A mayoral chain worn by the late OJ Smith has been returned to Hay. “It needed to come back home,” former Hay resident Noelene Martin said. “It had been sitting in a cupboard since we moved to Uranquinty and no one ever saw it.” Noelene and her husband, Rod brought the chain to Hay over the weekend after having it framed, and presented it to Council on Monday morning. It was left to Noelene by her mother, Dorothy Markey who was a good friend of the Smith family. “I would like to thank Hay Shire Council for accepting this very special framed memorabilia,” she said. “OJ Smith would be proud to know this is on display. “OJ Smith was deputy mayor in 1950 and 1964 and mayor of the Hay Municipal Council from 1954 to 1961. “He received the Local Government Certificate of Merit in 1968.“During his term as mayor, he personally funded the chains for himself and Mrs Smith.” Following the death of Lillian Smith, Mrs Markey was acting mayoress for OJ when the Governor, Sir Eric Woodward visited Hay in 1961. OJ Smith died in 1974, aged 88.

The NSW Electoral Commission has released eraly results in the 2024 Local Government Elections, after voting closed yesterday, Saturday September 14, at 6pm.In Hay Will Miller has emassed the highest number of first preference votes in the initial count, followed by former Mayor Carol Oataway.Euston local Louies Zaffina has taken an early lead in the Balranald electorate, followed by Dwaine Scott.Carrathool Shire held elections in two wards, A and B. Darryl Jardine and Craig McKeon lead the race in ward A, while in ward B Beverley Furner and Michael Armstrong lead a very close race.Council declarations will not be made for several weeks, until all postal votes have been counted and preferences distributed.No election was held in Central Darling Shire, while it remains in administartion.Early first preference resultsHay - eight councillors to be elected from 10 candidiatesWill Miller 331Carol Oataway 296Martyn Quinn 183Lionle Garner 180Darren Tapper 125Geoff Chapman 81David Townsend 71Paul Porter 66John Perry 59Steven Young 18Balranald - eight councillors to be elected from 13 candidatesLouie Zaffina 222Dwaine Scott 198Tracey O’Halloran 78Alison Linnett 69Iain Lindsay Field 60Philip Pippin 60German Ugarte 57Leigh Byron 32Patricia Winch 30Morgan Rasmus 29Lynda Moss 21Ronald Mengler 15Brodie Rayner 6Carrathool Ward A - five councillors to be elected from six candidatesDarryl Jardine 195Craig McKeon 112David Fensom 80Heather Lyall 77Geoffery Peters 56Julie Potter 35Carrathool Ward B - five councillors to be elected from six candidatesBeverly Furner 97Michael Armstrong 95Nicholas Smith 74Jamie Parsons 45Anne-Maree Young 43Damon Liddicoat 36David Burcham 29Jeffrey Mickan 22

The Lyrebird Lake Ladies Choir by Sandie Docker Published by Penguin Australia, June 2024.Sandie’s books are always a highlight in my year of reading. Their historical fiction elements mixed with modern day storylines never fails. Sisters Eleanor and Maggie have been running Lyrebird Lake Ladies Choir for fifteen years and they’ve seen it through each members’ highs and lows. When Hannah, a new face comes to the small town of Lyrebird Lake, she is welcomed into the choir with her angelic voice. Eleanor and Maggie think Hannah could be the answer to their upcoming choir competition. But when Eleanor hears Hannah sing a long-forgotten lullaby, her memories flood back in of a life in Ireland long ago. One that is very heavy to remember and relive. Sandie’s stories always intertwine new and past love, with a sprinkle of mystery. I had the pleasure of speaking with Sandie a few weeks prior to her putting words to page for this novel. It was incredible hearing about the inspiration she drew from long-lost objects that connect to the book and writing from an Irish perspective. Find an interview with Sandie Docker and more book reviews from Mel on www.melreviewsherbooks.com

