Richard Wiseman, a Griffith High deputy principal, has been recognised with life membership of the NSW Teachers Federation after 38 years of advocacy. His efforts secured teacher housing, classroom air-conditioning, and a historic pay rise. Wiseman also successfully campaigned for improved incentives to attract teachers to Griffith, addressing chronic vacancies. He remains committed to strengthening public education in regional communities, despite increasing challenges. Wiseman's dedication has benefited both Griffith High and the broader education system.
Eligible NSW firearms licence holders can surrender surplus and reclassified guns for compensation under a national buyback scheme. Bookings must be made through the Gun Safe portal, as walk-in surrenders at police stations will not be accepted. Holders with recreational hunting or vermin control reasons are limited to four guns each, while other eligible reasons allow up to 10. Metro stations, Grafton, Griffith and Dubbo accept surrenders first, with more stations joining from December 1 and January onwards. Bookings for later stages open on November 24.
Emergency services in the ACT responded to 60 calls on Sunday after heavy rain and wind gusts of up to 72 km/h hit the territory. A tree fell on a house in Giralang, and another fell on a car in Griffith. Several suburbs lost power for up to three hours. No injuries were reported. Clean-up work is continuing, and the Bureau of Meteorology forecasts a cool, sunny week with no rain until Saturday, 31 October.
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Backpackers say recent changes to working holiday visas have removed the incentive to take regional jobs that many Australians avoid. Under the new system, second-year visas will require a ballot, and the number on offer is falling sharply. Irish backpacker Meghan Morris and Chilean backpacker Catalina Quiroga say the lottery makes regional work less worthwhile. Cherry grower Tom Eastlake in Young and winemaker Darren De Bortoli in Griffith say backpackers are essential to their harvests. The Department of Home Affairs says the reforms are designed to manage demand and support a fairer allocation of visas.
Griffith mothers say they are paying hundreds of dollars for pregnancy ultrasounds, waiting weeks for appointments or travelling to Wagga for scans. Early childhood educator Brianna Dean said she needed seven to eight scans in each pregnancy, mostly from private providers costing $300 each, with only $80 refunded through Medicare. She said calls to Griffith Base Hospital often went unanswered. The Murrumbidgee Local Health District said recruiting sonographers remains a challenge in regional areas and that private providers also offer imaging. Its chief executive, Emma Field, did not answer questions about waiting times.
The New South Wales Government says saleyards are driving strong uptake of electronic identification tags for sheep and goats. Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said the tags help trace livestock movements during disease threats. Farming groups NSW Farmers and WoolProducers are calling for a delay to the 1 January deadline. NSW Farmers wool committee chair Craig Mitchell said animals already identified should not need a second tag. WoolProducers Australia chief executive Jo Hall said the national database is not yet fully operational.
Griffith Mayor Doug Curran says the city's Firefly monument will be refurbished, not removed, after social media rumours said it was facing removal. Council staff presented three options, and Curran says none of the 14 people present backed removal. The work could cost up to $250,000. Curran said the aircraft is deteriorating and delays could put it beyond saving. He criticised the Griffith Free Local News page, saying its author is a fake. The Fairey Firefly, a British-built naval aircraft, was unveiled as a war memorial in Griffith in 1969.
Spring festivals, town shows, markets and food and wine events fill the Riverina this week. The Victorian State Ballet performs its retelling of Aladdin in Albury on 23 and 24 October. Griffith Spring Fest runs from 23 to 25 October and includes a citrus sculpture garden, while the Junee Show marks 125 years on 24 October. Womn-Kind holds a day of conversation for young women in Wagga Wagga, and the North East Food and Wine Festival runs in Wodonga from 23 to 25 October.
A motorcyclist, believed to be in his 40s, has died in hospital after a crash with a car on Mirrool Street in Bilbul, near Griffith. The crash happened just before 7am on Thursday 22 October 2026. The 35-year-old driver of the car was not injured. He was taken to Griffith Base Hospital for mandatory assessment. Police are asking anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage to contact Murrumbidgee Police District or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
A motorcyclist has died after a collision with a car at Bilbul, north-east of Griffith. Emergency services were called to Mirrool Street shortly before 7 am on Thursday, 22 October. The rider, believed to be in his 40s, was thrown from the motorcycle. Paramedics performed CPR before taking him to Griffith Base Hospital in a critical condition, where he later died. The man has yet to be formally identified. The 35-year-old driver of the car was uninjured. Police have launched an investigation into the cause, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
A motorcyclist has died in hospital after a collision with a car on Mirrool Street at Bilbul, about six kilometres north-east of Griffith. The crash happened on Thursday morning, October 22, shortly before 7am. NSW Ambulance paramedics performed CPR on the rider, believed to be in his 40s, before taking him to Griffith Base Hospital in a critical condition. He died a short time later and has yet to be formally identified. The 35-year-old car driver was not injured but was taken to hospital for assessment. Police are investigating and will prepare a report for the coroner.
The Land and Environment Court has approved doubling the battery storage units at a Bilbul solar farm, from four to eight. Griffith councillors had voted against the expansion in April. The approval followed an agreement between the developer and council during court-supervised negotiations, not a full hearing. Neighbours raised concerns about noise, fire risk and falling property values. The developer, MPower, says conditions address those concerns, including noise monitoring and a fire protection zone around the batteries.
