The Country Women’s Association of NSW have passed a motion at its annual State Conference for the Federal Government to urgently do more on ADHD diagnosis and treatment in regional and remote communities.The CWA’s annual State Conference came to a close in Coffs Harbour on Friday May 10, with its members endorsing more than 25 motions across sectors such as health, law and order, education, transport and the environment.Among its motions were that the “Federal Government adoption of the recommendations made by the Senate Inquiry into the barriers to consistent, timely and best practice assessment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and support services for children, adolescents and adults with ADHD and/or autism.“A lack of access to medical services means it is taking up to four years to get treatment. By then it is often too late and the situation has become out of hand” explained Joy Beames President of CWA NSW to the Western Plains App.“We heard many stories at the conference about kids not being picked up by the system for years because it has really delayed their whole development”.Over one million—or an estimated one in 20—Australians have ADHD, with Federal Government figures showing ADHD is more prevalent in rural and remote areas.The motion comes as The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care issued warning people with intellectual disabilities, autism, dementia and other neurodevelopmental conditions are being overprescribed psychotropic medicines,.Dr Carolyn Hullick, chief medical officers said there was “limited evidence they were effective for behavioural issues in people with cognitive disability or impairment”.Image: brainfoundation.org.auThe Senate Report released in 2023 found that 'limited availability and long wait times for healthcare professionals to diagnose, and provided medication and other supports to people with ADHD, lack of services in the public health system, especially for adults with ADHD and insufficient services in rural, regional and remote areas'.The Senate's “Assessment and Support Services for People ADHD” report made 15 recommendations including “reviewing eviewing bulk billing incentives to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for diagnosis and ongoing support, shared care models, telehealth, and improving access in rural, regional and remote areas CWA Conference Winds UpAbout 700 members attended this year’s conference and State President Joy Beames said the diversity in the motions once again across a broad range of issues.Image: ABC.“Health has remained a big focus for branches, with numerous motions endorsed by delegates that seek to improve access to services for regional, rural and remote residents and enhance the recruitment of health professionals to these communities,” Ms Beames said.Some of the other motions carried at this year’s conference include advocacy on:Urgent action around bush fire mitigation and management of government-controlled landA transparent, publicly-available water ownership register and the mandating of the registration of elected Members’ interest and foreign investment in waterThe provision of adequate funding for licensed teachers to provide swimming and water safety skills lessons to primary school studentsFunding support or rental subsidies for educators working in early childhood centres in remote, rural and regional locations.  The motions endorsed this week will now be taken forward and form the basis of CWA of NSW lobbying efforts in the immediate future.

Western Plains non-profits are among 31 volunteer groups approved for thousands of dollars under the federal government's Volunteer Grants Program.  Federal Parkes MP Mark Coulton announced on 6 May that Orana organizations received from $1000 to $2000, including Can Assist Nyngan, Condobolin Picnic Race Club, Coonabaranbran Golf Club and St Vincent De Paul Society in Coonamble.  The $66,000 grant pool for the Parkes electorate gave up to $5000 per organisation to buy small equipment items and pay towards training courses and background checks, as well as help reimburse volunteers for fuel and transport costs.  Can Assist Nyngan, which formed in 2012 to support Bogan Shire locals undertaking cancer treatment, got $1580 to buy a microphone and speaker system.  President Lyn Webster said having their own sound equipment will take stress out of organising fundraising events.    "We have functions on where we need a microphone system. So, we've always had to borrow from different organisations, which is not a good thing," Ms Webster said.  "People do loan you the things, but, you know, you're always worried that there may be damage caused.  "We have a High Tea, where we have like 110 people in a hall, once a year. So, that will come in very handy. We have fashion parades."  Can Assist Nyngan volies celebrate the group's ten-year anniversary in 2022. They formed in 2012 and formally became a branch of the charity in 2014. Image: SuppliedThe non-profit has between thirty to forty volunteers and provides financial help for travel, accommodation and medical bills.  "It could be food vouchers. Whatever the people need, to a certain extent we're here to assist them," Ms Webster said.  The historic Condolbolin Picnic Race Club got $2000 to buy some marquees for volunteers to shade under during their annual race day.   Secretary Joy Gibson said she hopes the purchase will attract more volunteers.  "Hopefully we might get a few more, because it's very hot in February on race day," Ms Gibson said.  "It'll just make it more comfortable for them to work around.  "Our race club could use it if we help out other clubs."  Federal MP for Parkes congratulated organisation who received the grants.   “I know many of our local organisations have been struggling during the current cost-of-living crisis as fewer people have the capacity to donate, while their own bills continue to rise," Mr Coulton said.   “These grants will help ease some of that pressure and help our community groups to invest in projects that will enable them to continue the great work they do in communities across the Parkes electorate.   “Our volunteer groups make such a valuable contribution to our towns and it’s all thanks to the selfless volunteers who generously give their time, efforts, talents and skills for the betterment of our communities."  Organisations which were nominated by Mr Coulton as their local MP were invited to apply for a grant in November 2023. Other groups in the western plains to receive volunteer grants were Society of St Vincent de Paul (Coonamble), Warren Meals on Wheels, Coonabarabran Golf Club, and the Anglican Parish of Narromine.

