Only one-tenth of one percent of all marriages last 70 years or more, which is all the more reason for Cobar couple, Eric and Cath Manns to enjoy their celebrations.This magnificent feat of seven decades of wedded bliss bought congratulations – albeit a year late – from Member for Barwon, Roy Butler.“In June last year I read out a Community Recognition Statement on the floor of Parliament congratulating Cobar residents Eric and Kath Manns on the occasion of their seventieth wedding anniversary,” Mr Butler said recently.“I had wanted to present them with a commemorative certificate last year, but scheduling difficulties and Kath having an unfortunate accident got in the way. Now I have finally had the great pleasure of presenting them a certificate acknowledging their milestone anniversary.“Mr and Mrs Mann met in 1953 in Sydney and two weeks later, they were engaged. It was a whirlwind romance and six months later, they were married. Mr Mann was born and raised in Cobar, working on the railway with his father to help support his family.He finished school and went on to do various jobs. After meeting and marrying Kath, Eric encouraged her to move to Cobar and while initially hesitant Kath gave it a go. They bought a home in Cobar, in which they still live today.“They moved back out to Cobar and a year ago, they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Now they're 71 years married and both still sharp as a tack and well supported by family who also live in Cobar,” Mr Butler said.“They're still living very independently, and I just really wanted to stop by and give them my congratulations. We heard some great stories about the work that Eric used to do, driving trucks all over the west and delivering livestock, and that was fascinating. Some of the stories he had were incredible - all in a time with no air conditioning and no power steering.”Mr Butler called Mr and Mrs Mann a remarkable couple.“I really enjoyed sitting down having a chat with them and they had one of their granddaughters there, Stacey, who was about three weeks off giving birth. This will be another great grandchild on the ground. It's a lovely story, and it really sort of reminds everyone that there's some real good in the word.”“It was a delight to meet them in person, both told us some great stories about their early lives, both have a great sense of humour.”

Traffic is closed both directions of the Castlereagh Highway between Dunedoo and Mendooran following a serious two-vehicle crash this morning.  Emergency services and the Crash Investigation Unit are on the scene. Motorists are being advised to avoid the area, use diversions and allow extra time for travel. Westbound traffic has been diverted along the Golden Highway to Dubbo, then up the Newell Hwy to Gilgandra, then the Castlereagh Highway to Mendooran.Eastbound traffic is the same in reverse: along the Castlereagh Highway to the Newell, then Golden, highways.This diversion is suitable for all vehicles, according to Live Traffic NSW.

Ahead of its 100th anniversary next year, Gulargambone Jockey Club enjoyed one of its biggest race days last Saturday, setting the bar high for other country race meetings. The last day of winter was a perfect spring day, attracting over 700 people to attend the event. “I can’t say if it was the biggest day ever, but it certainly is the biggest since I became involved 15 years ago,” said Club President Tom Gadsby. “It was unreal to see so many families come along with young kids, as that is what we need to keep the tradition going.”Mr Gadsby said they started getting it all organised three months ago, including preparing the grounds. “Helped by the weather, it has looked as good as this for the last two months,” he said. “Some of the owners said it was one of the best grounds and organisation they’ve seen in the bush. “For a one event a year club, we are doing pretty good. “You couldn’t have asked for a better day.”A larger than average crowd over the racing weekend. The jockeys were also impressed. “A couple of jockeys couldn’t believe it wasn’t an irrigated course. That was such a nice compliment for us.” The races offered many close finishes, and the crowd enjoyed the day to the full. The Lions Club, which ran the bar, has reported they had their biggest take ever. Narromine trainer Kylie Kennedy bagged a $6000 win with apprentice Jessica Brookes running first on Ready Made Doll in the first race, while Orange-based trainer took home the $6400 Gulargambone Cup in race five with jockey Ken Dunbar on Bobby's Secret. Locals mingled not just with others from the broader district, but a large contingent of visitors from the Central Coast who had come out especially for the event. “This is exactly what a country race meeting is supposed to be,” said one of them.Annie and Phil Haling of Gular took out the best dressed couple sashes. Pictured with Adelina Grosser (left) and Eliza McNeill. Planning for the celebration of the Club centenary has already started. “We are also thinking of running a black tie ball at the jockey club at the end of March for 2-300 people,” said Mr Gadsby. “It would be a good way of raising funds for the Club and sharing stories.” Committee member Peter O’Connor said, “President Tom Gadsby and his wife Caitlin deserve special mention for the work and hours put into track preparations and organisation. “A very small band of helpers were very relieved and satisfied that the day was a success.”It's a day Western Plains races clubs will no doubt want to emulate as Collarenebri prepares for its meeting on 14 September and Come-by-Chance 28 September.