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

Organisers of the world's most remote music festival, the Big Red Bash, have announced the festival will not be held in 2026.Held outside the village of Birsdville in Queensland's own back country, the Big Red Bash was first held in 2013.My husband, Jason Gee and I travelled to the Big Red Bash in 2021."The Birdsville Big Red Bash will be taking a breather in 2025," organisers posted on social media."After running non-stop since 2013 (with a covid break in 2020), our team is ready for a reset and recharge.As the most remote music festival in the world, building our mini desert city from scratch each year is a massive undertaking. After 11 massive years, it’s time for a well-deserved break - think of it like a gap year after 12 years of school! Just like Glastonbury’s 'Fallow Year', we’re taking a pause to come back even stronger."The post went on to recognise the impact the festival has on inland tourism each year, when around 10,000 descend on the corner of the wide Australian outback."We know this might be a letdown for those planning to attend in 2025 and for businesses in Outback Queensland that benefit from the event. That’s why we wanted to give you plenty of notice."Organisers then released the dates for the 2026 festival - 7th to 9th of July."The Birdsville Big Red Bash will be back, refreshed, and ready to 'Rock the Simpson' once again."The sister festival, the Mundi Mundi Bash held near Silverton in NSW since 2021, will be held unchanged."If you’re looking for a Bash fix next year, check out the Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash from 21-23 August 2025 at Belmont Station. The line-up drops mid-October, and tickets will be available at the end of the month. We’re keeping the numbers fairly steady to ensure a great experience for everyone!"Thanks for all your incredible support. We’ll miss you in 2025 but can’t wait to see you in 2026! Rock on!"

Image: FRRRGrants now availableThe Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal (FRRR) has announced round 23 of the Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) is now open.The Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) Prepare & Recover program supports communities in remote, rural and regional communities across Australia to implement initiatives that prevent and prepare for future climate related impacts, or recover from existing disasters in the medium to long-term timeframe, generally one to ten years after the disaster.The program recognise that remote, rural and regional communities across Australia are vulnerable to climate change and disasters, experience capacity challenges in responding to and preparing for disasters where often existing disadvantage is exacerbated."That is why our grant programs focus on building resilience and strengthening communities, and actively seek to support a more prepared and climate resilient remote, rural and regional Australia," an FRRR spokesperson said.Grants up to $25,000 are available for a broad range of initiatives that focus on community-led resilience building in recovery or preparedness to strengthen the capacity and capability of local people and systems, especially to manage the impact of future disasters. Projects that focus on strengthening local inclusion, networks, communication, information sharing, self-organising systems, local decision making, resourcing, tools and support will be prioritised.Demonstration of project need must reference a specific climate impact or event, either historic or likely to occur in the future.Funding for the 2019/2020 Black Summer bushfires projects has now finished, however projects relating to community preparedness, resilience or recovery from bushfires or other disasters, weather events, or climate impacts are still eligible to apply. NOTE: There are two streams of funding available within the Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) Program: Small and Vital and Prepare and Recover. Organisations may submit their application in one of these streams per SRC grant round, and any other. If your project does not relate to a Prepare & Recover project, please complete an SRC Small & Vital application.Applications close  5 December 2024. Funding announced by mid March 2025Phone 1800 170 020 or email [email protected].

2023 Citizen of the Year Mark Huntly from Ivanhoe, with his family. Image: Central Darling Shire Council.Nominations are open for the Central Darling Shire Outstanding Community Service Awards. People are encouraged to nominate a candidate for these important awards. Nominations are being called in the following categories: • Citizen of the Year • Young Citizen of the Year (aged 17 and under in 2024) • Service to the Community (examples; bravery, local business, environment etc.) • Volunteer of the Year • Outstanding Local Event (2024) The Outstanding Community Service Awards recognise Central Darling Shire residents who have made a significant contribution to the Shire and its community. The community benefits greatly from the contributions of our residents and volunteers who work to improve the lives of others and make Central Darling Shire a better place to live. Each year these awards provide an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of outstanding residents by publicly thanking them in a spirit of community pride. Nomination forms are available at Council offices. You can also nominate online via Council’s website. More information on the nomination process can be obtained by contacting Council’s Community Engagement Officer, Gabrielle Johnston: [email protected] or by phone 0472 787 022. Nominations will close at 4pm Friday, 8 November 2024. The Judges decision will be final. No further discussion will be entered into.