The greater bilby is one of Australia’s iconic marsupials and was once widespread throughout arid and semi-arid Australia, including NSW. Due to habitat loss and introduced predators and herbivores, the greater bilby has been locally extinct in NSW for more than a century. The last record of bilbies in the wild in NSW was near Wagga Wagga in 1912.In an attempt to reestablish local communities, the Australian Wildlife Conservancy moved bilbies to semi-arid climate of the Pilliga in late 2018.Their Pilliga project area covers about 35,632 hectares at the northern, more productive section of the Pilliga forests and stretches across the flat, sandy plains and low hills between the Warrumbungle Mountains, near Coonabarabran, and Narrabri.The effort to relocate the tiny marsupials was huge. It involved catching the animals at Scotia Wildlife Sanctuary, which is located south of Broken Hill and transporting them on a chartered flight to Narrabri, where air-conditioned vehicles were waiting, fitting them with GPS-enabled radio transmitters, and releasing them after dark into the Pilliga.It was anticipated that in a few years’ time the Pilliga would be supporting a population of 850 bilbies.While these two populations have increased over time and are estimated at 175 individuals in the Pilliga (2023 census) and 116 individuals in Mallee Cliffs (2022 census), they have not reached the population numbers as hoped. However, signs are positive as since the 2023 census, the Pilliga bilbies have dispersed from the smaller breeding area into the wider fenced area.The Australian Wildlife Conservancy's protection zone for reintroducing threatened species into the Pilliga forest is well-fenced and monitored. IMAGE: AWCEcologists reported in March that they have also witnessing a burrowing frenzy in the last 12 months. The prolific foragers and diggers play an important role as ecosystem engineers, turning over 20 tonnes of soil annually through burrowing and digging for food. Their digging improves water infiltration and creates fertile microhabitats where plant seeds can germinate.“The bilbies with their engineering colleagues, the bettongs, have turned over a lot of soil in their search for food and when digging burrows,” said Senior Wildlife Ecologist, Dr Vicki Stokes. “These activities will improve the ecosystem health of the Pilliga forest over time.”During the most recent population survey in the Pilliga, Dr Stokes and her team encountered several baby bilbies.“Two of the female bilbies had tiny baby bilbies, called joeys, in their pouches. We’ve also had increasing bilby activity on motion-sensor cameras across the fenced area, indicating that the population is doing well.”UNSW researchAs this population grows in the Pilliga, new research is looking at returning the bilby to temperate Australian regions, which was their natural habitat. University of New South Wales (UNSW) scientists have just released a study about this, based on a population of bilbies in a large sanctuary near Dubbo.Dr Kate Cornelsen was lead author in the study and her PhD research focused on understanding the habitat preferences and movement patterns of these unique nocturnal marsupials in the Dubbo sanctuary. She said up until now, very little is known about what bilbies do and need in the temperate zone.“If bilbies are to be restored in the temperate zone where they once thrived, we need to know much more about where they like to go and what they need there,” Dr Cornelson says. “We fitted tiny GPS tracking devices to the tails of 20 greater bilbies, which recorded where the bilbies were every hour, giving us a unique insight into their nocturnal habits and preferences in this area. Food biomass or availability essentially had a strong influence on where they preferred to hang out."“They seemed pretty good at working out where the food was. Interestingly though, they also preferred certain soil types, and females were much pickier in this respect than were males.”IMAGE: Australian MuseumIn general, bilbies spent more time in areas further from water sources in most seasons. This was a little surprising to the researchers, as areas close to water are likely to be more productive and have more food available. However, in the temperate zone where this study took place, food might not be so limiting to the bilbies.“Food is probably less patchy and more predictable in this study area compared to the desert where they’ve been studied before,” Dr Cornelsen says. “Areas further from water probably still provide sufficient food for bilbies, and because bilbies get all of the water they need from their food, being further from water might help them avoid competition with other species that do need to drink.”

Walgett Shire recorded over 2500 participants in it's Youth Week program in April, geared at supporting the area's up-and-coming.  In a two-week program from 11 April to the end of school holidays on 26 April, young people in Walgett, Collarenabri and Lightning Ridge took advantage of 32 initiatives including cultural exchanges, life skills training and movie nights.   Part of that involved teenagers from Sydney coming out west to have a yarn with locals.  "They come up and they do different workshops with us like martial arts, theatre, traditional dancing and culture sharing. So, they share their culture with us and we share ours with them," Walgett Council's Youth Development Officer, Sandra Bladen, said.  Ms Bladen said young people were involved in developing the programs.   The two-week program included cultural activities. IMAGE: Supplied"Our focus was bringing to kids together so they have a voice, and just to show the community what the kids can do with pretty much having the run of the show," Ms Bladen said.  "We get them together during our youth councils and our after-school programs to ask the kids what they wanted to see during our Youth Week.  "We sort of spread it out so the kids always have something to do.  “We have amazingly recorded our highest number of youth participation to date and couldn’t be happier with the result.”  Ms Bladen said kids from smaller Aboriginal Villages like Namoi and Gingie were also bused in to take part in the programs.   Other activities covered youth gardening, healthy eating, animal awareness and a young girls’ program with Wirringah’s Elders Group. 