The State Government has hit back at claims that their Energy Roadmap is out of control. This follows a call by the NSW Nationals for a moratorium and stocktake of renewables projects after concerns the only active renewable energy zone (REZ) is already completely overblown.    NSW Nationals Leader Dugald Saunders said the State can’t keep going down the current path they are on.  “We have a power problem in NSW and it extends well beyond the threat of blackouts. The Minns Labor Government is reneging on its responsibilities when it comes to renewables,” he said. “The Central West Orana REZ is already over-subscribed with the number of projects and we can’t get a straight answer as to where things are up to, or where we’re heading.” But Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe refuted those concerns.   "Have the Nationals told their Liberal counterparts they’re trying to lock in blackouts and energy price spikes by removing support for the state's energy plan? "The Minns Labor Government is getting on with the job while managing the careful exit of coal fired power stations. “More delays and support for nuclear power will just lock in blackouts and energy price spikes.” Processes in place to fill the coal gap The Minister for Climate Change and Energy said NSW has put in place the architecture and processes to deliver the renewable energy projects needed to fill the gap that’ll be left by ageing coal-fired power stations exiting the grid. “This transition is urgent – we must get the infrastructure built, to keep the lights on and put downward pressure on energy bills,” Ms Sharpe said. “The Energy Roadmap was agreed to under the last Government, with bipartisan support, which is crucial for giving investors' confidence.” The Minister said NSW is already making progress to ensure we keep the lights on and downward pressure on prices: In NSW, 35% of our energy is already being powered by renewables. Almost half of the 12 gigawatts of renewable generation we seek by 2030 is locked in. A quarter of the long duration storage target has also been secured. “There are many checks and balances in place as NSW delivers infrastructure – whether it be a transport, project or energy project. Many are referred to the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) for determination. “We will continue to work closely with industry and impacted communities to strike the right balance between supporting renewable energy projects and responsible development.” She said the transition would bring huge benefits including more income for farmers, more investment in local infrastructure, more local jobs, more opportunities for families and local businesses, and a drought-proof revenue stream for many landowners. “We’ve boosted compensation to landowners, and are delivering additional funding to communities living in our renewable energy zones. For example, the NSW Government has announced $128 million in funding for the Central-West Orana community, to be delivered in the next four years as projects are built,” she said. The current renewable energy status: Operating projects: As of July 2024, the following are operational in NSW: 36 large-scale solar farms 17 onshore wind farms one battery energy storage system. The Central-West Orana REZ is expected to attract around $10 billion of private investment into the local region through to 2030, and support around 5000 construction jobs and 500 ongoing jobs.  Planning is underway on the other REZs. AEMO estimates NSW will need around 20 gigawatts of large-scale solar generation by 2050 – this would require only 0.06% of rural land in NSW. Cumulative impact in the regions – Saunders But Mr Saunders does not agree that renewables are the golden goose required.   “When you combine all the renewable projects, add in the impact of transmission lines, along with the additional accommodation and other services, you start to get an inkling of the cumulative impact being felt.    “It’s pushing our regional communities to breaking point and it should be a clear warning that now is the time to stop just randomly allowing projects in.”  According to the EnergyCo website the Central-West Orana REZ will deliver “at least 4.5 gigawatts of transmitted electricity” which is vastly lower than the calculations by Dubbo, Mid-Western and Warrumbungle councils.  “The renewable energy zone having four times more generation than originally planned means more land is being used, more families and communities are being impacted, and there’s a growing frustration,” Mr Saunders said.  “It would be like forcing four times as many people onto the train in the morning for the same result. Everyone is severely cramped and stressed with no control over what is happening.  “Regional residents are currently being put through this, but we’re still no closer to solving the supply issue hanging over our state and the Government needs to be honest about where it wants this REZ to finish up.  “I’m not suggesting all renewables projects should be scrapped, but we need the Government to pause, assess and take stock of exactly where we are in this energy roadmap before we see irreversible damage to regional areas with very little to show for it,” Mr Saunders said. 

This year's Coonamble Car Show, on Saturday 7 September, is again expected to be attract entrants from across the Western Plains."Hopefully we don't only get local vehicles, but cars from Coonabarabran, Walget, Baradine, Gilgandra, and Dubbo like last year, when 50 vehicles were on show," said Steve.He's encouraging as many people as possible to think about entering their vehicle this year."Bring whatever you've got that would be of interest on the day, if not a car then a tractor, truck or motorbike,' he said."We have a 15 categories for entries, that all offer prizes of $150 and a numberplate-themed trophy, with all judging done by the public."You've got to be in it to win it."He's got his fingers crossed that Coonamble local Rod Moxham will be able to bring along his 1933 Cadillac, but says at the moment he isn't fully confident it will be ready.This year's event expected to draw an even bigger crowd than normal given the extra attractions being organised by the Coonamble Golf Club, including a car boot sale."Last year over 400 people came through the gate, but this year there will also be a car boot sale and music afterwards so we are hoping it will attract a wider range of people than just car enthusiasts," said Coonamble Auto Club President Steve Lane."In this perfect spring weather, it will be a great morning out for the whole family."The Club will be open for drinks and lunch, and there will also be a food van there."Last year's event attracted 50 cars and 400 spectators.It costs just $10 to enter a vehicle, and last year over 50 vehicles were on show.For a $2 donation on entry, attendees will be given a voting slip to choose their favourite from the display."Just for voting their name will go in the hat, and they may win one of three $100 draws," said Steve.Any profit from the day will be given to the Golf Club.Gates open 8am for entrants and 10am for spectators. Winners will be announced at 1pm.It costs just $10 to have a stall at the car boot sale."It’s perfect timing to make some money out of your spring cleaning," says the Golf Club President Maddison Pawley."We held a boot sale when we did a clean up of the club and people have asked us to have another they could join in. "It's great for people who don't have enough things for their own garage sale, or local creatives who want to run a stall for their candles, jewelery, plants and the like."We thought we would schedule it to add something extra to the Car Show, as a way of showing the Car Club committee we appreciate their continued support."Ideal weather of 28 degrees is expected for this Saturday, so make a day of it with Col Hewett playing on the deck from 1pm-5pm, and the Chinese open for lunch and dinner."