Published by HarperCollins, March 2024 Rune’s life changed forever when her Grandmother was murdered by a band of society's most elite witch hunters, the Blood Guard. In an act of keeping their identity as witches hidden, her Grandmother sacrificed herself for Rune’s future. It is now Rune’s mission to protect and save witches from the Blood Guard, giving the witches a new life and Rune a target on her back as the illusive Crimson Moth. Rune uses her limited magical abilities to ensure her true identity is never discovered. But when her lines of intel on witch attacks begin to run low, she is forced to play into the vain, pretentious and unaware character she’s mimicked for years to trick the trust of Gideon, the Blood Guards’ most reputable hunter. Gideon doesn’t suspect Rune’s involvement, as she doesn’t hold a witch's typical markings. However, her sudden interest in him and the rattled feelings going on in his body whenever they’re in the same room, threatens to change the course of his future. The first book in a new duology, The Crimson Moth is an addictive young adult fantasy novel. Find more book reviews and author interviews from Mel on www.melreviewsherbooks.com

2024 School Leavers’ Guide now availableFederal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton encourages school leavers in the Parkes electorate to pick up his free guide to assist with life after school.Mr Coulton said the 2024 School Leavers’ Guide contains information about further education and training opportunities, financial assistance available, finding employment, and mental health support services, as well as important advice about obtaining a Medicare card, applying for a Tax File Number and enrolling to vote.“Completing school is an exciting time for young adults who have lots to look forward to,” Mr Coulton said.“However, it can be daunting entering ‘the real world’ after years of schooling. “There’s a lot to think about when deciding what to do after school. There are so many opportunities and many different pathways to get there.“That’s why it’s important to explore all your options and have up-to-date information to ensure you make the best choice for you.“This School Leavers’ Guide is a great resource for all graduating students, providing relevant information that can help set them up for the future.”Mr Coulton will be sending a copy of the 2024 School Leavers’ Guide to all high schools in the Parkes electorate to pass onto their students.There will also be hard copies available for students or parents to pick up from each of his electorate offices – in Dubbo, Moree and Broken Hill.“If you require any further assistance, or would like a copy sent to you, please contact one of my offices and my staff can arrange postage,” Mr Coulton said.“It’s also important to remember to enrol to vote if you haven’t already. Please contact one of my offices and we can send you an enrolment form.“All the best to every graduating student in the Parkes electorate on this next exciting chapter.”To receive a copy of the 2024 School Leavers’ Guide, email Mr Coulton at [email protected] or call (02) 6882 0999 (Dubbo), (02) 6751 1251 (Moree) or (08) 8087 7649 (Broken Hill).

Road safety starts with youNow in its seventh year, Australian Road Safety Foundation (ARSF) Rural Road Safety Month national awareness campaign targets regional and rural road safety throughout September. A national community-based road safety initiative, it is designed to highlight the additional risks when driving on rural and remote roads across Australia. Despite being less populated areas, deaths on rural and remote roads accounted for almost two thirds of the 2023 road toll. "All road users are encouraged to get involved to help make a significant reduction in road trauma," and ARSF spokesperson said."Road Safety is a community issue, and it’s up to all of us to minimise the risk of crashes and to save lives."We work with partners, governments, councils, school and workplace communities, likeminded groups and individuals to find innovations and practical solutions to address the issue." Throughout the year, ARSF runs several awareness campaigns, events and educational programs. ARSF has developed ideas on how to get involved and a variety of digital assets to help you build road safety awareness throughout your community. Some ideas include: Hosting a promise event during one of ARSF's annual signature road safety campaigns, such as Fatality Free Friday (April/May), Rural Road Safety Month (September) or Christmas Road Safety (December/January)Parents can also complete RoadSet with teens and tweens or businesses can consider becoming a corporate partner.RoadSet is an interactive online road safety learning experience that is designed to educate and empower our youth (14 – 15 years) to become safer, better road users. The self-paced experience led by a narrator, features original relatable animation and interactive gamified learning. RoadSet helps to develop road awareness skills across a range of conditions, environments, and scenarios.https://www.youtube.com/embed/jqUVpZJv1yA?showinfo=0

Wilcannia Service NSW agency change to operating hours Residents are advised that the Wilcannia Service NSW agency will be closed on the following dates. • Closed: Tuesday 24 September and Wednesday 25 September 2024. The agency will reopen at 10am on Thursday 26 September. The reason for the closure is because of staff training. • Closed: Monday 30 September to Wednesday 9 October 2024. The agency will reopen on Thursday 10 October. The reason for the closure is because of staff availability. The Wilcannia Post Office will be open as usual during these times.