Pottinger Energy Park has given $40,000 to the NSW Rural Fire Service's MIA and Mid Murray districts to buy equipment before the coming fire season. The funding will pay for e-flares, thermal imaging cameras, portable fridges and radios for local volunteers. The support reaches brigades across the MIA and Mid Murray districts, including Hay, Carrathool and Murrumbidgee. The donation followed a pre-season meeting in Hay between the energy park's community team and brigade captains, who discussed their priorities. The park is being developed by Someva and AGL.
A new Nepali food truck, The Sekuwa Shack, is parked at the Harrison District Playing Fields in Canberra. Owner Rajesh Chaudhary, who previously worked as a courier, opened it a few months ago. He says trade is busiest after sports games at the oval. The menu includes chicken sekuwa, a grilled meat skewer marinated in spices, and steamed vegetable momos served with a tomato and chilli dipping sauce. The truck is open from 2 pm to 7 pm, seven days a week.
Advocates say stigma still stops drug users from getting health care, even though the ACT decriminalised small amounts of illicit drugs in 2023. Speaking at a Canberra memorial for overdose victims, Hayley Shaw described nearly dying from an overdose at 14 and her friend Daniel's death at 29, after he struggled to get adequate pain relief during cancer treatment. GP Ben Harkness said some users avoid mainstream services for fear of judgement.
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The Canberra Loy Krathong Festival returns to Ping Ping Thai Food in Kambah on Saturday 31 October, running from 11 am to 6 pm. Entry is free and includes cultural performances. The program features a live band, a tribute show to Thai rock musician Sek Loso, Thai dance, Thai boxing, a Thai fashion show and a pageant competition. Loy Krathong is traditionally held around the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar and is associated with gratitude and new beginnings. Food and drinks are available to purchase, and some prize-based activities carry a small fee.
The Irish Film Festival returns to Canberra's Palace Electric from Friday 6 to Monday 9 November, with its biggest programme in 12 years. The lineup spans dark comedy, horror, music, family drama and documentaries about Ireland's past. Opening the festival is Chasing Millions, an Irish-Australian co-production inspired by Belfast's 2004 Northern Bank heist. Festival director Enda Murray says Irish filmmaking now feels more confident. The 2026 event also marks 80 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and Ireland, and the Irish Embassy has backed it as part of that anniversary.
Belgravia Leisure has introduced allied health services at three of its Canberra recreation centres, so people can book physiotherapy, exercise physiology and dietetics around their workouts. A physiotherapist is available at Stromlo, and an exercise physiologist and dietitian are based at Gungahlin. Sessions are open to the whole community, not only members. Patients managing chronic conditions can access discounted rates through a GP care plan, and eligible people can use Medicare, DVA, NDIS, HICAPS or workers' compensation. Belgravia says all its allied health staff are accredited.
The Suburban Land Agency released more land than planned in 2025-26, but its income was $22.9 million below budget. Income reached $406.4 million, up from $237.3 million the previous year. Some mixed-use sites, including blocks in Molonglo, have struggled to sell. The agency blamed softer market conditions, higher interest rates and deferred settlements. It has budgeted for income of $434.3 million in 2026-27, with land releases expected to increase in coming years.
A woman held captive by a man at a Lyneham home in June 2024 has told an ACT Supreme Court pre-sentence hearing the abuse left her with lasting trauma. Sisituutuumata Fulivai, 47, was found guilty earlier this year of 20 charges, including forcible confinement and rape. The woman, then 24, escaped and ran naked onto the street, where police found her. In her statement she described crippling PTSD and panic attacks. Fulivai will be sentenced at a later date.
Sisituutuumata Fulivai, 47, was found guilty of 20 charges at the ACT Supreme Court, including sexual intercourse without consent and unlawful confinement. His victim told the court he had held her captive for two days at his Lyneham home in June 2024. She escaped naked and was found by police. Prosecutors said he posed a significant risk to women and called for a significant prison term. His barrister argued rehabilitation should still be considered. Justice Belinda Baker reserved her decision and will sentence Fulivai, who remains in custody, at a later date.
Melissa Evans and Mauro Vecchi have renovated a townhouse designed by architect Bert Reid in 1982. They kept the original design, including the sunken conversation pit, slate floors and angled walls. The kitchen and bathrooms were updated, with a coral marble bench and handle-free cabinetry added. The couple and their two Russian Blue cats now live in the home, which they say feels special to live in.
Kirsten Tibballs has shared a spooky recipe for Spider Nut Cookies, taken from her cookbook Chocolate All Day. The recipe combines peanut butter cookies with a milk chocolate honey ganache truffle, which sits on top as the spider's body. Chocolate legs, eyes and red chocolate blood complete the design. The cookies are baked at 170 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes and then cooled at room temperature before the decorations are added. The recipe makes 30 to 35 cookies.
Zoë King spent 20 years in the Australian Army as a Signals corps officer before moving into consulting and technology leadership. She now works with Defence and federal government organisations at Kinetic IT, focusing on Australia's sovereign technology capability. King says she joined the Army to find purpose and challenge, and that asking for help with mental health is a strength. She advises others to follow their values rather than copy another person's path. She also said empathy is a key leadership strength.