After 12 months in the lead role at Walgett Shire Council, Megan Dixon is realistic in her achievements and challenges.The former head of RDA Orana where she had led comfortably for seven years, arrived in the chair as general manager of Walgett Shire in a turbulent time.The outgoing GM had just been dismissed, and controversially, the Council had decided to decommission the Walgett pool the week before she started. In her first six months there was a tragic death in the workplace, bushfires and even a flood in Lightning Ridge. “It was an intense time within Council and externally we had all of these events that were pushing our resources and our abilities.”Mrs Dixon’s arrival was akin to boarding a plane mid-air, during a meteoric storm. But she’s stayed the course and has called on her strengths in networking and strategy to build consistency and efficiency with a cohesive oversight.Add to that, that no-one was officially flying ‘the plane’ at the time she arrived and you can imagine the challenges. Of this chapter she acknowledges the trauma felt amongst the staff regarding the dismissal of the previous GM. Now, 12 months later, with the value of hindsight, one gets a sense it was not perhaps a matter of building the plane on the runway, but rather, landing one and re-establishing the flight path.“It was a really challenging time, and became a challenging year. But I’m immensely proud to say that we rose to those challenges,” Mrs Dixon said.She highlights the delivery of a council restructure as one of her biggest achievements. “We also got the pool back online and opened for the summer,” she said.“I feel like there’s a lot of work that we’ve been doing that is not necessarily visual to the community. When I arrived we had 40 projects funded and outstanding – the team has done an amazing job to push those projects forward. Some hadn’t even been started 12 months ago.“Some of them are little projects but they mean a lot to the community.”Leadership restructure a highlightMrs Dixon cites the restructure of the leadership team as one of the biggest achievements for her initial 12 months.“It’s been about putting in place proper leadership to deliver efficient and effective services to the community.”The restructure has her excited about the future.But she is not discounting the work that will be required to keep things moving.“We’ve got a couple of big projects ahead of us. One of the biggies is the development of our new community strategic plan. The non-negotiable is that we are delivering ‘place plans’ within that.” With nine villages across the Shire, the strategy aims to get a strong understanding of the priorities for each village to guide planning and funding for those priorities.With Council elections this month, there will be more settling and cohesiveness required on the ‘Walgett Shire flight path.’“The year ahead for me will be about bedding down the new council. I’m not sure how many new councillors we’ll have.“One of the things I’m keen to do is to work with council on improved policies. Doing that work with the new council will be quite exciting.“We’ve got some other deliverables with projects ongoing in most areas. “Having them delivered well and on budget are key things that will be a challenge, but we’re on track to seeing that delivered.”Foundations of the future“But for me, those channels of communications into government that I had established before I arrived, have really benefited Walgett and the community. I came into the role with very strong links and relationships.“There’s never a dull day in this job. It’s a big job and there are a lot of challenges. I feel like I’ve got seven-ten years more to give in terms of getting things going to where I think, and to where the opportunities are,” Mrs Dixon said.“There is no doubt that both personally and within the organisation, we are going through a change process. That’s challenging for everybody.   The key is being patient as we go through that. It’s also about remembering that we do serve the community and the changes are about serving in a better, more accountable, more transparent way.“For me, I am building the foundations and being patient with myself.  Having the community be patient with council as we build the foundations of a better shire is really important,” she said.“Those foundations are about people, about planning, doing the work is really quite important.”With 12 months quickly moving into a new chapter, Mrs Dixon said it was rewarding to reflect and acknowledge the hard work done by all the staff at Walgett Shire. “I feel very blessed to be surrounded by such a loyal and committed group.    This is really refreshing. And that’s the joy of working in a smaller community organisation -  you get to experience and witness your achievements with your staff.”

Concerns remain that an extension of the closure of the 3G network will not be long enough, after Telstra and Optus announced they would again extend the wind down until October 28.The two telcos say this will provide extra time for all Australians to be ready to move to 4G and 5G and to conduct one last public safety awareness campaign.Mark Coulton, Federal Member for Parkes said he thinks this is a sensible move.“It’s not just about the telcos being ready, but there’s still a large number of people who will be impacted who have not yet upgraded their own handsets and devices,” Mr Coulton said. “There are many non-mobile devices that use the 3G network, including medical monitors, EFTPOS machines, baby monitors, tracking equipment and more.”The isolation of regional workers, families and older people will be exacerbated if they cannot access 3G reliant equipment, particularly in the case of an emergency.NSW Farmers Rural Affairs Committee Chair Deb Charlton, weighed in on the issue saying switching off the 3G network without proper community engagement and support would spell disaster for many in the bush.“With many farmers often working alone and a long way from help, switching off the 3G network without proper community engagement and support would spell disaster for many in the bush,” she said."It would also lead to losses in productivity, Ms Charlton said.“A huge range of farm machinery, as well as mobile phones, could also stop functioning if not upgraded in time for the network shutdown – leaving farmers without the tools they need to grow food and bringing agricultural operations to a grinding halt.” she said.“Connectivity is a critical tool, and so we can’t spare any time or expense when it comes to keeping our rural and regional communities connected and safe moving forward.”Secretary and Publicity Officer of the NSW Isolated Children’s and Parent’s Association (ICPA), Libby McPhee offered insight into the perspective of the closure on members of the ICPA organisation and their extended families.“The biggest problem, as we see it, is the fact that they need the 3G spectrum to make the 4G work properly,” Ms McPhee said. “They have to try the 4G, and if it doesn’t work than they’ve got to be ablet to switch back. We can't have a situation where people can't make a phone call in an emergency. The phase out has been coming for so long that this should have been sorted, because reliable phone service is something we can't go without.”“At the moment, our service is haphazard. You can go up the road and it drops out and this is an issue with our students that are traveling on school buses. It's been a three-year process to shut 3G down, it wasn't something that decided overnight. Once they switch the 3G network, they should be absolutely certain that the 4g is going to work really well.”Ms McPhee said she also holds concerns for the older population.“The population out there that are still running on 3G and still have old equipment are probably in the bracket of 75 and up, and many are not attuned to the fact that they need to upgrade,” she said.“I think age and cost is compounding their decision to not upgrade. They're saying, ‘why would I want to do it, because it doesn't work’. When there's no option and they're not set up for it, it's going to be a big issue.”The ICPA sit on Telstra’s Regional Councils which enables them to get information to impart to members, but there are still plenty of concerns.“We primarily come from a child safety perspective with this issue,” Ms McPhee said. “Education wise, most things are delivered through the internet and NBN so this 4G upgrade is more about the safety for our children, because they're traveling on roads for long distances and may little opportunity to have anyone help them if they need to. Things that are going to impact on our members greatly.”Mr Coulton advised that if you are unsure if you’re impacted, text ‘3’ to ‘3498’ and the response will let you know if you need to act.“If you’ve got older equipment you need to be proactive and upgrade it now, or you risk losing connectivity from 28 October,” he said.For more information about the 3G closure, visit: https://amta.org.au/3g-closure/

