Talking to June and Ken Spinks is one of the most fabulous perks of the job. Funny, knowledgeable and savvy, the pair put people generations younger to shame.Spinks feels much akin to Sphinx, as I have been trying to pin the lovely couple down for a while, for a conversation. “The elusive Spinks,” June quips with a smile. The couple married in 1956. Ken was always situated in the district, but June “is a blow in,” as Ken likes to say. Originating from Apollo Bay in Victoria, June moved to Balranald at the age of 13. “My sister gained employment at the pharmacy, and I often thought the pharmacy was a matrimonial bureau in disguise, because it was not long after many female employees began working there, that they went off to get married,” June said with a laugh. When June arrived in Balranald, it was quite common for students to have an after-school job. “Days of operation in the town in business days were slightly different. Shops had a Wednesday half holiday, with Saturday being a full shopping day. That allowed country people to come in and have a full day shopping, and go to the pictures Saturday night, which was one of the great social occasions. “Any balls and dances were held on a Friday night.” “And the shearers ball was held in September because Yanga, the big station had a lot of shearers there,” Ken added. “It was another way of incorporating them into the town. “They put the ball on at the end of the shearing and the proceeds went to the local hospital. “Common after school jobs for children were delivering groceries to customers,” June continued. “The shopkeeper would go around to clients and take their orders in the morning, and then take the order back to the store and pack it up. “Once the boys were finished school, they would get on the grocery bikes and take them to customers, a same day service,” she said with a laugh. And so, June was lucky enough to get an after-school job at the chemist. “Once she transitioned into secondary school, she travelled to Hay for her schooling. “I still worked over the Christmas period at the chemist, then travelled away to attend teachers’ college, then came back. “After that, when I got a teaching appointment at Balranald I decided not to work elsewhere. Chemist, Mr Purtin, came to see me before Christmas and asked if I would work over the Christmas period. Because he had been so good in the past to me, I had decided to help him out then. And that is when Ken came into the shop.” Ken worked on farms all of his life. His father had a soldier settlement block on the lower edge of the flood plain. At the age of six, the family came into town and rented a house, so that the children could attend school, in 1936. “I saw the last run of the steamboats on the Murrumbidgee, the last commercial boat,” Ken recalled. When he came home from school, Ken worked for his father. If there was nothing to do on his father’s farm, he was working for other farmers, and eventually learnt shearing, at the age of 17. “I wouldn’t exactly say I enjoyed shearing, but I had a profession, and that meant something. “Another man and I worked a two-stand shearing plant and carried it around. People would say to him, “Oh you got Spinksy with you,” and I would say, “Yes because I could lift the plant up on the old Bedford truck,” he said, and laughingly agreed he was the muscles of the operation. “It was a good learning curve.” After his father passed away, Ken took control of the property and developed it. “It was an 8000-acre property on the end of the flood plain, and was only considered to have a hundred to two hundred sheep capacity,” Ken said. Once the young couple were married, settled on the farm and had children, Ken ventured into cropping.Fighting erosion has always been close to Ken Spinks’ heart, and is the topic of his latest book. ‘Australia on the Move – soil erosion’ was launched on Australia Day. “It covers drought and soil erosion in South Australia, Queensland border, Victoria and New South Wales,” Ken told me at the time. “At the particular times that the book covers, erosion was prominent.” “My farming time is featured in the book because of the soil erosion. "There are some magnificent photos in there that you would not believe,” Ken says. “You would have never seen a black-out dust storm?” He queried, me replying with a chuckle that the time, around 1943, would have been some 40 years before my birth. “Some of the pictures came from Ken’s scrap books, as he was always cutting and pasting, accumulating quite a collection of things of interest. A lot to do with farming, which was naturally a keen interest,” June said. “Those particular storms, a storm within a storm and relatively low to the ground, with the sky above a serene summer sky,” Ken continued. “1943 was a bad time for them, and occasionally you could not see your hand in front of you. Like a mine with the lights out, completely black. “It was sand not dust. When I described them to people, they thought I was fabricating. Droughty conditions and extremely hot weather for a number of days, would create the perfect conditions. “The system travels in one direction and comes in on itself in an anticlockwise circulation. Chooks went to bed at 3pm. This is why that book had to be written, so it was on record.” “A significant factor in erosion was overstocking, rabbits and Dillon bushes. When the wind blows the sand off the bare ground into the bushes, the bushes grow up through it, therefore the more sand it accumulates the higher it gets,” June added. “Tonnes and tonnes disappeared and landed in New Zealand and Mt Cooke,” Ken continued. “We