Young actors from the Lachlan shire have to chance to educate their peers in a mock crash about the importance of road safety as part of an ongoing program that is smashing statistics in the region. This is Road Safety Week - 5 May to 12 May - which raises awareness about traffic injury and the over-representation of fatalities among children and young adults under the age of 25.A shocking 45 per cent of all young Australian injury deaths are due to road traffic crashes. "Traffic injury is the biggest killer of Australian children under 15 and the second biggest killer of all Australians aged 15-25," according to Safer Australian Roads and Highways group. Along with Parkes and Forbes shires, Lachlan council and the annual crop of young actors are aiming to change those statistics. On 16 May auditions will start for the 2024 NOT A STATISTIC! Youth Driver Education Program which involves filming a mock crash with young, local actors in their late teens and early 20s.  "The program started in 2008 as a response to an over-representation of young drivers that were involved in crashes in our local road network," the Councils' Road Safety and Injury Prevention officer Melanie Suitor said.  "In the follow-up lesson, they can ask us questions about what they saw and how realistic it was and we can provide them with useful information. Since the program began, there has been a 27 percent decline in crashes involving young drivers in the three shires.  Besides age and experience, the high-speed limits on rural roads also increase the risk factor for all drivers, according to Ms. Suitor.  "I guess we can say this across the board for any of our drivers in regional New South Wales because we're separated from other towns. So we have to drive on these high-speed roads." "The bigger the speed, the bigger the impact when you crash into something. Crashes on regional roads that have a high speed limit, they're definitely more likely to result in a fatality or serious injury." According to statistics from the NSW government, there has been a 73.1 percent increase in the number of fatal crashes in country urban areas from 2023 compared with the 2020-2022 average. "Country urban areas refer to roads outside the Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong metropolitan areas with a speed limit of 80 km/h or less," according to a NSW transport spokesperson.  In country non-urban areas, there was a 5.4 percent increase within that timeframe. NOT A STATISTIC! involves a realistic crash demo with educational lessons both before and after. The crash demo is based on what many p-plate accidents look like in rural and regional areas which often involve offenses like speeding, drunk driving, or being distracted by a mobile phone.  "It's a great opportunity for them to get some experience in acting live but also acting on camera," Ms. Suitor said.  The auditions will be held on Thursday 16 May from 5 p.m.- 8 p.m. at the Parkes SES shed in Clarke Street. 

The National Farmers Federation (FF) has welcomed the report by the Senate Select Committee on Supermarket Prices, which they say "reveals the true cost of supermarket power and exploitative behaviour being borne by both Australian households and the national horticulture industry".  The report, released May 9, makes 14 recommendations including that the ACCC gain powers to sell off subsidiary business interests or investments of supermarkets where it has found to engage in unconscionable conduct.  That is, a recommendation that the government being given the power to break up the supermarket duopoly held by Coles and Woolworths. The Greens-led Senate Select Committee on Supermarket Prices has also recommended making price gouging illegal “This is a landmark report with serious proposals to tackle the price of food, and the profiteering that has done so much harm to the people of Australia,“ Greens Economic Justice spokesperson and Committee Chair Senator Nick McKim said. “It would also create a significant new power to stop unreasonable pricing that has been rampant for years because of a lack of competition.” NFF President David Jochinke said the report was "another piece of evidence to support the challenges being faced by thousands of Australian farmers, in particular those supplying perishable goods". He said the NFF welcomes a number of the Committee’s recommendations which closely align with calls from the sector. He said these include making the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct mandatory, extending the Code to cover major retailers of ‘Greenlife’ products, and putting in place significant penalties for breaches.   Senator Nick Mckim. Image: News Corp. NFF Horticulture Council's Jolyon Burnett said the committee's report was part of a growing base of evidence painting supermarkets and Bunnings "in the same light as the big four banks following the banking royal commission". NSW Farmers Vice President Rebecca Reardon said the report findings were simply further proof of the ‘profit push’ pricing practices of the nation’s major supermarkets that farmers and consumers had been grappling with for years.  “Prices are not down – supermarkets have clearly profited off consumers amid a cost-of-living crisis, while also using predatory pricing to extract huge margins from farmers too,” Mrs Reardon said.   “The huge market power our grocery giants have held for too long is what has enabled this behaviour to spiral further and further beyond our control, backing farmers and families into a corner from which they cannot escape.” David Jochinke. Image: Trade Machinery. "The select committee has today reported on troubling testimony from growers, of predatory pricing practices that exploit the perishable nature of fresh produce, the imposition on growers of costs and risks outside their control, and of an almost universal fear of commercial retribution should any objections be raised," she said. The Senate committee questioned the bosses of Australia's grocery companies — at one stage threatened outgoing Woolworths boss Brad Banducci with contempt, which carries a penalty of six months in jail, for refusing to provide information about the company's profits. Treasurer Jim Chalmers talked up the steps the government was already taking to "make our supermarket sector more competitive", including a beefed-up code of conduct and merger reform. "We want a fair go for families and farmers," he said. "We know that it's at the check-out where some of these cost of living pressures are most acutely, most harshly felt." 

