Get the appGriffith, NSW 2680 · 19+ stories this week
Nearby: Beelbangera · Benerembah · Bilbul · Griffith East · Hanwood · Kooba · Lake Wyangan · Nericon
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
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.
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.
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
Get the appThe 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.
Griffith 12-year-old Mia Noad became the youngest-ever A-grade women's singles champion at the Griffith Club Championship, beating defending champion Jamie Mitton in the final. She then won the A-grade women's doubles with her mother, Kathy Sparkes. Earlier, Mia represented NSW at the Bruce Cup in Brisbane, going undefeated in her six singles matches. Her performance helped NSW finish equal second at the national championship for players aged 12 and under. Mia said her ultimate goal is to play at the Australian Open.
Riverina MPs have expressed shock and sorrow at the alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines outside her Wangaratta electorate office. Haines was critically injured after allegedly being struck by a Toyota LandCruiser on Monday afternoon. A 43-year-old man was arrested at the scene, and a knife was found inside the vehicle. Police and counter-terrorism authorities are investigating, and the motive remains unknown. One Nation MP David Farley urged people not to speculate, while Michelle Milthope and Nationals MP Michael McCormack praised Haines and wished her a speedy recovery.
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.
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
Get the appThe 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.
Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has been hired as a professor of practice at the University of Sydney. The 46-year-old joins the faculty of medicine and health, where the role will focus on empathetic leadership, social cohesion and civic trust. Ardern will explore ways to address global health challenges, inclusion and wellbeing, and will lead guest lectures and masterclasses. The university says the position is not a full-time teaching role. Ardern and her family moved to Australia in February, reportedly buying a $5.3 million home on Sydney's northern beaches.
Mini has unveiled the Lucky 13 Edition, an Australian-exclusive limited-run model based on the John Cooper Works three-door hatch. It honours the 1966 Bathurst 500 victory by Rauno Aaltonen and Bob Holden in a factory-backed Morris Mini Cooper S. The special edition's name comes from Mr Holden drawing number 13 from a hat and adopting it as his lucky number. Design cues include white bonnet stripes, a white roof and circular 13 decals. Just 26 cars will be built for Australia, with arrival expected in the first quarter of 2027. Pricing starts at $71,990 before on-road costs.
Will Lee has served 56 years with the NSW Rural Fire Service, which he began after helping fight a major fire in the northern Illawarra in 1968. He joined the Austinmer Bushfire Brigade in 1970 and went on to hold several leadership roles, including Group Captain. He was recognised with a National Medal with a fourth clasp at a recent ceremony, where his daughter Belinda Lee also received a 40-year Long Service Medal. Will now focuses on training young firefighters. He says the job of an old firefighter is to teach young firefighters to become old firefighters.
Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern will lecture and mentor at the University of Sydney, beginning this month. Her work will focus on empathetic leadership, social cohesion and civic trust. Based in the school of public health, she will host guest lectures and masterclasses, although the university says it is not a full-time teaching role. Vice-chancellor Mark Scott praised Ardern's leadership, saying empathy and resolve can strengthen each other. Ardern moved to Australia earlier this year.
Sexual assault complainants could face less distressing questioning in court under proposed changes. Wollongong District Court is one of three NSW courts chosen to trial new rules on how long questioning can last and what topics can be covered. The trial would run from 2027 to 2030 if passed by NSW Parliament. The Illawarra Women's Trauma Recovery Centre has welcomed the reforms, backed by $4.8 million in government funding. Attorney General Michael Daley said the changes would minimise trauma for complainants.
Local Government NSW is calling for a $5 billion interest-free loan scheme to help councils build roads, drainage and other infrastructure needed for housing. Councils would repay the loans through developer contributions as development progresses. The peak body says thousands of homes are being delayed by inadequate infrastructure, particularly in outer metropolitan Sydney and regional areas. LGNSW president Darcy Byrne urged all political parties to back the proposal ahead of the state election. The plan also includes $3 billion in upfront state and regional infrastructure funding and allows developer contributions to fund community facilities.