Member for Pakes Mark Coulton (far right) with farmers at the national rally. Image: suppliedAccording to the Federal Member for Parkes Prime Minster Anthony Albanese has refused to attend the National Farmer Rally outside Parliament House, ignoring farmers who travelled from the Parkes electorate to plead with the Labor Government to stop its anti-farming agenda.Mark Coulton MP said the Prime Minister had once again demonstrated complete contempt towards farmers and rural, regional and remote Australia.“For the Prime Minister to ignore our farmers, many who have spent days on end driving to Canberra, shows that Labor doesn’t care about our agriculture industry,” Mr Coulton said.“Our Prime Minister isn’t interested in helping or even listening to those who produce our nation’s food and fibre.“Agriculture Minister Julie Collins didn’t attend the rally either, which is incredibly disappointing given she has only just been appointed as Agriculture Minister. “The Labor Government continues to decimate the industry and the anger and frustration being felt by farmers is sadly understandable. All our farmers want is a fair go and to continue feeding and clothing the country.”Mr Coulton said the National Farmer Rally organisers were calling for sensible changes including scrapping the truckie tax, scrapping new taxes for biosecurity and superannuation, scrapping water buybacks in the Murray-Darling Basin and protecting the Great Artesian Basin, scrapping unnecessary red tape from emissions reporting, known as Scope 3, and scrapping reckless renewables which will rip up prime agricultural land, protecting the 88-day backpacker visa, as well as overturning the decision to ban live sheep exports by sea.“These requests are common sense solutions and without changes, Labor will make farming unviable,” Mr Coulton said. “The National Farmer Rally is the biggest in a generation – it has been more than 40 years since farmers have had to march on Parliament House because a federal government has made them feel so aggrieved.“The Nationals proudly support those attending the rally. We will always stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our farmers and will continue to fight for farming and the future of regional, rural and remote Australia.”

As spring rolls in, you are wheezing, a little short of breath, and coughing, think twice before you pop an antihistamine and write it off as Hay fever. These signs are also a potential indicator of seasonal asthma, which can be life threatening.It is difficult to differentiate the two conditions. They can also happen at the same time and have similar causes and symptoms.Hay fever is also an important risk factor for developing thunderstorm asthma.Thunderstorm asthma events are thought to be triggered by an unusual mix of high levels of grass pollen and a certain type of thunderstorm. During these storms tiny pollen grains from grasses can be swept up in the wind and carried long distances. When exposed to this air, the tiny particles of pollen are breathed deep into your lungs, triggering an asthma flare-up or attack. Certain types of storms can deliver an allergen deep into the lungs. This means rest of the year you won’t have asthma, but are at a danger of undergoing asthma during these storms even if you just have hay fever.Even if you never get asthma symptoms, but do get indications of hay fever, chat to your GP or pharmacist, and be aware of the risks of thunderstorm asthma.“They were people who really had no history of asthma and [yet] were so bad on that night that they had to present to emergency.”The dangerous fact is people might not realise that it’s possible to have asthma that occurs only in spring.It is important to be aware, know your body and be proactive about your health to avoid disaster.

“This is about cats that destroy thousands of native animals every day.”NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is recruiting tow full-time cat control officers in the department’s first-ever dedicated feral cat control team.The advertised package includes a base salary between $93,295 - $102,941, employer's contribution to superannuation, plus a 9.7% loading for working irregular roster patterns.NPWS are recruiting for two full time temporary roles, up until 30 June 2027.According to NPWS every year, feral cats kill around 1.5 billion native animals across Australia. They are a key cause of Australia having the worst mammal extinction record in the world and are a direct threat to over 200 at-risk species.After three good rain seasons in western NSW, feral cat numbers are up and will be putting huge pressure on threatened species populations in regional conservation areas and parks. To tackle this problem, NPWS say they are establishing a team of expert feral cat controllers to protect threatened animals like the yellow-footed rock wallaby, dusky hopping-mouse, grey grasswren, and Barrier Range dragon.Experience with hands-on control of feral cats and a commitment to the safe operation of firearms and animal welfare are essential for these roles. The team members will undertake ground shooting, baiting and trapping as well as managing remote sensors and cameras.Member for Parkes Roy Butler MP supports the move.“Uncontrolled cats can be devastating to native species,” he said on social media. “NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service is looking for people to be involved in cat eradication. “This is not about the desexed moggies that stay inside or in runs, this is about cats that destroy thousands of native animals every day.”Based in Broken Hill, Dubbo or Bourke, details for the new positions can be found on the ‘I Work for NSW’ website. Applications close on September 22, 2024.Essential role requirementsExperience in development and delivery of programs and projects in a timely manner.Understanding of contemporary project management principles and practices.Experience in the use of pesticides, firearms use, ability to fly in light aircraft and undertake remote fieldwork and animal trapping.Current Class C Driver’s License.Current firearms license, or ability to obtain a firearms license within the first six months of commencing in the role.This is a physically active role suited to candidates of all genders who are fit and enjoy working outdoors as part of a team. Applicants must meet the requirements of a pre-employment medical.