NSW Legalise Cannabis Party (LCP) leader Jeremy Buckingham has confirmed his party will run a candidate for the first time in the federal seat of Parkes for the 2025 election. The member of the NSW Legislative Council said the party will hold preselection within the next three months for their pick to run in the Nationals stronghold, where he says the party has hundreds of members. “There are over a million cannabis prescriptions in Australia now and those people are from all walks of life, and that prescription is making a massive difference to their health,” Mr Buckingham said. “That therapy is making a huge difference to their Parkinson’s, their EMS, their epilepsy, their cancer treatment, their PTSD. “There’s a lot of broad appeal and we think that’s going to translate to a significant vote at the ballot box.”  Doctors can prescribe medicinal cannabis if they believe it is an appropriate treatment option, however most medicinal cannabis products are unapproved in Australia as they do not appear on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). It’s for that reason the NSW Health website says “it is expected that prescribers will have considered all clinically appropriate treatment options that are included in the ARTG before applying to access an unregistered cannabis medicine.” As the name suggests, the party is largely focused on removing legal barriers to medicinal cannabis, although Mr Buckingham said it will also platform against coal seam gas projects in the region.“We do not think we should be building the Narrabri Gas Project, nor expanding it out towards Liverpool Plains or out west towards Coonamble,” Mr Buckingham said.  “That’s been an issue for us and an issue we’re going to make a priority as well.”Outgoing federal Parkes MP Mark Coulton. PHOTO: Supplied The party will look to capitalise on the fact Nations member Mark Coulton will not recontest his seat at the next election. [See that story here: Mark Coulton announces retirement ] “There’s always a bit of a shopping around, as it were, when a popular member goes,” Mr Buckingham said. “Some of that personal vote will be up for grabs.” Mr Coulton agreed the LCP could make headway at the election. "It depends who their candidate is and I think if they can manage to tell their story that they're looking for medicinal cannabis, not just wanting to legalise all cannabis use, there's a very big difference in that," Mr Coulton said. "If someone's got a genuine need, generally I think that there's not too many issues around people being able to obtain it. "To represent the people of Parkes in the Australian Parliament, there's a whole range of issues of represent on, and I'm not quite sure how a single-issue party can represent the diversity of people, area and towns that is in the Parkes electorate."

Running has been a long-time passion for Coonamble-born Abigail Nordberg (nee Regan)."I still love it, even after two kids," she said. "At primary school, the first time I recognised that I could run was at our St Bernard's, which is now St Brigid's, at our walkathon. “I just found myself beating some of the boys and that gave me a bit of excitement. I wanted to keep to going with it."It’s been a long run from Coonamble Little Athletics to national and international competition, but Abbi’s latest outing brought her back into the spotlight.On Sunday 5 May she won $2500 for first place among the women in the Sydney Half Marathon, finishing the 21-kilometre course in an hour and 40 minutes. She also placed 15th overall out of over 15000 runners."It was an amazing feeling. We had a really good group of runners," Abbi said.A far cry from the dirt roads around her parents' property near Combara."To be honest, the weather held out pretty well, there was only just a little bit of rain. And we all train in the rain, so it didn't really make much of a difference. Just a bit slippery in some places."I ran most of the race with one other girl and then I sort of gapped her with about four or five kilometres to go."There was music and so many people just lining the street, regardless of the rain, and all the other competitors were cheering us all on, so such a good atmosphere." Abbi, who now lives in Sydney, took a "nice, slow walk" on Monday as part of recovery routine, although that won't last for long as she prepares for the Gold Coast Marathon in early July."I normally spend one or two days just walking and just eating lots of carbs, as much as I can, and then get back straight into training," "I train every day and slowly work up the kilometres."

The rising number of domestic violence-related incidents led delegates from the Country Women's Association (CWA) NSW to pass an urgency motion on measures to help counter rising rates of domestic and family violence on Tuesday 7 May.  The motion includes a call to have sustainable and ongoing funding for services for victims of domestic violence.  "That's particularly important in regional, rural, and remote areas where there are very limited services available," Yvette Smith CWA State Executive Member for Darling River from the Broken Hill branch said.  In Central West NSW, domestic-violence-related assaults have been up 3.2 percent over the five years, according to the NSW recorded crime statistics.  The CWA's motion comes just over two weeks after a man out on bail for charges of rape, stalking, and intimidation murdered a 28-year-old woman in Forbes, NSW.  The CWA called to make it more difficult for domestic violence offenders to be released on bail.  "At the moment, the presumption of bail for people who commit domestic violence offenses is in favour of them, to let them back out into society. Not for us to show the police or courts why they shouldn't be bailed. We want them to be able to prove they should have a legitimate reason for being out on bail." Ms. Smith said.  Anyone impacted by domestic can request an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) which orders the perpetrator to not assault, molest, harass, intimidate, or stalk the protected person. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 28 percent of family and domestic violence offenders in NSW breached their violence and non-violence orders in the 2022-2023 financial year.  "AVOs are effective, but they are only as effective as the person who is getting protected by them in making sure that they ring the police and the authorities when there has been a breach so that they can have that recorded and have the offender charged," Ms. Smith said. The CWA is also pushing for a national register where anyone can look up for themselves or a loved one if someone has been charged with a domestic violence offence, or has had an AVO taken out against them.  "People can see whether or not the person that they're intending to get into a relationship with has any prior convictions," Ms. Smith said.  On Wednesday 8 May, the CWA also discussed a ban on all alcohol advertising during sports events. Alcohol, along with other drugs and gambling can be a trigger for domestic violence perpetrators, according to the CWA.  "There is always alcohol within one of the sponsorships, So, we want there to be a ban on all alcohol advertising within sports and sponsorship," Ms. Smith said.