The NSW Government announced over $200 million to improve regional road safety, including over $5 million that will go towards the shoulder widening and centreline installation on the Mitchell Highway near East Narromine on 29 August.  "These upgrades will make our roads safer for all road users, locals, and visitors, and this investment will go a long way towards achieving the goal of ensuring everyone gets home safely every time to their loved ones," Jenny Aitchison Minister for Regional Transport and Roads said. "This analysis identified the treatments required on the state road network to achieve a future state of zero road deaths in NSW. The road safety outcome criteria prioritise projects that include treatments aligning with this analysis and ensures the highest safety benefits are achieved," a spokesperson for Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) said."Upgrades to improve safety may include, installing safety barriers and shoulder widening to help reduce the risk of crashes on higher speed country roads." Head of the NSW Nationals Dugald Saunders said that while safety improvements are good news, they are also part of the state government's job.  "Road funding for governments should be normal business." "The problem is they're going to have to find a way of paying that money back," Mr Saunders said.  Mr Saunders said he is concerned about where the funding is coming from.Speed safety cameras could extend to light vehicles NSW Premier Chris Minns hinted recently that the average speed safety cameras for heavy vehicles could be extended to light vehicles.  "These cameras have never been used for light vehicles before but the suggestion has come that it is going to be part of a government strategy moving forward," Mr Saunders said.   "We already have plenty of mobile speed cameras doing that work anyway. The people it will affect are regional people. Why would you make it harder for us?" "We all agree that roads need to be safer and well maintained but don't pretend the government is funding this and has found new money without cost at the other end."  "The cost at the other end is that we as regional motorists will be getting whacked with another way of being fined," Mr Saunders said.The $200 million funding is part of the safety treatments outlined in the 2026 Road Safety Plan."The projects listed are currently in development. Transport for NSW will advise the community ahead of work starting,' a TfNSW spokesperson said.

A participant in TAFE NSW’s Indigenous Police Recruitment Our Way Delivery (IPROWD) program from Bourke says the experience has opened her eyes to the possibilities available to her.Janaya Knight, a proud 23-year-old Barkinji and Cooma woman, will graduate the Dubbo-based six month course in coming weeks.“It’s taught me a lot. And it’s been more than just preparing me to be a police officer. I’ve also got a deeper understanding of how to deal with workplace issues and communicate on a better level," she said.The IPROWD program is about to celebrate 15 years and was the focus of a visit to TAFE NSW Dubbo last week by the NSW Minister for Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan, who personally congratulated soon-to-be graduates.Ms Knight’s Dubbo cohort will join more than 1,200 graduates across NSW who have completed IPROWD since its inception in 2008 and are now one step closer to realising their dream of a career in policing.   The IPROWD program has been a transformative initiative according to some of its students, providing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with the skills and confidence needed to pursue careers in the NSW Police Force and the Australian Federal Police.The program focuses on broader education - empowering participants, fostering cultural pride, and contributes to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of NSW communities.  It equips participants with skills in literacy, numeracy, communication, fitness, and IT, while also strengthening their cultural identity. Ms Knight said she would now apply to become a police woman, after gaining confidence through the IPROWD course.“My dream is to become a policewoman," she said."During the course we went to the NSW Police Academy in Sydney and were taught all about how to prepare to apply."Ms Knight said there was a sense of friendship built throughout the IPROWD students.“The course is very culturally aware. In the first block we all learned about our family trees and there were a couple of other people in the course I found out I was related to.“We also found out about our totems.”Inspired to join the police force by an older cousin who is a police officer, Ms Knight said she will become the first police officer in her immediate family, “I’m one of seven, and I’ll be the first.” Crucial initiative - WhanMinister Whan praised the program. “IPROWD is a crucial initiative for improving Indigenous employment and strengthening community relations within law enforcement. It plays a vital role in building a diverse and inclusive workforce," he said. “It was incredibly inspiring to talk with some of this year’s graduates. Their dedication and determination to serve as role models and foster stronger ties between the community and police, is truly encouraging.  “IPROWD is life-changing, not only for participants, but also for their families, friends and their local communities.”The program provides ongoing support with job applications and recruitment mentoring, ensuring graduates are well-prepared to enter the workforce and make a positive impact in their communities.    

