David Landini has made an application to the Australian Electoral Commission to form his own political party.Landini is lobbying for the formation of a new Riverina state that breaks away completely from NSW.Having unsuccessfully campaigned for the seat of Murray in both the 2019 and 2023 state elections, Landini is emphatically warning if the expanse beyond the Great Dividing Range doesn’t break off and form their own government a lot of state-owned government services will vanish.  “At the moment, even towns like Hay, for example, a lot of their patients are now transported into Wagga Base Hospital. What that’s done is lead to a decline in the Hay Hospital,” he said.The submission to register a party called The Riverina State comprised a list of 1646 members and was submitted on October 17. It will be processed in the coming months.

The country rugby league world has lost a giant of the game, after the passing of the great Peter “Parra” Montgomery last night aged 79.A legendary figure across Groups 9, 17 and 20, and the Country Rugby League as a whole, Parra held positions as a player, journalist and administrator at local, group and state level.Peter Montgomery originally hailed from Sydney, where his youth was spent following the Parramatta Eels around the grounds in the 1960s, the days of the great Thornett brothers, Dick, and the “Mayor of Parramatta”, Ken.Such was his passion for the Eels that he gained the now famous nickname “Parra”, with that single word known far and wide across the state and the country, by mates such as Mal Meninga and Ken Beissel to Phil “Buzz” Rothfield.However, in mid-1966, Parra relocated to Hay to work with the Lands Department, where he would meet his beloved wife Pat and raise a family on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River.Pretty much as soon as he arrived, Parra became involved with the local rugby league club, the Hay Magpies, playing in their 1967 Group 17 premiership win over Coleambally the following year.He later went on to serve as President of the Magpies, and was later awarded Life Membership of the club, as well as spending time on the board of Group 17 and in other roles within the Country Rugby League.He is held in such esteem at the Magpies to this day that the club named its scoreboard at the Hay Park Oval the ‘Parra Montgomery Scoreboard’.In addition to his service to the game of rugby league, Parra was also integral in the foundation of the Hay Cutters Rugby Union Club, serving as President of that club, which still continues to compete in the Southern Inland Rugby Union competition to this day.But perhaps what Parra is best known for was his role as the Sports Editor of The Riverine Grazier, where he covered all the sporting news from the Hay district.During this time, he began writing his famous Parra’s Piece articles, which he continued posting on Facebook after he left the paper, and later began publishing on Battlers For Bush Footy.Amongst all this, Parra also ran the Highway Inn Hotel and an accompanying motel in Hay, where he remained among the town’s most popular figures throughout his life.A final visit to town for the Hay Magpies Presentation and 1975 Premiership Reunion last weekend proved just that, with his return to the Plains celebrated by many young and old.In his later years, Parra moved to Albury, residing in the leafy suburb of Thurgoona, just 15 minutes’ drive from my parents’ house.Once settled, it wasn’t long before Parra volunteered his services as the program writer for the Albury Thunder, with his match previews, reports and other items filling the game day staple with much more than just team lists.It was around this time three years ago that I first made contact with Parra, after he became the number one supporter of the Battlers For Bush Footy Facebook page, which was in its infancy.I first heard about the legend of Parra online, reading forums on LeagueUnlimited about the demise of Group 17 in 2006.However, it was only due to a bit of luck that I got to know him well.A chance meeting between Parra, his wife Pat, and my Mum, who served them working as a cashier at Woolworths in Thurgoona, led to a friendship based on a shared appreciation for telling the stories of country football and its community.When home from university, I would often visit Parra for a chat about country footy, the NRL, and the world in general.Other times, I would join him on the fence line at Greenfield Park, cheering on the Thunder.While at uni in Wollongong, I would often ring Parra to chat about what was happening with footy back home.He became a mentor to me, someone with a wealth of experience, knowledge and respect for the game that I truly looked up to.There were many times where he reminded me to keep persisting with spreading the word of bush footy when I wanted to give up or when I got a negative online response to a story.He’d often comment on stories too, remarking that “TTS” (which stood for Talented Tallon Smith) should be writing for the Telegraph, NSWRL or any manner of media organisations.Sometimes I think he believed in me more than I do.To put it frankly, Battlers For Bush Footy wouldn’t be what it is today without the incredible guidance and support Parra provided