The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) arranged a day of action today for producers to unite and take a stand against the Biosecurity Protection Levy.Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Agriculture, David Littleproud said Labor’s new fresh food tax will hurt farmers and families.“We need your help to put a stop to it,” he said on social media.Labor's fresh food tax has been passed in the House of Representatives, in a move that will drive up the cost-of-living and make groceries more expensive at the checkout.The NFF encourages its members, comprising all of Australia’s major agricultural commodities across the supply chain, to send a message to politicians and the public about why this tax is unfair and must be binned.“We vehemently oppose this policy as it is rotten to its core,” NFF President David Jochinke said.“This policy is less popular than a picnic on a fire ant nest. The fact the government is persisting just shows contempt for farmers and proper policy.”In a nutshell, the proposed levy will charge farmers for the biosecurity costs of importers bringing their product to Australia.The NFF's David JochinkeFederal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton spoke against the bill in Parliament in March, saying it’s a second-rate proposal that just doesn’t make sense.“Biosecurity for this country is paramount – it’s so important that we protect our borders to ensure that diseases, pests and insects do not come here and penetrate our first-class agricultural sector,” Mr Coulton said.“It only makes sense that those that are importing products pay the price for biosecurity scrutiny. To ask Australian farmers to pay for the risk that their competitors are posing to their own industry seems incredibly bizarre to me.“Can you imagine the gall of a government taxing their own farmers to pay for foreigners to bring their products into the country?”The National Farmer’s Federation agrees.“We are less than two months away from this proposed levy being implemented, yet we still have no idea how the levy will be collected and managed. What a shambles,” Mr Jochinke said.The Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee Senate Inquiry into the levy is expected to hand down its report on Friday, ahead of Budget Week when the NFF expects the bill to be voted on in the Senate.“The Coalition, Greens and independents have already shown their support for farmers, voting against the levy in the lower house. We call on them to continue to back Aussie farmers and do the same in the Senate,” Mr Jochinke said. “We support efforts to strengthen and better fund Australia’s biosecurity system, but this tax is not the way.”“The NFF has long-called for the risk creators who bring the pests and diseases to our shores to contribute more to our system, rather than punishing farmers who are left to deal with incursions at great cost to their farm businesses, This call has been backed by review after review and it’s time the Government looked seriously at getting this right, not just for food and fibre production, but for all Australians."A new petition, Stop the Fresh Food Tax, https://www.stopthefreshfoodtax.com/#action, is being launched by The Nationals today to coincide with industry’s ‘day of action’.

Nyngan residents are passionate about the Bogan River and caring for its flora and fauna, and the Bogan Shire Council has even created a special department – Bogan Bushcare.   In consultation with experts and community members the Shire recently held its first Bogan Bushcare community planting day which took place on the edge of the Nyngan weir pool.   Local residents joined Council staff to plant a variety of reeds, sedges and grasses.   Bogan Shire director of Development and Environmental Services Cathy Black said these plants were chosen and positioned along the bank according to their tolerance to varying dry and wet conditions.    “Strategic planting along the riverbank is important in helping to control soil erosion as well as filtering and slowing down flow of rainwater. All plant varieties provide habitat and food source for small native wildlife such as frogs, butterflies and birds,” she said.    With Council working diligently on making the Bogan River more attractive to tourists and locals alike, Acacias and Red River gums were planted to offer shade for walking tracks and benches.    Bogan Bushcare co-ordinator Karen Francis explained the reason for choosing the tree varieties.    Nate martin and Ruby Walsh “The River Reds are beautiful, large growing gums that are common to, and grow well along the Bogan River. The Acacias are attractive, medium sized trees which provide food source and habitat for local wildlife, including many pollinators. An important feature of Acacias is their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil to the benefit of the tree and plants growing around them,” she said. “Our Bushcare activities have come a long way over the last 18 months,” says Bogan Shire Council General Manager Derek Francis.  “Our community nursery is being used to store, grow and acclimatise several types of trees and shrubs that we have bought in to use for planting. We've also had some success in propagating our own plants.” “Our recent planting day involved the planting of grasses, reed and sedges along the riverbank. These will help reduce soil erosion along the riverbanks as well as provide habitat for wildlife, said Mr. Francis. “When considering the planting area we took into account access to popular fishing spots and the need to keep them clear for access to the river.”  “As we propagate more riparian plant’s we will continue this work along the riverbanks.” “We look forward to working with local schools and anyone from our community who has an interest in looking after our local plants and animals as we develop our nursery and hold more planting days, said Mr. Francis.  Tom and Sophie Walsh  The community planting was not without reward as a morning tea followed the planting provided by Nyngan Community Hub with scones made by local Aboriginal Elder Tommy Ryan.   Bogan Shire welcomes any community members who'd like to be involved.Bogan Bushcare Coordinator Karen Francis with Wendy Beetson of Nyngan Community Hub 

Australian Gold and Copper Ltd (AGC) had made its first major gold and silver discovery at the Cargelligo project. This is the first significant discovery was made late last month and drilled within the Ural Volcanics in the southern Cobar Basin. In a window into some fascinating earlier geological history, the Ural Volcanics refers to a subterranean period of more than 450 million years ago resulting in layers of stilled lava sitting between rocks deep under the surface. In a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange (AGC) said “results returned for ten holes totalling 1,596 metres…highlighted high grade gold-silver base metal”.The Cargelligo project is covered by an exploration licence covering 227km of land 5km west of the town of Lake Cargelligo in NSW in what is known as the “Cobar Mining District” in the southern Cobar Basin.The deposits were found in an area within the project AGC call “Achilles” - 14km long north-south striking structure on the western side of the tenement.PHOTO: Lake Cargelligo. Image: Visitnsw. In its ASX announcement the AGC Board said it has “approved an immediate follow-up program of up to ten holes” and that “three additional targets have also been identified within the Achilles area”. AGC Managing Director, Glen Diemar said “It is extremely pleasing to have such spectacular gold and silver results at Achilles over such a distance and at consistent widths. The gold grades alone are positive but to have those silver grades adds another value driver”.”  “The other three targets at Achilles are equally as attractive with similar geological characteristics. It is an amazing opportunity for AGC’s shareholders and stakeholders” he added. Commenting on the initial drilling results, AGC Non-Executive Director Adam McKinnon said “The Cobar Basin has a 150 year history of discovery and mining, with significant gold, silver, copper, zinc and lead production continuing to this day. "Having been involved in multiple recent polymetallic orebody discoveries in the Cobar region, I am quite excited to see the initial drilling results returned by AGC’s technical team at the South Cobar Project.” “As drilling has only recently commenced, I very much look forward to seeing how these prospects develop with ongoing exploration”. Image: supplied.    

