For Small Business Month, three regional enterprises are profiled. In Tenterfield, The Bungalow and Ivy Leaf Chapel run a boutique bed and breakfast, wedding venue and garden destination on a historic 1915 timber property. Dorrigo Transit, launched in October 2021, offers shuttles, door-to-door transfers and charters linking the North Coast and New England. At Mullumbimby Showground, a not-for-profit community reserve, markets, hireable halls, camping and the annual agricultural show bring people together.
Teachers and parents are rallying on Macquarie Street in Sydney to demand more preparation time for NSW teachers. A poll of more than 1,400 teachers found about 85 per cent have considered leaving the profession because of too little preparation time. Nine in ten said a guaranteed extra two hours a week would make them more likely to stay. The NSW Teachers Federation says the open letter, signed by more than 16,000 people, will be delivered to Parliament.
Three businesses are featured for Small Business Month in New England. Easy As Armidale, owned by Jason Richey, runs a drive-through serving coffee, gourmet pies, rolls and sandwiches. Serenity Diamond Beach, a retreat on the Mid North Coast, offers villas, beachfront access and facilities for weddings and events. In Glen Innes, Rhubarb & Rosie, run by Janie Kent, sells flowers, plants and gourmet hampers and bakes cakes from scratch.
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Armidale community radio station 2ARM will honour its long-time musical patron, Uncle Cyril Green Senior, at the 15th Black Gully Festival on Saturday, 7 November. A grant from the NSW Aboriginal Land Council will fund a Welcome to Country and a Smoking Ceremony from 12 midday at Festival Stage Central. Contemporary Aboriginal dance and theatre performances follow from 12:30pm at the Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place. Performers include the Sharnae Smith Dance Troupe, the Lyãmbay Dance Group and the Saturday Magic Theatre Company. The festival runs from 10am to 7pm.
Uralla Shire Council has asked the New South Wales planning minister to extend the public exhibition period for the New England Renewable Energy Zone Transmission Project's environmental impact statement. Council wants at least four more weeks, preferably until 31 December, rather than the standard 28 days. Mayor Robert Bell said the document is highly technical and covers many areas, including biodiversity, agriculture and heritage. Other local leaders have also called for more time. The department has not said whether the period will be extended and has urged residents to lodge submissions before 12 November.
Trains will not stop at Armidale, Uralla, Walcha Road, Kootingal and Tamworth stations for six weeks from Wednesday, 21 October. Replacement coaches will run between Werris Creek and Armidale until Wednesday, 2 December, following existing train timetables. The work includes platform upgrades, accessibility improvements, new fencing and lighting, and assisted boarding infrastructure. Passengers are urged to arrive at least 20 minutes early. Train services will resume at all five stations on Thursday, 3 December, with minor works continuing until Thursday, 24 December.
The Coalition has confirmed it will oppose the free-trade deal with the European Union, and farmers want every party in Parliament to do the same. Liberal treasury spokesman Tim Wilson said the Coalition was against the deal while it goes through parliamentary processes. Trade Minister Don Farrell urged the Opposition to stand up to Nationals leader Matt Canavan. The National Farmers' Federation says the deal offers no material improvement for key agricultural products and calls on all parties to oppose it.
The environmental impact statement for the New England Renewable Energy Zone transmission line shows the project would clear 3,203 hectares of native vegetation. It would also affect 15 plants, animals and ecological communities at risk of serious and irreversible damage. Among them is the critically endangered New England Peppermint grassy woodland, with 146.75 hectares directly affected. EnergyCo says the impacts must first be avoided, then reduced, and finally offset. Submissions on the statement close on Thursday, 12 November.
Thousands of spotted ladybirds have appeared across Newcastle in recent weeks, drawing attention from residents on washing lines, picnic tables and beaches. Australian Museum entomologist Chris Reid identifies them as transverse ladybirds, a native species found across Australia. He suspects warm, wet winter conditions inland pushed them east, carrying bogong moths with them. Reid says the ladybirds eat crop pests such as aphids, so they are good for gardens. He adds that they are unlikely to stay long.
Tamworth, Armidale and Narrabri are holding festivals this weekend. Tamworth's free Fiesta La Peel runs from 4pm to 9pm on Saturday 17 October at Bicentennial Park, with more than 16 performances and over 30 food stalls. In Armidale, the Creative Streets Festival opens with a night event on Saturday and runs until 9 November, and the inaugural New England Regional Film Festival also begins on 17 October. Narrabri hosts the NSW Rural Women's Gathering, which is sold out, but its keynotes and panel will be livestreamed from 9am to 1.30pm.
An 18-year-old man has been refused bail after allegedly taking part in a violent home invasion in Armidale. Police say a group of intruders armed with knives forced their way into a home on Hunt Avenue in early October and demanded car keys. A woman in her 40s was allegedly assaulted with a baseball bat and suffered head and arm injuries. Police arrested the teenager at a unit on Marshall Avenue on 15 October. He was charged with several offences, including aggravated break and enter, and is due back in Armidale Local Court in December. Police investigations are continuing.
Men with prostate cancer across western NSW could lose specialist nursing care when federal funding for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia nursing service ends in June 2027, Federal Member for Parkes Jamie Chaffey says. The Government will redirect $46.5 million over five years to the McGrath Foundation. The Prostate Cancer Foundation says it was not consulted, and a voluntary survey found 96 per cent of affected specialist nurses oppose the decision. Mr Chaffey called on the Government to release its evidence and guarantee no regional community loses access.