over the journey.He also frequently contributed to the website himself, writing his trademark ‘Parra’s Piece’ columns, with enough balance to engage fans from across the Riverina whilst also providing a bit of trademark favouritism towards the Albury club.Parra loved the Thunder, and the Thunder loved Parra.But he also never forgot about those mighty Magpies, and my final treasured memory with him centred around just that.During a week back in Albury, I organised to watch some of the Group 20 Grand Finals with him, as Hay contested three grades in the club’s most successful season in three decades.Sitting there watching the Magpies take on Waratahs in the Reserve Grade match, I took a photo for the Battlers Facebook page to show the world that Parra and I were proudly backing the ‘Pies from 300 kilometres away.That was the last photo I had with Parra, and little did I know it was the last time I would visit him.So, when next season kicks off, and I sit down to write stories on the greatest game of all in the greatest region of all, I will remember the legend of Riverina rugby league that helped me, along with so many others, to chase our dreams.Parra always stood up for what was right, as evidenced by the quote in his email signature that has been quoted by some today: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter”… Martin Luther King. That’s Parra’s legacy and the greatest lesson he taught; to continue to do what is right, and to stand up when it matters.If someone’s actions and legacy make the world a better place, that in my books is a life well lived.Vale Parra, a rugby league legend, a friend and a mentor that I and so many others will never forget.

The woman behind the counter at White Cliffs' only shop moves with quiet efficiency, her smile genuine as she serves customers who've become friends. At 53, Jacqui Portch radiates a contentment that comes from having weathered life's worst storms and emerged not just intact, but flourishing. Her journey to this remote corner of New South Wales is an epic tale; one that spans continents, languages, and lives lived and lost. Jacqui's story begins in the tobacco fields of Rhodesia, where her father's farm stretched across rich red earth just outside Salisbury. The 1970s childhood was idyllic in the way that only hindsight can make clear; endless African skies, wildlife roaming freely, and the security of a life that seemed permanent and protected. "It was a very beautiful country," Jacqui recalled, her slight accent still carrying traces of her African origins. The family grew tobacco, maize, and soy beans, keeping a few cattle for fresh milk. Like most farming families of their background, they employed domestic staff, maids who cooked and cleaned, garden workers who maintained the grounds. It was simply the way life was structured then, a system that seemed as natural and permanent as the seasons. But even paradise had its shadows. At just eight and nine years old, Jacqui and her sister were sent away to boarding school in Cape Town; little girls spending weeks away from home, returning only for brief holidays. The education was excellent, but the cost of separation was high for children so young. "It was tough," she admits. "Very tough, especially being only eight." The family's comfortable world began to unravel during Jacqui's teenage years. War veterans arrived at their farm one day with a message that would change everything: "You've got two weeks to get off." There was no discussion, no negotiation, no compensation. The land that had sustained their family for generations was simply taken. "They just walk onto a property and tell you," Jacqui explained, her voice matter-of-fact. "No conversation whatsoever." Like thousands of white farming families, Jacqui and her family had no choice but to abandon everything they'd built. Her parents moved to a small town called Chinhoyi, their agricultural dreams reduced to memories. The stress and upheaval took a devastating toll; Jacqui's beloved mother died in 2003 at just 54 years old, falling down stairs at home and passing away overnight in hospital. "She was the most beautiful, lovely woman I've ever known in all my life," Jacqui said."That was the hardest thing I've ever had in my whole life." Life in the final years of Zimbabwe became increasingly dangerous and desperate. Homes were fortified with high walls topped with broken glass bottles. Guns were kept under car seats as a matter of survival. Break-ins were constant, fear was a daily companion, and the economy collapsed around them. Basic necessities became luxuries. There was one type of milk, one type of bread; bright yellow from being made with mealie meal and rock-hard by morning. Queues for fuel stretched for blocks, with families sending workers to sleep in cars overnight just to maintain their place in line. When Jacqui gave birth to her first son Matthew thirty years ago, her house had no running water for two weeks. "We used to line up for fuel. There was no fuel in the country," she remembers. "We used to have to put one of the garden boys in the car to sleep there the night just to get fuel." By 2002, with $3,000 US dollars rolled up and hidden in toothpaste tubes throughout her luggage (possessing American currency was illegal in Zimbabwe), Jacqui boarded a plane for Australia. She carried three suitcases and enormous hope, leaving behind not just a country but an entire way of life. One suitcase went missing, ending up in Hong Kong, but she'd made it to Perth with her life and her children's future ahead of her. The culture shock was immediate and overwhelming. Supermarkets with entire aisles dedicated to different types of milk left her paralysed with choice; it took her a year to work out which was normal cheese, another year to find regular potato chips among the bewildering array of options. "I used to listen to the radio and everybody's whinging about potholes," she laughed. "I used to go, 'Dude, you need to go and live in Africa.'" Despite her qualifications and extensive experience in administration and project management, finding work proved unexpectedly difficult. Australian employers found her over-qualified for specific roles. She started as a telemarketer, hardly the career path she'd envisioned, but gradually worked her way up to project manager over the years. Life had one more surprise waiting. Through work connections and the intricate networks that bind small communities together, Jacqui met Stephen Portch. A man with four trades behind him; electrician, instrument technician, gas fitter, and plumber, Stephen could fix anything, solve any problem, and most importantly, saw in Jacqui not a damaged refugee from a troubled country, but a remarkable woman deserving of love and respect. "He's my soulmate," she said simply. "He's my everything." Stephen brought her into the warm embrace of his mining family in White Cliffs; people who didn't see her as foreign or different, but as Jacqui, Stephen's partner, a woman with stories to tell and skills to contribute. For someone who'd lost so much of her own family, being accepted so completely felt like a miracle.Three and a half years ago, Jacqui and Stephen made the decision to leave the increasingly crowded Queensland coast for White Cliffs. What started as Stephen helping his family with their mining operation became a complete lifestyle transformation. Jacqui found herself behind the grill at the local shop, flipping burgers, something she'd never done in her life. "I was thrown in the deep end," she recalled. "Jacqui, there's the grill. Here's all your cold stuff, and this is how you do it." Those first weeks were stressful; learning to be on her feet all day, her body aching from the unfamiliar work. Each night she'd soak her feet in vinegar and warm water, wondering what she'd gotten herself into. But gradually, something unexpected happened: she found peace. Working in the shop meant knowing everyone in town, being part of the postal agency, becoming the person people turned to for help and conversation. The woman who'd once managed million-dollar projects now found deep satisfaction in the simple rhythms of small-town life.The contrast with her previous lives couldn't be starker. In Africa, she'd grown up with servants and staff, never needing to cook or clean. In Australia's cities, she'd been surrounded by endless consumer choices and the constant pressure to accumulate more possessions. In White Cliffs, she discovered the profound liberation of living simply. Their belongings fit into one bedroom of a caravan. When they travel to Broken Hill for supplies, they buy necessities, not luxuries. Their treats are chocolate and Stephen's beloved salt-and-vinegar chips. Before any purchase, Jacqui finds herself asking, "Do I actually need this?" Usually, the answer is no. "It's a simplified life," she explained. "You double-think everything. I don't miss having big shops or big Woolworths or anything. You pair it all back, and you've got what's really important." The peace she's found runs deeper than material simplicity. There's no fear here, no need for walls topped with glass, no guns under car seats, no constant vigilance. The silence of the outback, which once seemed empty to city-dwellers, now feels like a blessing.The community that's embraced them represents something unique in modern Australia. Retired professionals, Vietnam veterans, former police officers, teachers, all people who've found their own version of peace in this remote corner of the continent. When Stephen's expertise is needed, he's there. When Jacqui's warmth and intelligence are required, she provides it. It's a place where being in your fifties doesn't mean being sidelined, but rather being valued for accumulated wisdom and skills. Where mistakes are forgiven, eccentricities are celebrated, and everyone looks after everyone else. "We've got a really good life," Jacqui reflected. "We travel a lot with our caravan. Next year's already booked out, we're going to Smoky Bay fishing for a month, then to WA for my sister's 50th and my brother-in-law's 70th, then back up to Walfish Point and then to Darwin." Sometimes, sitting under the endless outback sky, Jacqui marvels at the journey that brought her here. She came to Australia fleeing violence and seeking safety. She found work, independence, and eventually love. But in White Cliffs, she discovered something she hadn't even known she was looking for; home. Not