The imminent closure of the 3G telephone network - initially set to begin on June 30 this year – sees the end of twenty years of use for that network.But in a major rethink, Telstra will be extending its 3G network closure by two months to allow people more time to upgrade their devices.Telstra's 3G network will now close on 31 August 2024, to allow more time to transition to 4G and 5G compatible devices so customers can take advantage of the newer mobile networks, which are faster, more reliable, and more resilient. For customers who are not sure if they will be impacted or what next steps to take, they can use the SMS tool to check if their phones need to be updated before the network closes. Simply text ‘3’ to 3498, customers with a device using Telstra’s mobile network will receive a text back advising on the status of the device and what action must be taken. Channa Seneviratne is a Technology Development and Innovation Executive in Telstra Global Networks & Technology who is based in Brisbane. He said the extension of time was because many customers are still making changes to accommodate the new network. "We realized that some of our customers both individual, and also some businesses are still working through the steps that they need to upgrade their devices to be ready for that change," Mr Seneviratne told Western Plains App. "So this is why we have decided to provide more time. And it's important to remember that the closure of our 3G network impacts more than just handsets and Wi Fi hotspots. There's also other devices like medical devices, EFTPOS terminals and things like on farm machinery, and all of those devices need to be upgraded." Since announcing the closure of their 3G network almost five years ago, Telstra says they have seen a significant decline in 3G usage across the national network.Mr Seneviratne said that when the closure was announced, Telstra committed to not shutting off the 3G network until there was equivalent coverage from 4G. "We've been making great progress and we are on track to meet that," he said. "After the upgrades are complete, we will continue to test and optimize the network to make sure that our customers get the best experience possible. "And also when we shut down the 3G network, we will be repurposing the spectrum to 5G and that will allow us to extend 5G coverage particularly to regional Australia much more efficiently."Channa Seneviratne Soon, customers yet to upgrade will hear a short message on impacted mobiles when they make an outgoing call, as a reminder that they need to act. This pre-recorded message will only be removed once the device has been upgraded. While there is now a little more time, it’s vital Australians don’t delay and act now, to ensure they stay connected when the network switches off.

The Aboriginal Data Sovereignty team will be visiting local towns in the region in the coming week to talk about how aboriginal communities could exercise sovereignty over their data through initiatives developing under Priority Reform 4 of Closing the Gap in NSW.   Depending on the success of the workshops the ultimate goal for this priority reform would find Aboriginal Communities with improved access to and ownership and control of all forms of Aboriginal data. According to the team this is key to funding transparency, government accountability, cultural preservation, and the activation of communities’ own priorities.Workshops will be held in Nyngan on Wednesday 8 May 10am - 2.00pm at the Youth and Community Centre, before the team heads to Dubbo on 9 May and Wilcannia 14 May, having visited Walgett and Lightning Ridge last week.   “We know the why, and now we need our communities to tell us how.”  “Aboriginal Data Governance is essentially for re-writing the narratives that have been told about us. It can also be a tool for empowerment, shared decision making, community-led solutions and accountability.”  Aboriginal Data Governance refers to the ways in which Aboriginal people can exercise ownership and control over Aboriginal-specific information, for example, how it is collected, interpreted, accessed, and stored.  The workshop will offer an overview of what last year’s community workshops brought forth for Aboriginal Data Governance, and then talk through what it could look like for communities to develop and implement their own Aboriginal Data Governance, such as what resources and reforms may be needed to support this in NSW.   According to the team, “Aboriginal data can include our Lore, knowledges, stories, customs, art and ways of life.”   “It can include any information or knowledge which is about and may affect Aboriginal peoples both collectively and individually.”   The input will be collected either via audio recordings, note-taking or expression of views on butcher’s paper.   On 27 July 2020, the National Agreement on Closing the Gap (the National Agreement) came into effect upon signature of First Ministers of all Australian Governments, the Lead Convenor of the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations (the Coalition of Peaks) and the President of the Australia Local government Association (ALGA).    According to the agreement, “Closing the Gap acknowledges the ongoing strength and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in sustaining the world’s oldest living cultures.”   “Closing the Gap is underpinned by the belief that when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a genuine say in the design and delivery of policies, programs and services that affect them, better life outcomes are achieved. It also recognises that structural change in the way governments work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is needed to close the gap.”   Please reach out to [email protected] for more information.  