The stunning spectacle of rare rainbow-coloured rings appearing around the sun last week was spotted by some excited community members in the region. The optical phenomenon, known as ‘pollen corona’ occurs when the Sun is partially obscured and light hits a swarm of pollen, resulting in a scattering of wavelengths and diffraction patterns.The pastel-coloured halo was the result of a mass release of pollen exploding from Pilliga pine trees and blanketing the air as far as Mudgee on Tuesday, 27 August and captured in some stunning photographs.Coonabarabran resident Shona Rankin, below, snapped a perfect image. She says that the colours of the corona caught her eye when she was hanging out the washing.“I make a point of trying to avoid the glare of the sun but I noticed that there was a very interesting glare; my children spotted at the same time,” she said.  “I looked up and it was wow! As the colours developed, I just took more and more photos as the rainbow circles got larger.“I was just amazed and astonished the whole time; I literally couldn't believe it. It was just beautiful; we were all taking photos.  “I popped one of my shots up on Facebook for comment and it has since become a bit of a talking point.“I know a little bit about light refraction, but always thought the best time to see something like this was at night with a telescope. I have never ever seen anything like it before. I was completely astounded by the colour and how it progressively started getting bigger and bigger; it was just magical.”As everyone would be aware, looking directly at the sun can cause permanent eye damage, but Shona’s images were successful because they were taken with shadow falling across the sun. Similarly, Wendy Abberton’s photographs are just as impressive.“All I can say about what I saw on Tuesday afternoon was that I thought something was seriously wrong with my vision!” she explained. “I was dragging the rubbish bin up from the road and the light seemed different. I was surprised to see a circular rainbow around the sun filtering through the trees. Having little faith in my own eyes, I took a couple of photos with my phone and was surprised by what I saw.“Now I know what it was, I am delighted that I saw it and photographed it. It was a special moment for me.”Perfect conditions in alignmentCoonabarabran weather guru, Peter Brookhouse says that to witness a pollen corona in all its glory, specific conditions must align harmoniously.“A significant concentration of pollen particles must be present in the air and the weather needs to be warm, dry, calm and clear,” Peter explained. “These were the perfect conditions last week for the pollen corona to form.“There was a mass release of pollen from the Cypress Pine. An anecdotal story from a helicopter pilot is that he thought he saw smoke which he followed but it was coming from a tree and then he realised that it was a release of pollen.“Pilliga Cypress pines have female and male cones, which are wind pollinated. The pollen is carried in the lower atmosphere, so we are looking at the sun through a layer of air which is laden with pollen; a pollen haze.“You don't need high wind to make the pollen disperse. As we know, warm air from the ground rises; it will rise to a certain level on a fine day and you’ve got an inversion. It's not going to go to an immense height.  It might go to maybe a thousand metres or 1,500 metres and it's mixing the pollen throughout the lower layer of the atmosphere," he said.Apparently, the smaller the pollen grains the bigger the corona. “The other thing is that the irregular shape of the pollen helps it to be moved by air currents and, because they are floating, they all tend to orientate similarly and it is this aerodynamics cause the refraction patterns and scattering that forms the corona.“The first time I saw a pollen corona was four years ago. I was sitting on the deck and the sun was partly obscured, which you need otherwise you're blinded by sunlight. Later in the day, walking through filtered light under a tree canopy, each pinhole of light was a rainbow and was casting rainbows on the ground as well.“When you look at these photos what you can see is the spectrum of rainbow colours that is repeated and repeated. Once I saw the photographs, I knew what they were of straight away and I am really disappointed that I missed the event.“It's quite impressive and a very interesting phenomenon that can occur annually depending on the variability of the seasons.”Perfect conditions - Wendy Abberton’s pollen corona image . Supplied. 

Farmers and agronomists say proposed regulation changes to paraquat use from the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) will have heavy negative consequences for them. A review by the APVMA released on 30 July says the authorising body does not support paraquat use in fallows or for spot spraying. It also recommends reducing paraquat use via boomspray from 2.4 litres per hectare each season to 0.9 litres. “It’s a major tool in managing a Roundup-resistant weed. It will have a huge impact on our farming systems,” Coonabarabran agronomist James Fleming said. “In the summertime, we use a lot of fallow spraying to keep the paddocks clean.”Mr Fleming said farmers use paraquat in combination with other chemicals such as Roundup or glyphosate to combat weeds such as resistant ryegrass. Coonamble farmer Tony Single said the changes would mean he wouldn't be able to control weeds effectively on his farm. "We would either need to reintroduce tillage in the short term or try to find another option."I think everybody's quite worried about what it means for the longevity of sustainable cropping in our region."The proposal comes off the back of the APVMA's Paraquat Review Technical Report assessing the product's risk to humans and the environment. Under the body's regulations, products must be unlikely to unduly harm humans, animals or non-target plants. Mr Fleming said that he had not heard of anyone in his area who sustained injuries from paraquat. “Safety-wise, we’ve come a long way with handling chemicals. We’re not tipping it into jugs like people used to measure it out."We follow all the safety requirements on the label.”Mr Fleming said there are no viable alternatives and if the regulation changes were to come into force it would mean farmers would have to cultivate more. “It creates a lot of issues with protecting our soil from erosion and helping water infiltration,” he said. The draft proposal is open for public comment until 29 October with a final decision expected in the first quarter of next year.The APVMA also recommended cancelling the registration of two diquats named AQ200 Aquatic Herbicide and WaterTreats Aquatic Weed Killer. 

Three people were injured and taken to hospital after a single-vehicle crash on the Baradine Road around 4 am yesterday. Officers attached to the Orana- Mid Western Police District received information that a silver Toyota utility vehicle had left the road and hit a tree.  NSW Ambulance treated the 23-year-old male driver, one male and one female passenger both believed to be in their 20s at the scene.  The driver was taken to Dubbo Base Hospital for further treatment and mandatory testing.  A Westpac Rescue Helicopter airlifted the two passengers to the Tamworth Base Hospital. None of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening. 

