHALLENGE - NSW Fractured Rock Water Resource PlanBrendan Kennedy (Chair MLDRIN) and Grant Rigney (Deputy Chair MLDRIN),today (Monday) in front of the Federal Court. Image: Cassandra Hannagan.First Nations environmental lobbying group Murray Lower Darling River Indigenous Nations (MLDRIN) is in the Federal Court today to challenge the decision by Minister Plibersek to accredit the NSW Fractured Rock Water Resource Plan (WRP).MLDRIN, a confederation of First Nations from the southern half of the Murray-Darling Basin, is before the Federal Court on Monday to obtain justice for First Nations.The challenge is brought because MLDRIN wants to ensure that governments, their agencies and processes do not skim over First Nations’ rights for the sake of expediency.The NSW Murray-Darling Basin Fractured Rock Water Resource Plan covers groundwater stored within the fractures, joints, bedding planes, faults and cavities within the geological rock mass of the NSW Murray-Darling Basin as well as alluvial sediments that overlie these fractured rock systems that have not been explicitly captured elsewhere.“We repeatedly advised the MDBA that the Fractured Rock Water Resource Plan should not be recommended for accreditation," Brendan Kennedy, Chair, MLDRIN, Tati Tati Nation member, said.“Some Nations, including my own, were not consulted at all. Some other Nations that were consulted did not feel they were consulted properly.“Despite being aware of this, the MDBA recommended to the Minister that she accredit the plan, and the Minister just ticked a box.“We are here today to get justice for First Nations and show the government, and the other authorities responsible for making recommendations that impact our lives, that they need to comply with the law.”MLDRIN will argue that the Federal Water Minister’s accreditation of the NSW Fractured Rock Water Resource Plan, and the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s recommendation that it be accredited, was unlawful.MLDRIN says these accreditation and recommendation decisions were unlawful because the affected First Nations were not consulted as required by the Basin Plan 2012, an instrument of the Water Act 2007 (Cth).MLDRIN says consultation failures mean that Nations’ social, spiritual and cultural values, as well as their uses of the water resources, were not properly considered when the Fractured Rock WRP was prepared.“What happened was shameful," Grant Rigney, Deputy Chair, MLDRIN said."It shows how little both the NSW and Federal government care about First Nations peoples’ values and uses in the Basin Plan process.   “The NSW Government left some Nations out of the consultation process."As the final decision maker, the Federal Water Minister must ensure that WRPs are lawful in all aspects prior to accreditation.The MDBA recommended that the Minister accredit the WRP despite MLDRIN’s advice that it was not compliant with the Basin Plan.MLDRIN’s advice was prepared at the request of the Commonwealth Government, specifically to support the accreditation process.MLDRIN has also asked the Court to find the Minister’s decision was unlawful because the Minister did not have the proposed WRP in front of her, nor did she read it, before accrediting the plan."We hope that the Court will send a powerful message that this tick a box approach is simply not good enough.”MLDRIN Chair Brendan Kennedy says the group is seeking justice. Photography Doug Gimesy.BackgroundMLDRIN is a confederation of Southern Basin Nations that advocates for First Nations’ water rights and justice at the direction of its membership. It is the only self-determined community controlled water justice collective in the Murray Darling Basin. First Nations have cultural and moral obligations to care for Country, including water. The Basin Plan 2012, which is an instrument of the Water Act 2007 (Cth), requires governments and authorities when making Water Resource Plans to take into account Indigenous values and uses that are specific to the water resources – such as wetlands, aquifers and watercourses – within the area of a water resource plan. This provision ought to ensure that the water resource plans provide First Nations with a meaningful, and impactful, opportunity to engage in water resources management, which is part of a broader need to protect First Nation’s interests in water.Hearing details:Federal Court of Australia (Sydney) Hearings - Monday-TuesdayCase: Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations v Commonwealth of Australia & Ors (NSD1201/2023)Justice: Stewart JHearing: 10:15am, Monday to Tuesday, February 10-11, 2025.Livestream link: NilLocation: Court Room 18A Federal Court of Australia (Sydney Registry)Level 17, Law Courts Building, 184 Phillip St, Queens Square, Sydney

