2023 is here - shiny and new - and we're happy to be sharing it with you!

On behalf of the team from the Western Plains App I'd like to thank everyone who has checked in with us over the past year to see what's what around the western plains.

We launched the WPApp in mid June 2021 and as 31 December drew to a close we had welcomed 13,400 or so app users - on their mobile phones, tablets or computers.

Our team are excited to check the numbers in our weekly team meetings and it is always rewarding to see the number of downloads climb. We are still seeing an average of 200+ new users each week - not bad for a small team scattered around the small towns of western New South Wales.

We don't know who you are (your privacy and security are assured) but we know you come to read the local news, check the weather or road conditions, find out what some of our innovative local businesses or local councils are up to, or to spend some downtime on the puzzle page.

As we work to build our small start-up business, we truly appreciate the businesses, councils and other organisations who have taken the plunge and come on board to support this new local independent media platform.

If you have a business or non-profit organisation that operates in the local government areas of Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Cobar, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Lachlan, Narromine, Walgett, Warren or Warrumbungle and would like to connect with our readers - please give us a call, we'd love to hear from you.

Our hope is that the WPApp will come to be as trusted and valued as your local newspaper or your favourite local radio station, and that more of our region's residents will come to appreciate having another authentic source of news and information at their fingertips.

2022 was a bit of a hard slog in many respects and delivering news 7 days a week can be a little exhausting. We could not have done it without the help of the many, many people who gave us tips, agreed to be interviewed, shared their stories and sent us photos.

2022 was not an easy trip for many. I'm sure we can all sympathise with this situation! This shot taken near Coonabarabran.

We were also fortunate to receive the support of Meta (Facebook) and the Walkley Foundation, who have contributed financially to the employment of our team of reporters.

It has been quite an adventure trying to find people on the ground within the region to supply local content and we've been blessed to discover both up-and-coming young talent right through to experienced, highly accomplished and ever-curious reporters.

Many of our staff are busy juggling multiple gigs and demanding family commitments but have embraced the WPApp with enthusiasm and squeeze in some time to put their stories together so share with you all.

Unfortunately we don't always get to keep the gems we pick up.

We welcomed and farewelled Gina in Cobar and Danny in Bourke, sent Oliver off from Coonamble to the ABC in Broken Hill and are soon to wave goodbye to Laura, who has now finished her journalism degree and is also going to test-drive a role with the national broadcaster, in Muswellbrook where we know they will be amazed by her talent and hard work.

Coonamble-based team members - Lee, Maddison, Angie, Liam, Marnie, Sue (Coonamble Times volunteer proofreader), Annabel and Anne.

Over summer we will be hearing more from Kristin and Luke, who joined us recently bringing with them decades of professional journalism experience.

They will be supporting Lucy (Condobolin), Abigail (Nyngan), Audrey (Warren), Emma (Cobar), Urayne (Brewarrina), Angie (Nyngan), Liz (Baradine), Liam and Marnie (Coonamble) and myself as we all try to sneak some time off before 2023 warms right up.

Behind the scenes Maddison (sales), Angie (graphic design) and Annabel (admin) are the fuel in the engine of the WPApp as well as making sure that the Coonamble Times continues to bring local stories to our local readers each week.

I thank them all for their efforts and for their belief that the Western Plains App is an exciting and valuable way to connect and promote our western communities.

Not all floods - news is everywhere! This grassfire on the highway just south of Walgett a couple of months ago.

We wish all our readers and app users a wonderful 2023, perhaps with a little less drama than we've seen in recent years.

For those in our region still soggy from last year's flooding rivers we hope you dry out soon and, if your home or livelihood has been damaged, that you have the strength and support you need to make a fast and full recovery.

We hope you find a little more peace, stability and positivity in the months ahead, and enough excitement to remind you that we live in a rich, diverse and endlessly interesting part of the world.

The Western Plains App is both a journey of discovery and a work in progress and I thank you all for your patience, interest and encouragement.

Lee O'Connor

Founder/Editor

Western Plains App