the home of her privileged childhood, which was built on an unsustainable system and ultimately taken away. Not the frantic, consumer-driven home of Australia's cities, where success was measured by accumulation. But a home built on genuine relationships, mutual respect, and the simple pleasure of useful work well done. "When I first arrived in Australia, it's a first-world country, you go to the supermarket and you can't find full-cream milk because you've got a whole row of different kinds of milk," she remembered. "Now I realise how much stuff you don't need. You go to the shops and go, 'Oh, I need that, I need that.' You don't really, you don't need anything." The woman who once lived behind fortress walls now sleeps peacefully. The woman who once worried about having enough food or water now knows there's always enough. The woman who once felt worthless now knows she's cherished, not just by Stephen but by an entire community that's become her chosen family.At 53, Jacqui looks younger than her years and radiates the contentment that comes from surviving life's worst storms and emerging stronger. She's proof that happiness isn't about having the most choices or the newest possessions, it's about being surrounded by people who value you, work that gives you purpose, and the freedom to live at your own pace. The girl who once lived on a tobacco farm in Rhodesia, who survived the collapse of a country and the trauma of domestic violence, who arrived in Australia with three thousand dollars and enormous courage, has found her place in the world. It's not where she expected to end up, mining country in outback New South Wales could hardly have been further from her imagination as a privileged young woman growing up in Africa. But sometimes the best destinations are the ones we never planned to reach. In White Cliffs, surrounded by red earth and vast sky, living simply with the man she loves and the community that's become her family, Jacqui Portch has discovered that dreams don't always come in the packages we expect. Her story is one of resilience, certainly, but more than that, it's proof that no matter how much life takes away, it can still surprise you with gifts beyond imagination. The woman behind the counter at the White Cliffs shop didn't just survive, she flourished, finding in the Australian outback a peace and joy that all her previous privilege could never have provided. In the end, perhaps that's the most remarkable part of Jacqui's journey; she came seeking safety but stayed for something far more precious, the simple, revolutionary discovery that sometimes losing everything is exactly what you need to find what truly matters.

The White Cliffs mining ban putting super and lives at risk. In short:Veteran Shift: Retired Victorian Police Officer, John McCaskill, fulfilled a lifelong love for opals by moving to White Cliffs and building a custom dugout home on Smith’s Hill.Economic Halt: John has not been able to generate income from his mining operation for years, as the registration of new claims and leases is stalled due to ongoing Commonwealth native title determinations.Health and Finance Risk: The inability to mine has led to significant financial stress, impacting miners' health; John's mining partner, also an ex-copper, recently died following a stroke linked to the worry of the situation.John McCaskill is a retired police officer, with 30 years’ service to the Victorian Police Force. He is quietly spoken, with the enviable legacy of a childhood spent at the foothills of Mount Buller.Entering the police at the tender age of 20 years, he travelled extensively for his work, and learned to fly, journeying across Australia in light aircraft.His love for gemstones and opals has taken him to many fields across the country, but like many before him, White Cliffs captured his heart.“I started coming here in the mid-70s,” John told me. “I came here with a mate called Jack, and I started visiting more and more. I spent my long service up here.”“I was mining with Graham Welling (White Cliffs’ former publican), because we came good friends from coming from the same area in Victoria.  And we actually worked out with a lot of talking that we were taking out the same girl out at the same time. We were only young bucks at the time, you know.”John created a dugout home on Smith’s Hill, and set about mining the precious opal that is exclusive to the tiny outback NSW town.The home started out just like any traditional build, with a floorplan in mind, but the unique underground homes mean the process can quickly adapt.“I was going to leave a big pillar in the middle and had the rooms going off around that,” John said“But it just seemed like all of work, and one day I was sitting and having a sandwich for lunch and I drew another plan in in the dust, and that's what I stuck to.”“I've got two bedrooms a lounge, dining room and a kitchen, and another tunnel leading down to the bathroom. It leads outside too, for safety.”While friends helped out the start of construction, by digging with a front-end loader, a lot of the work is done by hand, with pick, shovel and wheelbarrow.