A successful grant has given Nyngan RSL Fishing Club and Bogan Shire Council the opportunity to collaborate on a project to lift fish stocks in the Bogan River. In a combined effort the two groups submitted an application through the NSW Government’s Native Fish Stocking Program. For every $1 contributed by Council and the Fishing Club, the NSW Fishing Trust gave $2, which brought the total amount of funding to $12,000. A total of 14,060 Golden Perch were purchased and released into the Bogan River on Friday 19 April by Fishing Club members and Bogan Shire staff. The grant allows for groups to stock native fish (Australian Bass, Murray Cod or Golden Perch) into rivers and dams across NSW. According to Department of Primary Industries who facilitate the funding, “The objectives of the program are to support local communities in the stocking of high value native fish to protect and enhance our valuable state-wide recreational fisheries. The program also supports the development of regional aquaculture ventures which produce high quality fish stock for release into public waters to benefit recreational fishers.” The release was timed to occur after the annual Bogan Carp Muster, which saw community members catch 2510 carp and take them out of the system.Nyngan Fishing Club members ready to release the fingerlings into the Bogan River. IMAGE SUPPLIED. “On the 19th of April we took delivery of nearly 15000 golden Perch (yellow belly) fingerlings delivered to Nyngan from Uarah Fisheries Grong Grong NSW,” said Jake McClelland, President of Nyngan Fishing Club. “These were released into the Bogan river system. We teamed up with Bogan Shire. To purchase these fingerlings,” he said. “NSW Fisheries have a program running for every fingerling purchased they will triple it which is amazing for everyone to take advantage of.” “We used money raised from the recent Carp Muster we held to purchase these fingerlings." “We originally wanted to purchase both Golden Perch and Murray Cod, but the Cod were unavailable at the time we purchased, so hopefully we will. Get to purchase more cod to release next year,” said Jake. “We all know the damage introduced carp do, to the health of our rivers and our native fish population,” said Bogan Shire Council General Manager Derek Francis.  “It’s great to be able to work with the fishing club to introduce some local fish species that will benefit the environment as well as providing excellent recreational angling opportunities,” said Mr. Francis.

People on remand in NSW prisons will have greater access to rehabilitation and treatment for drug use following a major expansion of health intervention programs by the Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network (Justice Health NSW).A person on remand has been charged with a criminal offence but refused bail, so stays in custody ‘on remand’ until the matter is heard and determined.The announcement from Justice Health NSW comes after the controversial youth bail tightening laws were passed by NSW parliament last month with conditional support from Member for Barwon Roy Butler who has said that too often young people charged with offences go onto commit the same or similar offences multiple times after continually being granted bail.The new laws include a temporary additional bail test for young people between fourteen and eighteen charged with committing certain serious break and enter offences or motor vehicle theft offences while on bail for similar offences.BOCSAR executive director Jackie Fitzgerald said “A longstanding feature of crime in NSW is that regional communities tend to experience higher rates of crime than in the city.”The most recent Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) shows the rate of property crime was about 60 per cent higher in the regions compared to the city, while for violent crime it was 57 per cent higher.The Far West and Orana regions were the worst hit, with property and violent crime double the state average.'Ice' or Methamphetamine. Image: positivechoices.org.auMeanwhile Amnesty Indigenous Rights campaigner Kacey Teerman has argued that “Crime rates in regional NSW are higher than those in metro areas precisely because Regional NSW lacks access to many necessary services, particularly diversionary programs that the government knows reduces crime and have better outcomes for everyone.”Ms Teerman has heaped praised on Bourke for “showing that diversionary initiatives see young people turn their lives around and remain out of the criminal justice system”.Kacey Teerman. Image: Amnesty International.The NSW Government’s new laws - which include a  $13.4 million for a pilot crime reduction program in Moree - also feature a new ‘post and boast’ offence targets performance crime – where offenders post footage of their law-breaking online – in connection with car crime and break and enter offences.NSW Attorney-General Michael Daly has said “These changes are the first part of this government’s significant and multifaceted response to regional crime.” Allan Kelly and James Moore from Bourke at the Darling River. Both have been involved a cultural re-engagement program to keep indigenous youth in school. Image: The Australian. Now the government has announced “an expansion that will see direct, one-on-one health interventions offered to people entering custody who are experiencing drug related harm supporting them to manage their health and make healthier decisions”. Justice Health NSW Chief Executive Wendy Hoey said people entering custody were in real need of health care.“The reality is many people entering custody are in a vulnerable position and are impacted by or recovering from recent drug use,” Ms Hoey said.“Until now, there has been limited health programs to complement prison addiction programs available to the remand population. "Introducing these health interventions to people on remand will see them receive the health care they need, at the time they need it most.” 

Last July, Gilgandra Shire Council put a call out to the community to get ideas for murals at their Gilgandra Cultural Precinct (GCP).There were three key themes to suggest designs for - military history, Aboriginal heritage, and farming and natural landscape.With its prime location on the Newell Highways and on the banks of the Castlereagh River, the GCP is perfectly situated to showcase the area to visitors as well as brighten it up for the locals.General Manager of Gilgandra Shire Council, David Neeves said at the time of the consultation that he looked forward to the murals being completed.“Murals and public art aren’t just an addition to the beautification of our local towns, but also a popular tourist attraction for rural communities,” he said. “The addition of murals will add another point of interest to our expanding Gilgandra Cultural Precinct, complementing the recently renovated Coo-ee Heritage Centre and Windmill Walk.”Following Council planning and a community survey, with over 100 responses from the public, as well as consultation with Council’s Economic Development Committee, artist Locky Naef, with assisting local artist Gail Naden has brought the community’s ideas to life.Landscaping works near the Sound Shell and Community Gardens have also taken place.Another of Gilgandra's murals. IMAGE: Gilgandra Region NSWThe project focuses on utilising the Castlereagh River flowing through Gilgandra, enhanced though art with recognition of culture and history of the region. Connecting the Gilgandra Cultural Precinct (GCP) to Miller Street (Gilgandra’s CBD) and creating an inviting space for locals and tourists alike.Artist Locky Naef is from El Studio and has also worked on other local projects including the “The Nyngan” wall mural, Dubbo Macquarie Home Stay and the Roar Festival.The three key themes have been portrayed beautifully with the project focussed on acknowledging the Gilgandra community in celebrating its rich culture and heritage.The Council announced the completion of the murals on social media, saying it is proud to showcase this work for the community to enjoy and urging residents to go and check it out.Gilgandra’s streets are full of colour with other murals found in Miller Street, Warren Road and below the Jack Renshaw Bridge