Brewarrina Shire Council is launching its most extensive program of works in the community’s history, investing more than $43.5 million to shape a vibrant and contemporary future in the region.The schedule of works, including major developments, new facilities, transformations of public spaces, widespread road upgrades and infrastructure advancements will take place across Brewarrina, Goodooga, Weilmoringle, Gongolgon and many of places in between.Shire Council General Manager David Kirby said the next 12 months would see the largest investment into the community the shire has ever experienced, which will be funded through a combination of Federal and State grants as well as through council's own funds.“Many of these projects are underway or have been in the planning process for years. It’s extremely exciting to see some of the most significant public projects in more than thirty years come to life, with enhancements set to benefit the community for decades to come,” Mr Kirby said.“One big element of our Main Street reactivation project is a transformative greening strategy through vast greenery and tree planting to not only significantly improve on the look of the area, but also naturally cool and shade the town centre, while also enhancing the natural biodiversity.”“We’ve worked extremely hard to plan for and secure the required funding to reshape the future for our community," he said.Brewarrina Shire Council General Manager, David Kirby. Image: Supplied.“Our extensive program of works over the next 12 months and beyond will see the heart of the shire - the Brewarrina town centre - undergo a $6 million transformation into a vibrant, modern and inviting gathering place and hub, and the construction of an incredible $11 million youth and indoor sports centre."The extremely popular Four Mile Reserve on the river will also undergo $1.5 million redevelopment including a new pontoon jetty, amenities, roads and pathways. “Of huge significance to our First Nations people and important in helping our country acknowledge the past, we’ll be upgrading facilities at the Hospital Creek Memorial, including new seating, signage and parking, and at the Old Brewarrina Mission,” he said.In addition, over $1.3 million is being invested in Goodooga, including building a new skate park, constructing new pathways from the Artesian baths into town, as well as enhancing the facilities at the recently completed Splash Park (artist's impression below). “Weilmoringle will also be getting almost two kilometres of new pathways throughout the community and improvements at the cemetery, totaling almost $1 million, while Gongolgon’s tennis courts will undergo a resurface and refurbishment,” added Mr Kirby. The next 12 months will see also more than $14.5 million in road upgrades, including heavy patching and resealing of the state highways, gravel resheeting across a number of roads in the network, and resealing and patching of town streets in Brewarrina and Goodooga, as well as work progressing on projects to widen sections of the Goodooga Road and construct and seal Jobs Gate Road. “New facilities such as the Youth Hub and Indoor Sports Centre, the skate park in Goodooga, refurbishment of the Weilmoringle tennis courts and our Get NSW Active strategy promote physical activity and social interaction, which are crucial for physical and mental well-being," said Mr Kirby.“Upgrading road networks enhances mobility, improves safety, boosts tourism and facilitates easier access to jobs and services, contributing to economic growth.”Goodooga Road looking westMr Kirby said the works at the Hospital Creek Memorial and old Brewarrina Mission are of huge significance to First Nations people and could help in acknowledging the past and support our commitment for walking together to build a better future for our whole community.Other projects to get underway over the next year include: Construction of a new $4.5 million sewerage treatment plant in Brewarrina as well as a new water treatment plant at Yetta, and the completion of the Smart Water Meter rollout across Brewarrina and Goodooga A $200,000 redevelopment of the Brewarrina Waste Facility Refurbishments to Brewarrina’s Senior Citizens Building and Mobile Resource Room, worth $250,000 Construction of new two-bedroom units on Bourke Street for staff accommodation A new $1.5 million Rural Fire Service Building More than $500,000 in facility upgrades at the Brewarrina, Goodooga and Weilmoringle cemeteries. 

Two long-standing councillors in Warren, Pauline Serdity and Brett Williamson, received long service awards on 22 August.  Mr Williamson served 26 years and Mrs Serdity 22 years as councillors to the end of December 2021. The two shared what made them stay on for over two decades, what they are most proud of, and what they are up to in their personal lives.  Pauline SerdityMrs Serdity moved to Nevertire, which has a population of around 170, from Ireland 32 years ago after her sister-in-law married a local farmer.  Her husband started his own welding business and Pauline started working part-time in daycare. The now 71-year-old became inspired to become a councillor in 1999 when all the issues she and a friend raised at a meeting with the mayor were fixed within a month.  The following September, Mrs Serdity decided to stand in the local government elections.  "I did get in which was nice and then for the next 22 years I concentrated on encouraging people to come to Warren," she said."Roads and rates are important but all roads lead somewhere and when they get to the end of the journey there should be something there for them."  Ms Serdity said the drive to improve the little farming town she lives in has never left her.  "We tend to be forgotten sometimes. "Working as a council member gave me more insight into how communities work and how they need to pull together." She has always been very passionate about the library, getting the old dirt roads sealed, and all achievements that benefited the well-being of children.  After taking a break last term to focus on life outside of the council, Ms Serdity is standing again in the next council election.  "I was working two full-time jobs and I wasn't getting to see my grandkids as much as I planned. I just needed to recharge my batteries." Pauline Serdity receiving her long service award from Warren Mayor Milton Quigley. Photo: supplied by Warren Shire CouncilBrett WilliamsonMr Williamson first stood for in 1995 at the age of 30. "One of the biggest successes [during his time] is making the committees work together as a group and put forward propositions so we can go forward and put into funding," he said.Improved rural roads are a necessity for the community, Mr Williamson said.  "It's very important to look after our rural roads. You never stop doing bridges or roads." Although improved roads have been great for the shire, it also led to more people travelling to Dubbo for their shopping which meant local shops started to close.  "We’ve lost a lot of shops like every other small town," he said.One of the most significant changes he has seen in the shire is in regards to farming innovation.  "The machinery is getting a lot bigger with more horsepower," he said. Besides working hard as a councillor, Brett also ran the Macquarie Toyota dealership for over 20 years starting in 2002.  The 59-year-old retired in July and is now looking forward to playing golf, travelling and looking after his grandkids.  Although he enjoyed his years on council he knew it was time to go rather than stand at the last election.  "When your time's up, your time's up and you've got to let other people come in with fresh ideas so I think it was time for some fresh change," he said.

