Three businesses in northern New South Wales are being highlighted for Small Business Month. In Maclean, Rocky Mouth Cafe on River Street serves Allpress coffee, pastries and locally made gelato, and displays works by local emerging artists. At Diamond Beach, Serenity offers villas, pools, a day spa and a restaurant, along with facilities for weddings and events for up to 150 guests. In Glen Innes, Rhubarb & Rosie sells flowers, plants and gifts, and bakes cakes from scratch.
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.
The Drensmaine Santa Gertrudis stud at Tambo sold all 82 bulls offered at its sale on October 18, despite 120mm of rain. The top bull sold for $42,500 to the Swan Hill Santa Gertrudis stud, and the average price was $12,153. Buyers came from across Queensland and New South Wales, and some bid online. Five horses and four working dogs were also offered, with the top horse selling for $20,000 and the top dog for $15,000.
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People with intellectual disability are helping shape a five-year University of New England project on health care access for older rural Australians. Two people with lived experience are co-researchers, contributing to survey design, interviews, focus groups and data analysis. Researchers aim to identify gaps in rural health services and encourage earlier intervention. An online survey is open to rural Australians aged 40 and over with an intellectual disability, with findings to be shared with health providers and governments.
More than 3,000 homes and businesses in Glen Innes are now eligible for full fibre broadband upgrades, and more than 550 properties have already switched from copper connections. Full fibre offers download speeds of up to 2,000 Mbps through participating providers. Glen Innes Severn Council Mayor Margot Davis welcomed the investment, saying better connections will help residents work, study and access healthcare. Nbn representatives will be available at Glen Innes Newsagency and Gifts from 9am to 2pm on 20, 21 and 22 October to discuss eligibility and upgrades.
Local entrepreneurs and small businesses in Glen Innes will gain access to mentoring, training and industry connections. Glen Innes Severn Council and the University of New England have agreed to link the Glen Innes Highlands Hub with UNE's SMART Region Incubator network. Business owners can take part without leaving town. UNE will also host events and masterclasses at the hub, subject to demand and availability. Council and the university formally marked the agreement at the hub on Tuesday, 13 October, as part of NSW Small Business Month 2026.
RFBI is inviting New England communities to take part in its first Grand Stroll fundraiser this Wednesday, 14 October. Walkers in Armidale, Glen Innes, Moonbi and Tamworth will join the community walkathon, with all proceeds going to RFBI's Benevolence Program. The program supports vulnerable people in the wider community, beyond RFBI's villages. Participants may dress with a royal or superhero theme, and prizes will be awarded. The event runs from 10am to 1pm and costs $5 per person to register.
Our House in Lismore cannot meet about one in four requests for accommodation from patients travelling for treatment. The charity plans Our House 2, which would add 30 units near Lismore Base Hospital. A Development Application is about to go to Lismore City Council. The facility now welcomes more than 1,500 guests a year, up from around 1,000. Guests come from across the Northern Rivers and beyond. Our House also offers free meals and staff help with travel assistance.