don’t see black-outs today. Soil erosion was not considered to be a big problem, until it began to be recognised in the 70s, and they solved the problem to a certain extent, but now they are using methods that have been used in other countries since the 40s to solve erosion. “VIC and SA followed suit after NSW decades later, but there was no coordination between states. “Some states did their separate research, meaning that valid research was essentially done, where there was no need if the states had joined forces on the issue.” Ken is the author, June the much-valued editor. They make a dynamic team. June forayed into the world of computers to keep in touch with family, who are all scattered around. She enthusiastically enjoys email, because you can get an answer straight away, and send and receive pictures. June and Ken are very proud of their town and facilities, including the gallery. They have one of Prowsie’s artworks on the wall, an artist from Mildura who has recently enjoyed an exhibition at Balranald Art Gallery. June in particular has a great admiration for his work, and how he breathes life into the animal’s eyes. The integrity and dedication to recording the facts that they have is truly admirable. “Better to record a story accurately, than to fluff it up for other reasons. Ronald Ryan attempted to rob the bank in Balranald but he did not rob the bank. “The local paper at the time was trying to say that he did, but we were living in Balranald town at the time, and knew that it was not true.” June and Ken have three children Beverley, the eldest, lives in in Italy. Married and retired, Beverley went there, learnt the language, and worked in a commercial bank as secretary. She then moved over to working at Rentokil, in the products department. She loves photography and travelling. They did not have children, and still enjoy a happy, busy lifestyle. “It is a common mistake as people get older, they stop being busy,” June said. “They often have no purpose, or solely placing their purpose in their children or work, and then when that stops, they don’t have a purpose.” One of their sons lives in Victoria. He worked for 24 years at the Immigration Museum in Melbourne. “He was a lighting technician, and when the main museum exhibited ‘A Day in the Life of Pompei’, he was instrumental in setting up the exhibit, packing it up to ship to New Zealand, and then returning to bring it back to Australia when the NZ exhibit finished. "He set up many exhibitions, and is retired now.” Their other son resides in Wagga, and owns an olive grove. He and his wife run this, and a factory. They did the marketing, developed the whole business and enjoy having busloads of people for tours and functions. Ken and June’s dedication to their work, and the mantle they have taken up as historical recorders is something that deserves admiration. Ken says there is quite a bit around Balranald that needs reporting, so he will make a third edition. “The problem with writing is that you don’t make any money, in fact it costs money, the second edition lays around too long, and the mice eat it. We are reluctant to commit to a third edition but it needs to be done,” Ken said. When asked his opinion on windfarms, he is enthusiastic. “They could not be better. I am all for natural generation of electricity. People in Victoria who complain about the noise and sight are normally down in the valley that can’t have them, and the ones up the top are making nice money. “The noise does not hurt anyone. "People listen to TV, they get in their car, turn up the music and yet are complaining about wind farm noise. Makes you wonder. “We have to have natural electricity because of the situation happening with the use of coal, I am not a complete green, but an environmentalist. “We have to learn to share the world with other creatures living in it, mankind has changed a lot of things, and not for the good,” June added. “Krakatoa (one of the deadliest and most destructive volcanic events in recorded history) created an atomic winter. The Northern Hemisphere had to recover, and it did. “Atomic bombs are something that nothing will recover from quickly. I was very critical of the fact that the Australian Prime Minister at the time, and other government officials encouraged them to set off bombs at Maralinga, especially with Balranald and Ivanhoe being in the complete easterly direction of the site. “They closed the school in Ivanhoe six times because of the dust coming over. “They let off six bombs, but also held 50 atomic experiments. “There would have been all that dust and radioactivity collected in people’s rainwater tanks, and they would have been drinking that water. “A lot of people tend not to investigate things for themselves, and they just believe anything a person in higher authority says,” June added. “They do not do the research for themselves, so people are confused, they need to check it out themselves.” Another issue close to June and Ken’s hearts is water. “The water in the Murrumbidgee is toxic in Balranald. “There are poisons in it, blue green algae, and toxicity. A filtration system cannot get poisons and chemicals out of water. “The only way to do that is to boil and distil it, and they haven’t got a distiller. “Instead, chemicals are being put into the water that are toxic to drink, and that is not helpful. People are buying huge amounts of plastic water bottles to drink, and it should not have to be that way. “But the water here has been toxic, killing fish, big cod dying in Wakool. “I have written letters to three politicians, and heard no