Community groups and councils in the Parkes electorate have until 5pm on Monday, 2 November to seek up to $20,000 for small infrastructure projects. Federal Member for Parkes Jamie Chaffey says expressions of interest for Round 10 of the Stronger Communities Programme close on that date. Each electorate has $150,000 available. Eligible not-for-profit groups can receive funding covering up to 100 per cent of project costs, while councils must contribute at least 50 per cent. Expressions of interest go to Mr Chaffey's office.
Telstra maintenance in Tamworth's central business district will temporarily reduce mobile coverage, starting on Monday, 26 October, and lasting two days. The mobile site serving the area will be switched off for short periods, which could disrupt calls, mobile data, mobile EFTPOS terminals and medical or personal safety devices. Businesses can check with their bank or payment provider about processing payments through the NBN or Wi-Fi. Telstra customers with Wi-Fi can enable Wi-Fi Calling. Emergency calls to Triple Zero (000) may still connect through another mobile network. NBN, satellite, landline and other providers' mobile services will not be affected.
Blacktown pilot Aglaya Papadokokolakis flew the first commercial aircraft out of Western Sydney International Airport on Sunday. She said the milestone was a career highlight, launching operations in her home region. Her father is also a pilot, and she encouraged young women to pursue aviation despite its male-dominated reputation. The airport opened after about eight years of construction and is set to run around the clock. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese officially opened it at a Sunday morning ceremony, and its first international flight arrived on Monday.
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As part of Small Business Month in October, three New England and North Coast businesses are being highlighted. Steve Shaw runs GH Innovations in Thrumster, helping local firms attract customers through online search and sales improvement. Di Wade runs Rawspice Boutique in South West Rocks, offering independent fashion and lifestyle products. Meagan Hudson and Rory Taylor run Beardy Downs in Emmaville, making small-batch tallow and beeswax products through BD Collection.
Sydney will host the 2027 Super Netball Grand Final for the first time since the competition began. The event is expected to attract more than 8,000 visitors and inject more than $4 million into the NSW visitor economy. The match will be played on Saturday 31 July at Afterpay Arena, Sydney Olympic Park, and is proposed rather than confirmed. Netball Australia chair Liz Ellis said the event would celebrate the sport's passion across New South Wales. NSW Premier Chris Minns said the state would invest more in netball, one of its biggest participation sports.
New South Wales Police Minister Yasmin Catley has defended the state's gun buyback scheme after 150 applications were lodged in its first hours. Bookings opened on Monday, and the government plans to remove up to 274,000 firearms from the community. Catley said fewer guns in circulation would make the community safer, pointing to firearms stolen across the state. Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane has criticised the scheme, arguing it focuses too heavily on licensed owners rather than illegal guns used by organised criminals.
An 88-year-old woman has died in hospital after she was struck by a car in Pyree, in the NSW Shoalhaven region. Police were called to Pyree Lane at about 1:45 pm on Saturday, 24 October, after reports of a pedestrian being hit. Paramedics treated the woman at the scene before she was flown to St George Hospital in a critical condition. Police were told on Sunday, 25 October, that she had died. The 43-year-old driver returned a negative result on a roadside breath test and was taken to Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital for mandatory testing.
A whale calf carcass has washed ashore at Malabar Beach in Sydney, the third landing spot for the same animal. Randwick Council workers moved the remains up the sand, roped off the area and closed the beach on Tuesday. Council said strong currents moved the carcass from Lurline Bay and that it will be removed and disposed of on Tuesday 27 October. Earlier, Coogee and Maroubra beaches were shut after the carcass became stuck against rocks at Lurline Bay.
The NSW Government has committed $6.8 billion to electrify the South Coast rail line between Kiama and Bomaderry and to double tracks at key bottlenecks. Construction is expected to be complete by the mid-to-late 2030s, with detailed planning starting in 2027. The announcement follows the government scrapping timetable changes that were due to take effect in November after community concerns. Premier Chris Minns said the upgrade would deliver faster, more reliable trains. An immediate $621 million will fund upgrades to power, signalling and flood protection ahead of the main works.
Kiama Community Radio is hosting Blues in the Night, a fundraising event on Saturday 7 November at Kiama Leagues Club. The station, run by volunteers, is seeking support to fund its equipment, technology and facilities. Headliner Frank Sultana will perform alongside Shane Flew and Matt Ross, and Jr and the Jewel-Tones, which includes Kiama musician Dave Shaw. Doors open at 5 pm. Tickets cost $50, or $40 for station members, plus a booking fee. Every ticket sold supports the station, which has operated since 2020.
Police are searching for a man in a balaclava after a suspected arson attack on a house in Abbotsford, in Sydney's inner west. Four people were taken to hospital. An 88-year-old woman was rescued by a 49-year-old man who climbed a ladder. A neighbour confronted the man while he was allegedly setting the house alight. Police believe he fled in a red Holden Astra and had suffered burns. About 40 firefighters attended the blaze, which spread to an adjoining house.
NSW gun owners can book to surrender firearms under the National Gun Buyback from Monday, 2 November, before rules on keeping extra guns are finalised. Under a draft proposal, licence holders with genuine reasons such as sport shooting, pest control or business could apply to keep more than 10 guns, while recreational hunters are capped at four. Only six stations, none in the New England, will take surrenders at first. Eligible licence holders will receive letters and must book through the Gun Safe portal.