There’s concern households and businesses across the western plains could see a bigger internet bill after the National Broadband Network announced it will raise wholesale charges from 1 July.  The NBN charges telcos like Telstra and Optus to use its network, which transfers data across Australia via satellite, transmission towers (fixed wireless) as well as physical lines (fixed line) to households.  The 1 May announcement means providers are likely to pass the price hike, averaging about 4.1 per cent across NBN wholesale services, onto customers. “Each week, around 6,000 customers are placing orders to upgrade to full fibre higher speed tiers. These trends underscore the increasing expectations for faster speeds and more data," NBN Chief Customer Officer Anna Perrin said. "In response, nbn’s wholesale price adjustments will help to ensure we can continue to invest in the network to improve its speed, capacity, and reliability for the benefit of all Australians." “We understand that any price change can be a concern for customers, particularly considering current cost of living pressures. For this reason, we strive to be as prudent and efficient as possible with our investments to make every dollar count.  “Our priority is to meet today's demands and ensure our network is future-ready for the innovations and advancements that households and businesses will rely upon in the years ahead. We are confident that our investments will result in superior service and support the needs of Australians in an increasingly digital world.”  Better Internet for Rural, Regional and Remote Australia (BIRRR) spokesperson Sharon Single said she would be surprised if retailers didn’t pass on at least part of the rate hikes to consumers, although we’ll only know when new prices come out. “They may choose to increase the price more than this wholesale to correct for their own Consumer Price Index increase,” Ms Single said. “You do need to know this isn’t going to occur for satellite. So, this will only be fixed wireless and Fire to the Node (FttN) connections. “It is a competitive market and NBN have sort of signed that they expect the service provider to competitively go out to market. “Until we see what they offer, we don’t know how it will impact.” Ms Single said people should take the chance to shop around when new pricing arrives for internet plans. “There are multiple providers, it’s not just Telstra,” Ms Single said.  “You should never lock in to an internet or phone provider these days. You should allow yourself to be flexible and you should regularly go back and check whether you’re getting the best deal.”

A potential way forward for affordable housing has been unveiled in two of the most remote communities of the Western Plains at the same time a new report has suggested Australia will miss a target of 1.2 million new homes by 2029 on the current path.Two remote communities outside of Bourke - Louth, population just 43, and Enngonia, population 146 - have received new teacher housing, all delivered on the back of a truck. In Louth, the new 2-bedroom van home will provide short-term accommodation for visiting staff such as relief teachers and psychologists.In Enngonia, after many months of planning, a new three-bedroom house was established in just 30 days. Enngonia. Image: SBS.Enngonia's unique new dwelling was crafted within the walls of Glen Innes Jail before being divided into three sections and transported on trucks to its new home almost an hour north of Bourke. Now fully assembled, the modular house will provide housing for teachers at Enngonia Public School.The mobile unit is the first of its kind commissioned by the department and is being piloted as a short-term housing solution. If successful, the model could be considered for wider application in remote areas where there is insufficient accommodation and builders - and materials - are hard to come by.“A lack of available housing for teachers in some of our rural towns can make it difficult to attract teachers to their school,” said Dean White, executive director of the Regional, Rural and Remote Implementation unit. “This is something our schools and education partners have told us is a priority.”   Crucial new report paints dire housing shortfall across AustraliaThis swift, low-cost model may need to be broadened to other sectors and other parts of the nation with a new report painting an even bleaker picture about the nation’s housing stocks.The independent National Housing Supply and Affordability Council launched its inaugural report last Friday May 3.Parliament House, Canberra. Image: The MandarinBy the 2028/29 financial year, Australia will still be 39,000 dwellings short, the report predicts.Australia's housing market is "far from healthy", the council's chair Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz wrote in the report's foreword."An unhealthy market has periods of rampant price growth, is unable to produce enough supply to meet demand, is overly reliant on an unsupported private market to address most of Australia's shelter needs, creates scarcity and cannot match the rich expanse of demand with a breadth of housing choice," she said.“The cost of housing construction and supply constraints in regional and remote areas is generally higher than in major cities,” the report asserts.“Some rural and remote regions experience dwelling construction costs that prohibit entry into the market without government intervention”.The council recommends governments focus on 10 areas including investing in social housing, reducing homelessness, improving the rental market, bolstering planning systems and ensuring the tax system supports supply.The latest Corelogic report shows home values across regional NSW have increased by an average of 4.3% in the 12 months to the end of April 2024, and have leapt a massive 47.8% since the onset of COVID.