reply. “My proposal was about putting rain water tanks in, with people buying bottled water over 12 months, that money would pay for a tank and pump but they do not see it like that. “Even a grant system, half the price to get one, benefits Council by not having to supply toxic filtered water. “With our climate, both droughts and flooding rains, waters and rivers get so used. “It makes sense for people to capture it and have it, rain is a renewable source of water. “Also, with filters that can go on tanks, and gutter guards, it makes sense. There needs to be more common sense coming in how to store and create water. “We are connected to filtered water, but do not pay, because we do not use it,” Ken added. “Our house uses rain water, and the garden raw water. “Another chemical they use in the water, fluoride, is a poison which harms June’s skin.” When the couple lived on the farm, their water supply came from the lake to the dam, and into the house. June remembers when toothpaste with fluoride first came out, it had an S6 poison label on it, which disappeared later. In her research, June discovered the Therapeutic Goods Administration, (TGA), the place that is supposed to make things safe, decided that toothpaste is cosmetic, and removed the label. However, the contents remain the same. “Back in the day, I believed what they said, and used the fluoridated toothpaste, and came out in mouth and gum ulcers. “I thought my diet was at fault, so I went to the dentist. I told him I am getting numerous mouth and gum ulcers, huge, and had never had them before. He noted that some other people he had treated were having the same issues, and recommended a different brand of toothpaste, which coincidentally was fluoridated. He, nor I, thought about fluoride at the time. “However, this other brand did not have fluoride, and this was over 50 years ago. I have never had another mouth ulcer since.”Ken and June have been actively campaigning on the negative impacts of fluoride in water. “My advice to anyone would be to try to find a toothpaste that has baking soda, not fluoride,” June said. “Baking soda is an alkaline, and it is acids in your mouth that create the decay. So, an alkaline will neutralise. Never let children have it, they swallow it. People need to think for themselves and learn the facts, look up the safety data sheet on things, and find out. “People have been told certain things by authorities, and think they are to be believed. And you get nowhere with politicians, Barnaby Joyce walked out on me. Egotistical.” “They don’t listen to people and they are supposed to listen, and do not check up on things and just have advisors to tell them things, and they blindly believe them,” Ken added. “Fluoridation is not a water treatment process,” June continued. “That is out of the Australian Water Guidelines Chapter 8. Chapter six states there is an absence of human testing, sensitivities are unknown, and interaction when mixed with other chemicals is unknown. All of those unknowns and they still went and put it in the water. Put in, ostensibly, to prevent tooth decay. That falls under the category of a medication. “Our constitution states that in regards to medical services and treatments, there is eleven words in brackets, ‘but not so as to authorise any level of civil conscription’. “In other words, the individual must give consent. “Nobody was asked, they just did this. Nobody was told it was a poison, that it is not a water treatment chemical, told nothing.” “We are getting our message through and it is recorded,” Ken laughed. When asked if flooding in the area will reach dire levels, Ken is certain in his response: “Haven’t got here yet, I do not think we are going to see what they reckon it is. We haven’t seen a flood here yet.” In 1956, the couple were on an island from June until Christmas eve. Six months isolated. The only way to get to town was by corrugated tin boat with no buoyancy, travelling more than five miles over fairly deep water. “The only buoyancy we had was a blown-up car tube. Had we had a spill nobody would have known where we were. The country is so flat, that when it floods and water gets amongst the trees, all you can see is trees and water. You don’t have high points,” June said. “The trip in was reasonably quick, there were no outboard motors, someone gave us one of those APCO propellor things, that used to heat up. We had to tip water on it to cool it down, and if that did not go, we would use the oars,” Ken said. “A few hours getting in town, and it took five hours to get home. That was because the boat would have a 44-gallon drum of petrol in it, and was loaded up with bread, mail and supplies for us and everyone else on the island.” “There was not much leeway between the top of the boat and the top of the water,” June laughed. “You could not buy a boat or a motor, and I was expecting a baby at the time. Four families out there, and two pregnant women. The other lady had to be taken in partway through her pregnancy to be sent to Melbourne. This was on the Nimmie-Caira floodplain.” The stark differences in weather and climate, and repercussions of these are not forgotten by the couple. “Not long after and then I was able to walk across the dry river bed of the Murrumbidgee, and did not get my boots wet. It will be again, after this flood. “The water will be bought, sold by the government, as soon as it is a dry time. It will be taken outside of the river,” Ken said. “I was on the Water Advisory in the 70s to the 90s. “A friend and another member had a plane, and we used to go up to meetings at Leeton and Griffith