They took out the big stump. The age-old stump at Carrathool has been removed and is now taking up residence at the home of Allan Woods on Tabbita Road, in the round yard arena. A plaque will be placed with the stump. The stump had been in Carrathool a very long time, so long people aren’t exactly sure why it was there or how it got there. The fate of the stump came into question when Sean Mealing of the Carrathool Pub bought the land on which the stump was squatting. “We knew it was only going to deteriorate further, so we decided to figure out what to do with it,” Sean told The Grazier. True Aussies can create fun out of anything. The pub frequenters began to have a weight guessing competition. Nobody knows how, but district legend and pub regular ‘Froggy’ from Goolgowi guessed the correct weight of the stump. The behemoth hunk of wood weighed in at an impressive 5680 kilograms. “Deciding what to do with the stump took a little while, but once it was all sorted, the actual work happened quite fast, which was impressive given the size of the stump,” Sean said. “Woodcutters on Howlong Station had a loader they brought into town, and someone had a telehandler, and they managed to lift the stump and take it out.” Sean is just delighted the iconic piece of timber will be put to good use. Locals are now putting their heads together, and delving into the research, to get to the bottom of the mystery of the Carrathool Stump.

More than $100,000 in cash was located in a vehicle after it crashed with a cow near the Carrathool turnoff last Friday. Officers attached to Hay Highway Patrol were made aware of a driver who had collided with a mob of cattle on the Sturt Highway east of Hay, and had failed to stop. This caused one cow needing to be euthanised due to the extent of its injuries sustained from the collision. Officers located the vehicle a short time later where they stopped and spoke to the driver, a 24-year-old man from South Australia. Following enquiries police had cause to search the vehicle where they located $142,350 cash within the vehicle. The driver was arrested and conveyed to Hay police station where he was charged with a number of offences: Driver of vehicle injuring animal fail to alleviate pain, recklessly deal with proceeds of crime and goods in custody suspected of being stolen or otherwise unlawfully obtained. He was granted bail to appear at Hay local court on March 3.

It can happen to anyone; you swipe right on Tinder, or match with someone on a dating site. You get to chatting, and it turns out you get along really well. The conversation is flowing like crazy, and they ask you to take the conversation off Tinder, using some sort of excuse like, “I don’t check my Tinder often enough, and I’d love to keep on chatting to you,” or, “This site/app is really glitchy, can I grab your Snapchat?”Think twice before you oblige, and remember just because you felt a momentary spark, it doesn’t mean you owe anyone anything, or won’t find someone else to talk to where the conversation flows equally well.Police officers from the Murrumbidgee Police District Griffith unit have advised the public a local man was blackmailed after exposing his genitals in a video chat on Snapchat.This happened after having enough conversation to feel comfortable, with a woman who claimed to be from Griffith and worked for a business on Banna Avenue. They interacted over a video chat, which the man did not realise the woman had recorded.The woman then exits the call.Minutes later, the man received a video of him revealing his privates, which had been uploaded to a YouTube account belonging to the woman.The man was told the video had not yet been made available for public viewing but if he did not pay $500, it would be. He said no, and then the woman handed over a list of the man’s Facebook friends and told him she would send the video to everyone he knew on Facebook if he did not pay.The man transferred the money to the woman via Wise, a cash transference app. After the handover, the target deleted the woman extortionist from all modes of contact.This poor man just thought he was having a private interaction with a willing participant. Issues like this can prove to be really embarrassing to talk about, but if he hadn’t come across an absolute low life, he would have been doing what lord knows how many singles do when they come across what they feel is a good prospect on the internet.It can be so easy to forget it’s the internet, can’t it?People need to know they are not alone.According to recent data, around 40 per cent of Australian online dating users report being targeted by some form of dating scam, with romance scams being the most common type, accounting for 47 per cent of all online dating scams; victims in Australia are reported to lose nearly $12,000 on average when targeted by such scams. People can be so slick, so insidious. But it is important to try and keep in mind the importance of your safety.Never share personal information or photos with someone you don’t know and trust, especially photos or webcam calls of a private nature. If an online match wants to communicate with you outside the dating website, such as through a private email address or over the phone, be wary.They could be trying to avoid detection, and if a prospect is genuine, they will not care if you take steps to protect yourself.If you are considering meeting in person, choose a public place and let family or friends know where you are at all times.Break out your inner detective and run a Google Image search to check the authenticity of any photos provided. Scammers often don’t stop at extortion, often they’ve pinched some poor innocent person's photos they’ve found online.Don’t fork over money to someone you’ve met online, especially via money order, wire transfer or international funds transfer – it’s rare to recover money sent this way.If you gave your account details to a scammer, contact your bank straight away.If you have fallen victim to this type of thing, know you are not alone. The best thing you can do ids to stop the chat and take screenshots of the text and profile. Do not save or share intimate, illegal, or restricted content with anyone under 18.Block the account, report the offence to both the social media platform and to police.Has this happened to you, or someone you know? Have you got news of any kind to share? We want to hear from you! Get in touch via [email protected]