“But the main reason why I was here is because I was just went crazy on mining,” John said. “When I was a kid, I used to go panning for the gold and that sort of thing but I got really tied up with opal, and it’s been successful, up until about six years ago when it all ended.”John claims the stress of halting of any new mining leases has caused economic stress on miners, to the point it has impacted their health.“My mining partner – another ex-copper – he’s also a jeweller. He had a stroke 12 or 18 months ago and it killed him. That’s the worry of all this business.“We’ve all got money in it. I’ve got my super in it, but my machinery just sits out there in the opal field because I can’t mine. I’m not allowed.”John explained the existing working mines can continue, but no new claims can be registered, while the impact of Commonwealth native title determinations on NSW leases is decided.“I'm not allowed to peg a claim,” John explained.“Anyone who was caught between leases when they suddenly changed their minds hasn’t been able to make an income for all those years.”Mining leases at White Cliffs are 50 metre square plots, and in the past miners would take a punt on an area to be rich ground, peg it out and register it with the NSW Government. Mines that were unproductive sometimes became dugout homes, or else were abandoned, and the miner then searched for the next good-looking piece of ground.Due to the complexity of the native title determination over the area of the White Cliffs opal fields this process has stalled, leaving miners without an income for many years.In Australia freehold ownership extinguishing native title, meaning it cannot be claimed, but in White Cliffs – despite promises by former NSW Governments – land was never converted to freehold ownership.Read more:Dugouts Crisis: Native Title Extinguishes Freehold DreamsWhite Cliffs Opal Mining Future HELD UP: Native Title Bureaucracy & Mental Health Concerns

A proposal to drastically reduce the default speed limits on regional roads is set to significantly impact travel times and economic activity across the vast local government areas of Hay, Balranald, Carrathool, and Central Darling, local industry advocates warn.In ShortThe Federal Government is considering reducing the default speed limit on un-signposted regional sealed roads from $100\text{km/h}$ to $80\text{km/h}$, and introducing a $70\text{km/h}$ default for unsealed roads.Industry advocate PAWD warns the change is a "lazy" substitute for essential road maintenance funding and will severely increase travel times and create unacceptable animal welfare outcomes for livestock transport in the Far West.The public consultation deadline is 5pm, Monday, October 27th. Residents and businesses in Hay, Balranald, Carrathool, and Central Darling are urged to provide feedback.(Link below)The Federal Government is currently considering a reduction of the default speed limit to 80km/h on sealed roads and introducing a speed limit of 70km/h on almost 860,000kms of unsealed roads across Australia. The current default limit on un-signposted sealed regional roads is 100km/h, while unsealed roads have no specified national default under the Australian Road Rules.The proposed changes are part of a broader national effort to meet road safety targets, including a 50% reduction in road fatalities by 2030. However, the sheer distances travelled by residents and freight operators in the Far West make the new limits a major point of contention.PAWD Challenges Rationale for Far West RoadsPAWD (the Pastoralists' Association of West Darling), has been vocal in its opposition to the blanket speed reduction, arguing it fails to account for local conditions and severe economic consequences.PAWD's key argument is that the flat, straight topography common to the region already provides a level of safety not seen elsewhere. They also caution that a simple speed reduction is a poor substitute for essential road maintenance funding.Regarding the nature of local roads, PAWD states:"PAWD acknowledges that there are some roads in regional Australia that probably should have their speed limit reviewed, but roads in far west NSW are generally flat, straight, smooth and lacking the roadside hazards typically found where climate, topography and vegetation present much greater challenges to road safety."The association highlights the severe time and economic penalties for regional residents and primary producers who rely on these routes:"Reducing speed limits across the board will capture roads where existing speed limits are appropriate, and travel times for regional residents travelling long distances will increase substantially."The impact on the crucial livestock sector is also central to their submission:"The long distance transportation of livestock should not be adversely impacted by inappropriately low speed limits. More time on trucks will reduce returns for producers and generate unacceptable animal welfare outcomes. Trucks delayed by speed limits may not make delivery curfews."Despite its opposition to the speed limits, PAWD strongly supports other safety measures, including the enforcement of speed, seatbelt, alcohol, drug, mobile phone, and unroadworthy vehicle offences. The association’s current road recommendations include the installation of signage