Minister for Local Government, Ron Hoening, has put in place a legislative safeguard to ensure Balranald Shire Council continues to thrive when it returns to having an elected council.Balranald Shire Council held an extraordinary council meeting recently to discuss a Performance improvement Order (PIO) Issued by the Minister for Local Government, Ron Hoening. In the documents, it was said the Performance Improvement Order was not a reflection on Administrator Mike Colreavy, or any actions taken by Council representatives in the past four years. The POI, issued under Section 438 A of the Local Government Act 1993, was instead issued to ensure the immense headway Council has made in the past four years does not decline. In the document, Mr Hoening said he wanted to ensure the legacy of council was continued, and clear expectations were given to the incoming elected council, for the future of the governance and operations of council.Detailed in the list of actions were council needs to maintain budget discipline and stability, especially given Council’s intent to retain ownership and operation of Bidgee Retirement Hostel.Other actions included in the PIO are council needs to ensure and maintain access to appropriate staff expertise and engagement to provide advice for the councillors on financial governance and regulatory matters.Council also will need to continue to address actions listed for completion in the 2017 Performance Improvement Order and the recommendations of the McCullough enquiry. The latest PIO will run for 12 months, and is required to be completed in this timeframe. Balranald Shire Council was invited to make submissions by Mr Hoening, after meeting the requirement of tabling the PIO in an open meeting, by way of resolution, if it determined.However, the PIO was accepted by resolution by Council, in its current form, and Mr Hoening was advised by council that a detailed action plan will be formulated to ensure the detailed actions are addressed in a timely manner.

Forever chemicals, also known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are a group of man-made chemicals that are incredibly resistant to breaking down. This means they can last in the environment for a very long time, hence the name "forever chemicals." PFAS are used in a wide range of products because of their unique properties. They are heat-resistant, grease-resistant, and water-repellent. This makes them ideal for things like non-stick cookware, stain-resistant carpets, and firefighting foam. Some other products which have PFAS in them are pizza boxes, food wrappers, take out containers, microwave popcorn bags, disposable trays, carpets, rugs, furniture textiles, window treatments, car seats, stain-proof and waterproof clothing, outdoor gear and umbrellas.While PFAS are useful in many applications, they pose significant risks to human health and the environment. Because they don't break down easily, they can accumulate in our bodies and the environment. Studies have linked PFAS exposure to various health problems, including kidney disease, liver damage, and certain types of cancer.If PFAS have contaminated local water sources, drinking that water can expose you to these chemicals. PFAS can also contaminate food, especially if the food is grown in areas with contaminated soil or water. PFAS can be released into the air, and breathing this contaminated air can expose you to the chemicals. Governments are implementing regulations to limit the production and use of PFAS in certain products. Efforts are underway to clean up areas that have been contaminated with PFAS. Public awareness campaigns are being conducted to inform people about the risks of PFAS exposure. While governments and organizations are taking steps to address the PFAS problem, individuals can also play a role in reducing their exposure. Look for products that are labeled as PFAS-free.Consider using a water filter that can remove PFAS from your drinking water. Advocate for stronger regulations to limit the use and production of PFAS. By understanding the risks of PFAS and taking steps to reduce exposure, we can help protect our health and the environment.

Funding for isolated aged care providersResidential aged care facilities in the Parkes electorate have the opportunity to apply for funding under the 2024-25 Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) Transition Fund.Up to $500,000 is available for aged care providers in isolated and remote communities or those that have at least 50 per cent Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander residents. Funding can be used for a range of expenses to help cover the higher costs of delivering care.Eligible providers will be invited to apply. Applications close at 2pm on Thursday 12 September. For more information, visit GrantConnect.Grants available for innovative ideasApplications for the 2024 Innovate with nbn Grants Program are now open.The initiative aims to help regional based businesses and individuals transform their great ideas into game-changing achievements. A total of $125,000 in funding is up for grabs to support regional and remote businesses drive the development and adoption of their ideas. Across seven categories – Agriculture, Arts, Education, Health, Indigenous Business, Tourism, and Women in Regional Business – each winner receives $15,000.The overall Innovate with nbn® Champion will be awarded an additional $20,000 grant to help take their idea to the next level. Applications close on midnight Sunday 29 September. For more information and to apply visit nbn co.