cap in hand, begging them to release a bit of water to fill the floodplain. We were paying for water and were not getting it. “We did not have licences back then; farmers on the floodplain were paying for water on an acreage basis. “Then the water was diminishing coming out of Maude weir, to such an extent something had to be done. “That was when the environment was altered in this dry area, so the water could be spread out over it, and used.” “It was successful; farmers spent a lot of money on it. They all worked together, for the benefit of everyone, which was a unique arrangement; all had a common interest,” June added. “Construction was there and the method of water delivery was agreed upon, it worked very well. The only thing that made it come to an end was that there was no water coming from above to supply it when it should have been.” “There was more water outside the river than was what was in it. These blokes were pumping it out, above storage dams were where the water was stored, so there was a lot of them being built up further north, along NSW, and along the flood plain too as storage. There was no metering of how much water could be taken, there were no proper rules regarding all of this. And I also think too that there should have not been privatisation of a lot of this water system, it is an essential for life.” They are unrelenting and emphatic on these issues. “There should be one Government Authority on that, and there should be no purchasing from overseas companies for the benefit of a stock exchange item, it should not be. “It is there for the use of the people within that country, not as a moneymaking thing for those overseas. “Murray Darling Basin, that is a joke! It has reached the stage they cannot remedy that in any way as it has been twisted around so much, and there has been so much money invested in the water by overseas interests. “As soon as water flows behind the catchments someone owns it and they assuredly are not Australian. These big corporates, Canadians, Americans, and yes Chinese and Japanese, whoever, they somehow own all our water, it is ours not theirs. And when it falls it is being held by catchments that have been put up by us. Taxpayers’ money. Wrong. Murray Darling Basin caters to and makes decisions for the big end of town. I can’t see what they can do to fix it now, other than to cancel all licenses, and start again. The job to be in, in that case, would be the legal profession.” They conclude the conversation with a cheeky and humorous aside that they will say nothing more, as at the end of the day I am a journalist with a recorder rolling. Delicious smells of lunch wafting in the background, I mournfully decline a lovely invitation as I am due at my next appointment, when all I would like to do is talk to them all day.

Mobile phone black spots are the bane of anyone living rurally. They can not only be a cause of irritation, but can have serious consequences and anxiety when you can’t reach people or service in an emergency.It’s the chance for people in the Balranald area to have their say on the service, and take part in the Mobile Black Spot Program community survey.To date, around 1400 mobile phone towers (base stations) have been funded for delivery under the program, including the base station in your community.Grosvenor is conducting an evaluation on behalf of the Australian Government to assess the program's effectiveness and explore future improvements. They want to hear your thoughts on the mobile service in the Balranald area.They want to know what is working and not working, what could be improved, what mobile services do people use, and for what purposes, and the coverage, reliability, and quality of mobile services.They would also like to know the range of choices of telecommunications services, and any social, economic or safety impacts since the delivery of the base station.Taking no more than 10 minutes to complete, you can take the survey via https://bit.ly/3zpYFxd The survey will remain open until October 31.Make a difference in the service delivery in your area and just take a few minutes to air your views.

NSW Police have issued two alerts in the Back Country Bulletin readership area.The NSW Police Force is seeking for public assistance to locate a man wanted on outstanding warrants in the far west.Jack Robert Smith, aged 35, is wanted by virtue of two outstanding arrest warrants in relation to alleged fraud offences. He is also known by the names of Justin Dunn, Justin Smith and Justin Priestley.He is known to frequent Orange, Hallidays Point, Hay, Dubbo and Bogan Gate areas.Smith is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 170cm tall, of medium build, with brown hair and brown coloured eyesAnyone who has seen or heard from him or knows of his whereabouts is urged to contact Broken Hill Police on 08 8087 0299 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.A police officer has been charged with alleged firearm offences.In August 2023, officers attached to a Western Region Command commenced an investigation into an officer’s alleged possession of firearms.Following enquiries, police seized several firearms on 30 August 2023.The 35-year-old constable – who is attached to a Western Region Command – was served a court attendance notice today (Monday 14 October 2024) and charged with two counts of possess unauthorised pistol, possess unregistered firearm – pistol and possess unregistered firearm – prohibited firearm.He is due to appear before Broken Hill Local Court on Tuesday 26 November 2024.The officer’s employment status is under review.