on bends with a crash history and widening the Tibooburra Road between Broken Hill and the Lawrence Engineering workshop.Funding Cuts and Deadline Extension SoughtA major fear voiced by PAWD is that the Government will use the speed limit change to avoid necessary infrastructure investment, an issue critically important to LGAs like Central Darling and Carrathool with their extensive unsealed networks.PAWD issued a strong warning against any cuts to existing maintenance budgets:"There is a real risk that reducing speed limits will be used by Governments as a stalking horse to cut funding for road maintenance and repair in rural areas. The public road network in far west NSW cannot afford any cuts to an already tight budget. Indeed, there are critical safety issues that cannot be resolved by simply dropping the speed limit and PAWD will not accept failure to address these issues appropriately."The public consultation process commenced on September 29th but only recently became widespread knowledge through media coverage. Due to the limited consultation window, PAWD has asked the office of Jamie Chaffey MP to advocate for an extension to the closing date.Have Your SayThe deadline for public feedback is 5pm on Monday, October 27th. Local residents and businesses in Hay, Balranald, Carrathool, and Central Darling are encouraged to make their voices heard regarding the local impact of the proposed changes.You can read more about the proposal and provide your feedback HERE

In Short:MP Roy Butler is demanding a major review of existing youth services and a trial to give magistrates power to refer young offenders to compulsory residential programs as an alternative to jail.The campaign is a response to "ghost services"—ineffective, government-funded programs that have allegedly failed to stem rising youth crime despite reported funding of up to $300 million across the electorate.While the initial trial focuses on Coonamble, Walgett, Brewarrina, and Bourke, the systemic issue of ineffective service delivery raises questions about future impacts and the need for solutions in communities across the entire electorate, including Hay, Balranald, Carrathool, and Central Darling.The Member for Barwon, Roy Butler, is escalating his campaign for a major review of youth services and the introduction of a court-ordered attendance trial in residential programs across four western NSW Local Government Areas (LGAs), raising questions about potential future impacts across the rest of the electorate, including the communities of Hay, Balranald, Carrathool, and Central Darling.Mr. Butler's call is a direct response to what he labels "ghost services"—funded youth programs that, despite receiving substantial government funding (reportedly up to $300 million across the electorate), are allegedly not delivered effectively, leaving significant service gaps in small, regional communities and failing to stem rising youth crime.Focus on trial LGAs, but the issue spans BarwonWhile the immediate focus of the trial and a meeting with the NSW Premier involves the LGAs of Coonamble, Walgett, Brewarrina, and Bourke, the systemic issues flagged by Mr. Butler regarding service delivery and youth crime are not isolated. Residents in the southern parts of the vast Barwon electorate, such as Hay, Balranald, Carrathool, and Central Darling, are often grappling with similar challenges in accessing consistent, effective services, highlighting the potential need for an eventual electorate-wide solution.The key points of the push are:A long-requested review of existing youth services to identify crucial gaps.Giving magistrates the power to refer young offenders to compulsory residential programs as an alternative to incarceration.Mr. Butler has been requesting this review for six years.“For years, I have been calling for a review of youth services in Barwon to identify exactly where the gaps are in youth service delivery. Many services exist, but youth crime is not being addressed effectively in many of my communities,” said Mr Butler.“I thank the Premier for his interest in this complex and distressing situation. A combined effort from State and Local Governments and the community is the key to success. A willingness to think outside the box and be honest in assessing current efforts, expenditure, and outcomes is the only way to achieve results that actually drive change.“Residential programs will only succeed if they are home-grown in the community and offenders can return to their communities under the watchful eye of engaged youth service providers.“The infrastructure is in place in these communities to support residential programs, and the local communities, councils and First Nations groups are supportive and eager to operate them. What is lacking is the effective delivery of youth services to support young offenders once they leave a residential program.“We need the NSW Government to support a trial review into youth services in Coonamble, Walgett, Brewarrina, and Bourke, with a view to expanding.“With strict supervision, regulatory oversight, community, Police and Local Government involvement, we can start addressing the very complex issue of anti-social behaviour and youth offending,” Mr Butler said.