Central Darling Shire has announced the Far West Regional Drought Resilience Plan has been officially released. The plan has been formulated to plan for broader community impacts and utilisations of the opportunity to learn from previous droughts.In March last year Central Darling Shire Council, Broken Hill City Council and the Regional Development Australia Far West NSW Unincorporated Area started working together to produce the plan for drought resilience. This plan is relevant to far west communities whilst also acknowledging the differences between the involved areas. The comprehensive 65 page plan offers a holistic view of the multifaceted issue and impacts of drought.These include issues faced during drought by primary producers, families, First Nations people, towns and villages, economic and social impacts.People can view the plan via this link https://lnkd.in/gAcQBmvy

This Blue-green algal (BGA) alert report is based on routine monitoring at sites in the Murrumbidgee Algae Reporting Area. The sites are monitored by WaterNSW and local councils. Satellite imagery may be used to supplement the monitoring data.RED ALERTS: • Lake Wallace Dam, Nimmitabel.AMBER ALERTS: • Burrinjuck Good Hope • Burrinjuck Woolgarlo • Burrinjuck Dam Wall (Station 1) • Murrumbidgee River at Hay Weir Buoy • Yanga Lake at Regatta Beach • Lake Albert – For more information: Wagga City Council Green Alerts • Murrumbidgee River at Mittagang Crossing (Cooma) • Burrinjuck Waters State Park • Murrumbidgee River downstream of Wagga (Roaches Road) • Murrumbidgee River downstream of Hay Weir • Murrumbidgee River at Maude Weir Buoy General Notes: Amber Alerts have been raised at Good Hope, Woolgarlo and Burrinjuck Dam Wall following recent sampling. Burrinjuck will continue to be closely monitored, with all dam and downstream sites to be sampled again next week. Yanga Lake remains on Amber Alert, with recent sampling indicating an increase in cyanobacteria. Water users in areas under Amber Alerts are advised to exercise caution. Weather Forecast: For February, there remains a likely chance the region will experience above average rainfall. Maximum temperatures are likely to exceed the average across the region, whilst minimum temperatures are very likely (greater than 80% chance) to exceed the average. (Source: Bureau of Meteorology (BoM)) Algae Outlook: Based on the forecast, the current risk for algal growth is high due to the recent heatwave, increasing water temperatures and hence creating very favourable conditions for algae growth.

There are a slew of nursing and midwifery scholarships and financial assistance options open.Visit https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/nursing/scholarship/Pages/default.aspx?fbclid=IwY2xjawISKGlleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHXAQ81LtARQQTPkn9C9VoGL5mq6gaE_cOOxFA0An-Vq2n582OgCgHVh93Q_aem_eXmDcg4_14WZYnxHXBNwiQ to take a look at options including the Aboriginal Nursing and Midwifery Cadetship Program, Aboriginal and Undergraduate scholarships and undergraduate clinical placement grants. There are also postgraduate and career development scholarship options, including Aboriginal postgraduate scholarships and Rhodanthe Lipsett Midwifery Postgraduate Scholarship.There are also options for assistance for those reentering the nursing and midwifery fields. New South Wales has been experiencing a chronic shortage of nurses since the COVID-19 pandemic. The shortage is expected to worsen in the coming years. NSW Government has introduced programs to attract new nurses, such as the Tertiary Health Study Subsidy Program. New South Wales currently has around 70,000 full-time equivalent registered nurses and midwives. Modelling figures show that by the year 2030 there will be a shortfall of around 8,000 nursing staff. The gap will be larger for enrolled nurses with an expected shortfall of around 13,000 by the year 2030.