Coolah has broken a long drought, with the revitalised Kangaroos winning the First Grade Christie and Hood Castlereagh League Grand Final against the Cobar Roosters by 32-8.At half time the score was 22-8, with Cobar unable to make headway in the second half.Jake Burgess made two tries for Coolah, with Joshua Charles, Casey Burgess, Chanse Burgess and Jayden Brown also scoring tries, and Dan Lane kicking four goals. Nathan McAndrew and Tim Hillam were the try scorers for Cobar.The Player of the Grand Final was Coolah’s Joshua Charles (Coolah) with the Castlereagh Leage Player of the Year going to Gulgong’s Brad James.In the League Tag, Coolah’s dream run wasn’t to be with the Narromine Jets narrowly defeating the Flyers 14-10.Narromine’s Shian Chatfield, Chloe McLean and Emily Fardell all scored tries, with Chatfield also kicking a goal. Brooklyn Blackadder and Mackenzie Blackadder got over the line for Coolah, with Lisa Jones kicking a goal.The Player of the Grand Final was Emily Edwards of Narromine, with teammate Shian Chatfield taking out Castlereagh League Tag Player of the Year.In the Reserve Grade Grand Final, a closer game saw the Gilgandra Panthers defeat the Baradine Magpies 18-14.George Alchin scored two tries, and Curtis Carr and Alex Sutherland one each for the Panthers, with Sutherland also kicking a goal. Mark Martin, Liam Fernando and John Milgate were the try-scorers for the Magpies, with Fernando kicking a goal.The Player of the Grand Final was Gilgandra’s Curtis Carr.In the Youth League, the Cobar Roosters defeated Gulgong Bull Terriers 18-16, in extra time (10 all at full time).Reece Josephson, Toby Greenwood and Jayden Paul scored tries for Cobar, with Tadgh McMullen kicking three goals.Kayden Whiley, Mason Hammond, Ben Hollis and Blake Power got over the line for Gulgong.Cobar’s Reece Josephson was named both the Player of the Grand Final and the Castlereagh Player of The Year.

The Country Women's Association (CWA) NSW  is centering its Awareness Week from 1 September to 7 September around domestic violence again.  The last time domestic violence was the focus of the organisation's Awareness Week was in 2020.  "This is clearly an enormous issue that is not going away and this year it seems like it's just getting worse, with hardly a week going by when we're not hearing about the senseless and brutal death of another Australian woman," CWA NSW President Joy Beames said.  Regional branches are each having their own interpretation of the week as well.  Pamela Simpson, president of the Bourke CWA branch said they are thinking about hosting a radio campaign similar to the last Awareness Week about domestic violence.  "We have two local radio stations here and we went and spoke on those and tried to bring people to notice. I think a lot of people got our message," Ms Simpson said.  Some of the demands from the CWA include additional resources to support women affected by family and domestic violence in regional communities, a data system where information on domestic violence perpetrators, and changes to the NSW Bail Act. This year the CWA is partnering with Domestic Violence NSW and the Men's Table, a not-for-profit organisation that encourages men to open up and discuss challenges they face within their lives  David Pointon from the Men's Table said the organisation gives men the tools they need to establish healthy communication with their partners.  "The Men's Table focus is on creating safe places for men to share and be vulnerable and to forge meaningful social connection and a sense of belonging," Mr Pointon said.  "The Men's Table wants to see an end to violence of all kinds. Positive male peer relationships are a protective factor for reducing violence against women.  "We're calling on the NSW government to increase baseline funding for specialist domestic and family violence services in regional, rural and remote areas by at least 50 percent," Delia Donovan CEO of Domestic Violence NSW said.  "These organisations are both working incredibly hard to bring about positive change within our communities. Acknowledging gender-based violence is a complex issue that will require a whole raft of strategies and initiatives to help turn it around," Ms Beames said. 

Today marks International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) which strives to end overdoses and remember those who have lost their lives due to drug overdose. Overdoses should not have to result in death, Cigdem Watson, acting CEO of Family Drug Support  Australia based in Narrabri says. "It's really important to focus on harm reduction initiatives. Families don't want their people to be on substances but they also don't want their person to overdose," she said. "What we know is that people often come out at the other end of substance use but that's why it's important to try to keep them safe and alive and that's what harm reduction services are for." The first IOAD occurred in 2001 when Sally Finn from the Salvation Army in St Kilda Melbourne initiated the event. "International Overdose Awareness Day is a crucial moment for our community to reflect on the lives lost and the families impacted by overdose," Clinical Director of Lives Lived Well James Curtain said.  According to research released in 2022 by the University of NSW (UNSW), remote and very remote areas have an age-standardised drug-induced death rate of 4.6 deaths per 100,000 people.  Having access to medications such as Naloxone which is used to reduce or reverse the effects of opioids is crucial to stop preventable deaths due to drug overdose from occurring. Ms Watson said safe places for people to use drugs such as injecting rooms are vital to reducing overdose deaths because people affected by drug addiction are getting better access to Naloxone and other opioid reversals.  "We do regular surveys among families and over 80 percent want harm reduction programs and support initiatives such as pill testing, medically supervised injecting centres, and naloxone," said Ms Watson. "Overdoses are reversible. It's not something that should result in death."  She said the greater distance to health centres could be a hurdle in getting people who have overdosed the care they need in rural areas.  The Australian government launched a take-home Naloxone program in 2022 which allows for people who are at risk of an opioid overdose and approved providers to take home naloxone to avoid a drug-induced death.  Naloxone is available through the Needle and Syringe Program (NSP) sites. Locations include Walgett, Brewarrina, Coonamble, Gulargambone, Baradine, Nyngan, Gilgandra, Cobar, Warren, Lightning Ridge, Coolah, Goodooga and Collanerenbri.  Naloxone can also be accessed through participating local pharmacies.  -If you have been affected by any of the issues mentioned in this article, please reach out to one of the numbers below.  Family Drug Support Australia (FDS) - 1300 368 186 FDS is a national service for families dealing with drug and alcohol and provides a toll free, 24hr national telephone support line, as well as support groups, education programs, counselling and bereavement services for families. National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline - 1800 250 015 The states and territories operate local alcohol and other drug telephone services that offer support, information, counselling and referrals to services. The hotline number will automatically direct callers to the 24hr Alcohol and Drug Information Service in their state or territory. Harm Reduction Australia (HRA) –  https://www.harmreductionaustralia.org.au/get-help/ The HRA link provides a comprehensive list of national and jurisdictional contact details for people seeking assistance on a range of drug and related issues.