Griffith City Council is encouraging local businesses to get festive by registering for this year's Glow2680 Star Business and Shopper Christmas Campaign.Throughout October, Griffith City Council staff will be visiting CBD businesses to encourage participation, however, the promotion is open to all businesses. Registration opens this week, with entry forms, boxes, stars and other promotional material available from Monday October 27.“Feedback from last year’s campaign showed a preference to keep the promotion running for a longer period and beyond Christmas,” said council representatives.Star Shopper will now run from Monday November 3 2025 to Monday January 6 2026. The campaign offers customers the chance to win a $500 grand prize or one of five $100 runner-up vouchers when they shop at a participating star business. The vouchers can be redeemed at the business where the entry form was submitted.The aim of the campaign is to inspire residents to shop locally, helping to energise the Griffith economy during the festive season.As part of the broader Glow2680 promotion, this initiative gives star businesses a chance to boost sales while offering shoppers the opportunity to win a Christmas bonus to spend in-store. The operation will be encouraged on radio, social media and in the Council Catch Up, with businesses encouraged to use the hashtag #Glow2680.Businesses who want to get involved can register your business, and receive a Glow2680 Star Business sticker, entry forms, boxes and other promotional material.Decorate your store window with festive decorations.Send photos of your window display to Council or use the #Glow2680 on your social media platforms.Hand out entry forms to customers who spend over $15, with one entry per transaction.Lastly, register your business for the Christmas Sidewalk Sale on Saturday, 6 December 2025. How shoppers can get involved is visit participating star businesses from Monday, November 1 2025 to Monday, January 6 2026, and look for the Glow2680 Star Business Sticker and poster.Fill out an entry form after spending $15 in-store (one entry per spend) to go in the draw to win first prize of $500, or one of five $100 vouchers at the participating star business that you shopped at.Do your Christmas shopping done during the Sidewalk Sale on Saturday, December 6 2025.To register your business for the Star Shopper Competition, the Sidewalk Sale, or both, click on the link: www.griffith.nsw.gov.au/Residents/Events/Christmas-in-Griffith/ShoppingFor more information, contact Council’s Economic Development team at 1300 176 077.The winners will be posted to Facebook and published in the Council Catch Up issue of Friday January 16 2026.

US aviation company Air T has agreed to purchase Regional Express (Rex) Airlines, which entered voluntary administration 15 months ago. The deal terms could be announced this week, though the transaction requires approval from Rex creditors. Rex's financial troubles stemmed from an ambitious expansion strategy where it moved from regional routes into major city markets, directly competing with Qantas and Virgin. This expansion led to mounting debts and operational challenges. The airline also struggled with an aging fleet of 57 Saab 340 aircraft. Air T brings several key advantages; access to parts for Rex's decades-old Saab 340 aircraft, experience in regional aviation operations (operates FedEx flights and charter services in the US), expertise in maintenance and supply chain management.The Albanese government has been heavily involved in keeping Rex operational because the airline provides essential connections between regional Australia and coastal cities. Support has included up to $80 million in loans to maintain regional routes through mid-2025, acquiring $50 million of debt from Rex's largest creditor (PAGAC Regulus Holdings).Transportation Minister Catherine King has indicated that any government support for the buyer will require commitments to maintain reasonable service levels to regional communities while ensuring value for taxpayers.The Transport Workers Union is seeking assurances about job security and working conditions, noting that Rex workers are among the company's creditors.

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.