Do you have a load of things you no longer use or need? Remember that old saying – if it does not spark joy get rid of it.Balranald has the right idea; they are having a whole town garage sale!It’s on Saturday March 8, kicking off at 8.30am. When you think about it, it has a dual benefit, you set someone up at your own house to sell your unwanted items, and you go on a tour of all the other houses to have a look at what’s on offer. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, someone else’s goods might spark you joy!A booking fee of $10 is payable when you register your site for inclusion on the map and promotions at The Gallery. Registrations close Friday February 28.Call into The Gallery at 51 Mayall Street or call 0414563005.

Project EnergyConnect is enabling energy sharing between NSW, South Australia and Victoria. Elecnor Australia and our client Transgrid are committed to engaging with communities on this nation-critical transmission infrastructure.Elecnor Australia would like to advise that stringing works will be occurring on Euston Prungle Road, near Euston, NSW on Thursday, 6 February for approximately three weeks.As part of the work, and to help motorists, traffic control will be in place as our team undertakes this activity.Motorists may experience delays with their road trip so please factor this in when planning your travelling.

Louie Zaffina is the first mayor of Balranald Shire since the region exited its period of administration.Experienced, knowledgeable, and friendly and approachable to boot, he is the strong head of a dynamic new council.A second-generation Italian immigrant, Louie’s parents came to Australia from Italy in the 1950’s. They settled in the Euston area, and purchased land to make a farm.They ran market gardens, before foraying into the realm of table grape growing.Louie was born in Robinvale Hospital, and enjoyed a happy childhood on the farm.“We were poor, we didn’t have much, but we were happy,” said Louie. “My childhood was really good, surrounded by a lot of friends.”When Louie started his education at Euston Public School, he spoke both English and Italian.“My parents largely spoke Italian and broken English with a heavy accent,” he recalled. “I learnt a lot of English from my older sisters.“I remember often knowing the Italian word for different things, but didn’t automatically know the English word.”After completing his secondary education at Robinvale High School, Louie completed an apprenticeship as a motor mechanic at the local Ford dealership.He worked successfully in the sector until his father fell ill. Louie then went to run the family farm. “My father actively encouraged me to learn a trade in case,” he said. “Having grown up on the farm I knew what to do, and since my return my focus and passion has been producing quality table grapes.”Louie and his wife Kylie attended the same high school, Robinvale High School, but got to know each other after they attended the school.They were married and have five beautiful children ranging in age from 35 to 21. They also have eight grandchildren, ranging from age six to two.Louie always had a passion for trying to help in the community however he can, and helping to discover and implement solutions to community issues. Louie has been a member of the Euston Co-Operative Rural Society since 1998 and chair since 2005. The Co-Op is made up of around 60 table grape growers covering 1,600 acres at Euston. The Co-op’s primary function is to deliver water from the River Murray via high-pressure pipeline to the growers for irrigation purposes. The Co-Op has affected positive and significant changes for farmers in the area.In his role, he has been a capable advocate for the members he represents, and has had to confer with and assist council in many instances, during its time of administration.He was appointed to the EPAC (Euston Progressive Advisory Committee), and has been very active in advocating for and uplifting the profile of Euston on many fronts.Although he is a staunch advocate for all things Euston, Louie is also an emphatic advocate for equality throughout the entirety of Balranald Shire. “It is understandable the way Euston may have been considered to be under the wing of Robinvale, a larger town very close,” Louie said. “It has therefore been an area of Balranald Shire which may have not always received the attention it has needed in the past.“It is clear to me, however, none of Balranald Shire has received the attention it has needed. Where other Shires have been proactive in seeking out funding, grants and opportunities for improvement, Balranald Shire seems to have been stagnating in the past, not adequately represented in previous decades.“I want what is fair for the whole of Balranald Shire; Euston, Balranald, Kyalite, Clare and all other parts.“We are really lucky coming out of administration, we have a varied and motivated representation of the whole shire on board.”“The Shire has a slew of opportunities walking through the door, including the mines, renewables, and more. We need to make the most of these good opportunities.”The Sturt Highway and its subpar condition is an issue of which Louie is incredibly passionate. “I have repeatedly sought but have had no answer from the Minister of Transport for NSW, Helen Dalton, and Sussan Ley among others, as to why the segment of the Sturt Highway which is in the worst state is the part which runs through Balranald Shire.”Louie understands other councils have the specific funding and contractual agreement needed to maintain and improve the roads in their LGA, but Balranald has not.“This is another issue which needs to be looked into; why we do not have that when other shires do, and what it will take for Balranald shire to get this,” he said.“As soon as you cross from Balranald Shire to another Shire, the change is clear.”While Louie was reasonably confident he would do well in the election, he was happily surprised when elected mayor. He will assess whether he would like to throw his hat in the ring to remain mayor in two years’ time (mayors are voted in every two years in Local Government), he is certainly keen on remaining on council for as long as possible.His other major passions are continuing to farm high quality table grapes and spending time with his family.Louie was a talented and enthusiastic table tennis player for 30 years, and still gets the gear out now and again for a game with the family.When he gets the time, he likes to fish and visit his grandchildren.“We are really lucky, all of our children and grandchildren are located close by,” Louie said. “They are all here in Euston except for two who live near Mildura.”