Three neighbouring properties near Tottenham - Marooba, Mogal Plain and NILOC - are now up for sale. Ray White Rural agent Paddy Ward said it is possible the properties will go to the same buyer.  "There's a chance someone will buy two, if not three," Mr Ward said. Together they would make a holding of 7,500 hectares, predominately on red loam soil. The average rainfall in Tottenham, between Nyngan and Condobolin, is 494mm.  Phillipa and Daniel Jones have listed their 2,460 hectare Mogal Plain property for $6.5 million, located on the Nyngan Road, 46 kilometres west of Tottenham and 93 kilometres north of Condobolin.  The Jones' have owned the property for five years and are looking to sell the property to pursue interests closer to home.  "They've developed the land, tidied up the timber, and done some works to the earth and house as well," Mr Ward said.  It has been on the market for less than two weeks.  The property is currently run as a broadacre cropping operation and is watered by 14 dams. It also has a Boyd automated lamb feeding system with three feed sources and 54 sheep feeders.  Ninety-four percent, or 5,700 acres of the area, is suitable for farming.  The Mogal Plain property boasts one homestead with a recently renovated open-plan kitchen/dining room with a cool room, butcher area, and saltwater pool. There are seven silos in total on the property, four of them are grain, one fertiliser and two seed.  Potential buyers have no need to worry about storage as the property has three machinery sheds, one workshop with concrete flooring, a double garage and a 40,000 litre Diesel tank.  The 2,557 hectares Marooba mixed farming operation property is also located on the Nyngan Road, situated 48 kilometres west of Tottenham and 90 kilometres northwest of Condobolin, and is going for $6 million.  Martin, Tanya, and Tim Hewitt have been farming 85 percent of the property for cereal and oilseed production for the past 10 years and are now looking to downsize. Marooba. Photo credit: MCC Chudleigh DobellThe property is subdivided into nine farming paddocks and includes nine dams.  It features a three-bedroom homestead built in 2005, with three stand shearing sheds, large machinery sheds and steel sheep yards.  In total, there is 1,750 tonne grain storage available divided into a 1,000 tonne shed and three 250 tonne silos.  MCC Chudleigh Dobell has listed the property since February.  The NILOC property located on Bobadah Road, with a total of 2490 hectares, is listed for between $5.5 and $6 million by Scott Petersen from McGrath Rural.  Greg and Heather Weber ran the mixed farming operation, located 45 kilometres west of Tottenham and 92 kilometres north of Nyngan, for the past 17 years.  NILOC. Photo Credit: McGrath Rural Around 85 per cent of the country is arable.  The property has a three-bedroom home and a two-bedroom cottage.  Nineteen dams water the 17 paddocks.  NILOC features 60 kilometres of new and nearly new fencing, 1,750 tonnes of grain storage, and a three-stand shearing shed."We've had a good inquiry and a number of inspections. One offer early on that wasn't quite we wanted it to be, but we're just going to keep going and hopefully find the right hire," McGarth Rural agent Scott Petersen said.

Tammy Jones from Narromine has been awarded Staff Member of the Year by the Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) for her dedicated service and trailblazing approach. She received the award at a gala dinner in Dubbo on 22 August.  "When I got the email last month saying I made it to the finals I was gobsmacked," Ms Jones said "And then when they picked me on the night I couldn't believe it. I asked the lady sitting next to me if they actually said my name."  The support services manager was awarded for her efforts in putting together a managers' startup package that features the contacts for all the healthcare staff in Western NSW that a manager could ask for.  Ms Jones has been working at the Narromine Health Service for the past 12 years, and has been in her current role for the last three years.  "I'm in charge of the non-medical end of the hospital. That means the cleaners, kitchen, security and making sure the patients get all the right nutrition," she said. We've got some great support service staff. We get a lot of compliments at our little hospital. People say it's the cleanest they have ever seen."  Growing up, she watched her Nan work at the hospital too.  "When I was little I used to always say I wanted to grow up and work at the hospital like my nanny and here I am."  Another reason that drove Ms Jones towards a career in healthcare was the stability. "I'd worked casual and seasonal jobs all my life. So when I found out they were looking for workers, I went for it," she said.  The supportive staff around her makes the job pleasant as well.  "We've got the best manager anyone could ask for. He is supportive and encouraging. He doesn't care who you are or where you come from; he's going to treat you the same," she told The Western Plains App. Ms Jones says working in healthcare can be rewarding.  "I enjoy the comments and compliments we get from the patients. And I like to know that we made a difference because we get a lot of patients from Dubbo who don't have family this way. It's a really good feeling."  The biggest challenge for the staff at the Narromine Health Service was when there was a staff shortage of doctors.  Luckily, Narromine Hospital is now back at full house. "They're here every day of the week and they're the most beautiful doctors you could come across," said Ms Jones. She has not yet had the chance to hang up her award.  "I've been taking it around with me," she joked.  At the awards ceremony, 18 different teams, projects and individual categories received a certificate to commemorate their efforts.