Did you know the iconic mystery and crime author Agatha Christie spent time at the property, Yanga, near Balranald?Agatha Christie once stayed at the Yanga Homestead in 1922 as part of her Empire Exhibition Tour.“We stayed in New South Wales at a station called, I think, Yanga, where I remember a great lake with black swans sailing on it,” Ms Christie recalled in the book Agatha Christie: The Grand Tour.“It was a lovely picture. Here, while Belcher and Archie were busy putting forth the claims of the British Empire, migration within the Empire, the importance of trade within the Empire, and so on and so forth, I was allowed to spend a happy day sitting in the orange groves.“I had a nice long deck-chair, there was delicious sunshine, and as far as I remember I ate 23 oranges, carefully selecting the very best from the trees round me. Ripe oranges plucked straight from the trees are the most delicious things you can imagine.” If you would like to visit Yanga National Park and the iconic Yanga Homestead contact the Balranald Visitor Information Centre on 03 5020 1599 for information on the self-guided tour of the Yanga Homestead and also about tours to Yanga National Park with our tour operator Outback Geo Adventures. The Balranald Visitor Information Centre is located at the Discovery Centre precinct at 83 Market Street, Balranald.

BREAKING: Louie Zaffina was declared Mayor at the first meeting of Council since Balranald Shire Council came out of their administration period. Dwaine Scott was declared Deputy.

You’re huddled into a car, pushed into the seat. The drivers are ones you know, ones from the other place. Devils you know, perpetrators. The drive is long, bumpy. No mother, no father there to comfort. Just cold, black night as you are taken to the other place, the one you’ve heard whispers of. The car stops, you’re hauled out. Marched into a cold, austere building. Thrown into a cell, with a concrete floor, a bed and little else. You lie there, scared. Just when you think things could not get worse, here you are, in Hay Institution for Girls.Ten years after the Royal Commission into the treatment of girls and young women in the facility in Hay and others like it, including the infamous Parramatta home, one cannot help but wonder if justice has been done, if there was something meaningful, something substantial accomplished.The catalogue of implementations and steps taken by the NSW government reads as quite impressive.Here are some of the key undertakings:There has been a memorial at the former Parramatta Girls Home, which acknowledges the abuse and mistreatment of the former residents of this institution.The Residential Care Workers Register was created, in order to prevent unsuitable people from moving between residential care services.The facilitation of NSW prescribed bodies to share relevant information about the safety, welfare and wellbeing of a child or young person with more agencies.Legislation has been changed, after extensive consultation to help improve responses to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.Working with the Commonwealth and other state and territory governments to develop Action Plans to implement Safe and Supported: The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021-2031, and implementing an NSW Health survivors program for adults.Introducing new laws establishing the Child Safe Scheme, a regulatory framework requiring certain NSW child-related organisations to implement the Child Safe Standards.Training resources for carers and caseworkers caring for and working with children and young people. Boosted protection and support for young people in youth justice centres, such as new information provided about how to make a complaint.Developing a framework for preventing and responding to problematic and harmful sexual behaviour in children and young people. Improving child safety in schools by working towards strengthening national teacher registration. The NSW Government’s final progress report is due to be released in December 2022.Royal Commissions cost money, a lot of it. The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse is estimated to have cost half a billion dollars.Sucha lot of money put into something which needed to be, to find answers, seek truth, and make innocent victims feel heard. Where to go from there though? I am sure we have come far, and many implementations have made substantial impacts. It can go around in a circle; the issues just keep rolling on. Largely these days, the government tries to keep children with their parents, a noble concept, and a great step forward from the alternative if it were 40 or more years ago.But the government’s own data show that only 25,899 – less than a quarter – of the 113,668 children who were reported to the NSW Department of Communities and Justice as being at risk of significant harm in 2023 were seen by a case worker.The government has conceded that the response rates are indicative of staff shortages. There were 256 unfilled case worker positions across the state as of December.But there were 427 children in high-cost emergency arrangements at the end of March, according to the government.The government has said these arrangements can cost more than $2 million a year for every child, whereas a child in foster care costs the state at most $74,000 a year.In a time where half a billion dollars was spent on a Royal Commission, so much light and insight has been shed on issues and hoe to rectify them in this most important area – the welfare of children who are the future of our society, is it wrong to feel as though it is time they got something right?If you need assistance identifying the right service for you, call the Victims Access Line (VAL) on 1800 633 063 or the Aboriginal Contact Line on 1800 019 123.People who were in out-of-home care before 1990 can access counselling and a range of other support by calling Wattle Place on 1800 663 884 (free call). Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN) is a national, not-for-profit advocacy organisation for care leavers of all ages. CLAN provide information, advocacy, telephone support, referrals and assistance with reading files. To contact CLAN, call 1800 008 774 (free call) or email [email protected]. Other support services that operate 24/7 include:Lifeline – 13 11 14Survivors & Mates Support Network (SAMSN) Helpline – 1800 472 676Child Protection Helpline – 13 21 11

Connie Mallet from Balranald Shire Council shared recently photos detailing the progress of the extension pavilion to the Visitor Information Centre as part of the Discovery Centre precinct upgrade."To date the concrete slab and steel framing have been installed and the roofing has also been installed," Connie said."The window and wall cladding are next to be installed and the project is running on schedule. By the time the project is completed in December 2024 there will be some lovely inclusions in the new pavilion and around the grounds that will help to make the Discovery Centre precinct an even more attractive attraction and stop for visitors and a beautiful space for our residents."The $950,000 investment in the Discovery Centre tourist precinct will result in a new building which will adjoin the Visitor Information Centre and Museum as well as a full upgrade of the technical equipment in the award winning Interpretive Pavilion.The new building aims provide a space for further promotion of the wonderful tourism attractions that Balranald Shire has on offer and help attract more visitors to the region and boost the local and regional visitor economy.

Pencil into your calendar the Murray River Salami Festival. It’s on Saturday November 9, from 10am to 4pm at Euston Club Resort Riverfront Reserve, and entry is free.At the event, there will be a salami making demonstration by James Mele, food vendors, alcohol vendors for those 18 and over, free kid’s activities, market stalls, and salami vendors.There will be live musical entertainment, the Get Your Groove on kid’s show, Salami Competition Judging will take place from 8am to 10am in the Euston Club Resort Function Room, and is open to the public for viewing. The Murray River Salami Festival website, https://murrayriversalamifestival.com.au/ has some fantastic resources including tips on making salami, recipes, all the forms you need to be a stall holder at the event, to enter in the competition, or to sponsor the salami competition.

As councillors are being inducted across New South Wales, a new Councillor Conduct Framework Discussion Paper has been announced.NSW Premier The Hon Chris Minns MP, LGNSW President Cr Darriea Turley AM and Minister for Local Government, The Hon Ron Hoenig MP in August, signing an agreement of co-operation between the NSW Government and local councils.Minister for Local Government, Ron Hoenig has extended the period for comment, with submissions due by November 15. Local Government NSW President, Darriea Turley AM said the Local Government sector supports any move that would ensure the highest standards of integrity and probity across all levels of government.“This issue has been the subject of long conversation for councils and the eventual framework will be a key cornerstone in maintaining integrity, transparency and trust in local government across the state and this next step in the consultation process is very much welcomed by the sector,” Cr Turley said.“The Discussion Paper has a range of aspects to it and we look forward to working with councils to hear their feedback and then liaising with the Minister and the Government to ensure we get a final framework that works for everyone.“Ultimately we want to see a framework that allows councils to carry out their functions efficiently and appropriately, will provide clear expectations to elected officials and confidence for the community at large.“As financial sustainability of councils becomes an increasing concern for all of us, it’s good to see that this framework may lead to a reduction in costs to councils by way of removing the contentious role for private investigators.“Instead, complaints about conflicts of interest would be made directly to the Office of Local Government (OLG) and complaints about misbehaviour would be made directly to a Local Government Privileges Committee.”The proposed framework will give mayors greater powers to sanction councillors for acts of disorder during meetings. Significant sanctions (such as suspension, financial penalties or disqualification) will only be made by an appropriate tribunal.This is a vast improvement to the current arrangements where such penalties are made by a NSW Government official, often a substantial period of time after the event.Details on the consultation process can be found on the website of the Office of Local Government or check The Riverine Grazier website grazier.com for the hyperlink.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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