Creating a mentally healthy workplace is the responsibility of all employers, leaders and workers in NSW.Make your workplace safer and healthier by learning about how to manage mental health, registering for free training and coaching and completing the Workplace Wellbeing Assessment.The NSW Government website has free training and coaching which can help you create a mentally healthy workplace.Our experts can train your workforce on how and why to protect psychological health at work.They can also work with employers and leaders one-on-one to fine tune your mental health initiatives, or confidentially coach leaders on how to manage issues that may be affecting your employees’ mental health at work.Eligible businesses can access one or both programs, in the order that suits you.Programs include: How to create a mentally healthy workplaceManaging mental health in your workplaceMental health at work resourcesLegal obligations and rightsCreating mentally healthy workplaces case studiesOne in five Australians have taken time off work in the past 12 months because they felt stressed, anxious, depressed or mentally unhealthy. This statistic is more than twice as high among those who consider their workplace mentally unhealthy.Australian workplaces are trying hard to make workplaces more mentally healthy but let's all take every step we can to keep that momentum going.For more information visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/employment/mental-health-at-work?fbclid=IwY2xjawIQ9edleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHdnP7sOxS-2c25T8WuaLYpXIAC7b39SGDJETOGQKYnNOFxtpa9HGvYoCBQ_aem_g_Sq7W1TOgPlTfjxpj0MCQ

NSW Police are re-appealing for information after the body of 56-year-old Broken Hill man Ian Lacey was found near Wentworth on January 16.Police were called to Log Bridge Road at Wentworth about 9am, following reports of a scrub fire. During the search of the area, they located a body, and a crime scene was established and forensically examined.Detectives commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death, which has been deemed suspicious.As enquiries continue, police are asking anyone who was in the vicinity of Wentworth and Log Bridge Road in the week leading up to the 16th, and who may have information, CCTV, and/or dashcam vision to contact Crime Stoppers.

Get onto it girlies, and book in for your breast screening.Call 132050 to book in.Women aged 50–74 are invited to screen every two years.Women in their 40s and over 75 are also welcome, but BreastScreen NSW recommend you speak with your doctor first. BreastScreen NSW is a free health service for women from all cultures and language groups. Women under 40 are not eligible to attend BreastScreen NSW, but don't let this stop you from being proactive about your health.If you’re aged under 40 and are concerned about your risk of breast cancer (including family history) you should discuss this with your doctor. Women under 40 are at a much lower risk of developing breast cancer.Breast screening can be less effective for women under 40 due to higher breast density, which can make it harder to see small cancers on an x-ray. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are recommended to screen from age 40. More than 75 per cent of breast cancers are found in women aged over 50. While cancer can occur in younger women aged 40-50, it is less common.  It’s important to note that breast screening can be less effective for women in this age group. This is because higher breast density can make it more difficult to see a cancer on the x-ray. More than 75 per cent of breast cancers occur in women over 50. Regular breast screens are the best way to find breast cancer early.  You will no longer receive invitations from age 75 however you can contact us to make a booking. Please talk to your doctor to find out if breast screening is right for you.