Hay Shire Council is urging residents to support a petition led by local member for Murray, Helen Dalton MP, which seeks to protect regional and remote communities from the potential impacts of Commonwealth Water Buybacks. The petition which needs 10,000 signatures, calls on the NSW Government to ensure that no water transfers occur without a detailed and transparent report into the expected impact of any Commonwealth buybacks, including the potential economic, social, cultural and environmental consequences of water resources being diverted away from local communities. The petition can be signed in the Council main office in Lachlan Street or at the library. A copy can be downloaded from www.hay.nsw.gov.au and filled in by hand and dropped off at Council. "Hay Shire Council asks that residents take the time to come in and sign the petition so that our rural voices are heard," Hay Shire Council General Manager David Webb (pictured) said. "Council, our fellow RAMJO Councils, and in fact communities from across the Basin, deserve to know the economic and social impacts of water buybacks. "Council knows that the return of water for efficiency infrastructure projects, rather than just the purchase of water, has a better long-term outcome for our community."

When I sat down with Gregory Andrews (pictured above) in the cool of the New Crown Hotel in Hay’s main street, it was following an incredibly blustery trek of 170 kilometres across the Hay Plains. On the day he arrived in Hay, the strong September winds and a flat tyre had delayed his arrival from Balranald by several hours, which he admitted was thirsty work.Travelling solo, on an eBike, Mr Andrews spoke passionately about his trip around Australia and the reasons behind it.“I started because I wanted to promote renewable energy and de-politicise it,” Mr Andrews told me.“The fossil fuel industry and some politicians like to trick us but what is good for the weather is good for the wallet.“Of course we have a way to go, in the bigger four-wheel drives, but in my own home, we charge our EVs (electric vehicles) from our solar system. So it’s not woke, or right-wing or left-wing, it’s just good economics.”“I want to promote that concept in the bush. We need to shift to renewable energy for a safe future for our kids.”Mr Andrews left Cottesloe Beach on August 8, and had covered more than 3,900 kilometres by the time he arrived in Hay on September 6. After planning to travel 100 kilometres a day and take seven weeks to finish, he has sometimes covered up to 200 kilometres and should arrive in Bondi Beach around the 14th or 15th of September.Mr Andrews was keen to explain that renewable energy can have lasting economic benefits to individuals and will help stabilise the energy market, at a time when cost-of-living pressures are forefront in the minds of most families.“There are benefits for energy security and independence because we aren’t going to be affected by price spikes from wars in the Middle East, because the sun shines and the wind blows – it doesn’t care what’s happening in the rest of the world,” he explained.He has been overwhelmed with the kindness of people on the roads. Grey nomads and people in the bush have helped him along the way.“I was in the outback, and there was a couple trying out their new-to-them small caravan, and they said ‘would you like to use our power?’ Then they offered me a bacon and egg sandwich and a coffee, so I have really enjoyed connecting with people.”A flat tyre just en route to Hay delayed Gregory Andrews arrival in town. Mr Andrews described the districts roads as "the worst by far' after travelling more than 3,900 km. Image: Lyrebird Dreaming.When he left Hay the next morning, Mr Andrews chose the back roads to Narrandera, rather than taking the most direct route along the highway, preferring a more circular yet connected journey.Mr Andrews is a passionate advocate for the environment. He was Australia’s very first threatened species commissioner when he led the development of this country’s first threatened species strategy. He visited the Hay region frequently as part of his work around the protection of the tiny Plains-Wanderer bird, the protection of which has become synonymous with the region.Mr Andrews also worked as an ambassador to West Africa and represented Australia at the United Nations climate change negotiations from 2010 to 2013 as the deputy chief negotiator.Mr Andrews’ unique action on climate change is well-known. In 2023 he underwent a hunger strike for climate action out the front of Parliament House.You can follow Gregory’s journey by visiting his website www.lyrebirddreaming.com, and checking out his socials.#eBike4Australia