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.
Gun owners on the North Coast will have to wait months to surrender firearms under the NSW National Gun Buyback. Grafton is the only North Coast station opening from November 2. Lismore, Ballina and Tweed Heads stations start on February 8, 2027. The limit of 10 guns per licence holder is still a draft proposal, with exemptions under consideration. Walk-ins are not accepted, and surrenders require a booking through the Gun Safe portal.
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.
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Clubs across Australia are celebrating 50 years of Probus this October. The organisation brings social activity and enjoyment to retired and semi-retired people around the world. Local groups in Colac are taking part, including the Lake Colac Ladies Probus, the Probus Club of Colac and the Probus Club of Colac Otway, and the Colac Central Ladies Probus. Club office holders include presidents Margaret Morrow, Graham Sutherland and Lois Steffen, along with trips co-ordinator John Angel, secretary Lynette Genua and committee member Suzii Holt.
Meg Lanning has returned to lead the Melbourne Stars in WBBL|12, taking over from Annabel Sutherland, who stepped down after two seasons. Lanning said she was happy to take on the role if it helped the team win. The Stars have added England spin-bowling allrounder Charlie Dean, while South Africa's Marizanne Kapp has withdrawn from the season. Richard Pyrah takes over as head coach from Andy Christie, and Lanning and Rhys McKenna are expected to open the batting.
Six NSW police stations, including Penrith, will accept surrendered firearms from November 2 under a new national gun buyback scheme. Eligible licence holders will receive compensation at a fixed price schedule. More stations will join in December, and the scheme will run for 12 months. Participants must book through the Gun Safe portal, as walk-in surrenders will not be accepted. Police and Counter-terrorism Minister Yasmin Catley said fewer guns in the community would make it safer.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has said he will absolutely not take part in the national gun buyback, arguing good people should keep their weapons. NSW police stations in six locations will accept surrendered guns from November 2, with 34 more sites opening from December 1. NSW is the only state so far to sign up, and the scheme will compensate people for firearms they can no longer legally own. NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley said fewer guns in the community means a safer community.
Firearms licence holders in NSW can now book through the Gun Safe portal to surrender eligible guns and ammunition for compensation. The scheme officially starts on 2 November and is expected to see up to 274,000 firearms returned in the state. It follows the Bondi Beach terror attack earlier this year, in which 15 people were killed. Only Sutherland and Penrith police stations take bookings in the first phase, with more stations opening later in November and in 2027. Police Minister Yasmin Catley said fewer guns in the community mean a safer community.
The New South Wales government has promised a $6.8 billion upgrade to the South Coast rail line if re-elected next year. The plan includes electrifying the line between Kiama and Bomaderry, so passengers could travel from Sydney to Nowra without changing trains. Extra tracks and passing loops are also planned between Wollongong and Kiama. Planning is expected to start in 2027, with construction completed in the mid to late 2030s. The announcement follows the scrapping of a planned timetable overhaul on the line, which had drawn commuter backlash.
The Tamborine Mountain Bushrats held their senior men's end-of-season awards dinner at St Bernards Hotel on September 26. Ethan Sutherland received the Ned Kelly Award for courage, and also won Most Improved Forward. Daniel Macauley took the Slammin' Sam Backo Best Forward Award, and Edward Brimelow was voted Players' Player by his teammates. Coach Todd Tasker said the group had stuck together through a challenging season and built a culture based on accountability and effort.
A 26-year-old man has been extradited from Poland and charged with murder over the 2023 death of a 22-year-old in Sydney. NSW Police arrested him in Europe, and he landed in Sydney on Friday. He refused bail and is due in court on Saturday. Court documents allege Darcy Schafer-Turner died after being restrained at a Sydney apartment during an attempt to recover a $50,000 drug debt. His body was found in a metal cabinet near Macksville in May 2023. Zachary Richard Fraser was previously sentenced for manslaughter, and Charles Dennis Turnbull pleaded guilty to being an accessory.
Women working in New South Wales local government have been honoured at a ceremony at Parliament House. Ministers Ron Hoenig and Jodie Harrison hosted the Ministers' Awards for Women in Local Government. The awards drew a record 188 nominations, two-thirds from rural and regional councils. Winners include frontline staff, senior executives, councillors and mayors from councils across the state. The ministers said they hope the awards will encourage more people to pursue careers in local government.
Australia have won the women's T20 series 2-0 against New Zealand after the third match in Sydney was abandoned without a ball being bowled past the powerplay. Rain ended play at North Sydney Oval, with New Zealand at 2-11 when the players left the field. Australia retain the Rose Bowl trophy, which they have held for more than 26 years. The two sides meet again in a three-game one-day series in Canberra and Melbourne in March.
Melbourne Renegades bowler Jason Behrendorff will miss the entire BBL|16 season after undergoing shoulder surgery. The 36-year-old is the fourth most prolific bowler in Big Bash history, with 145 wickets. He said he has a clear plan with the medical team and aims to return to full fitness. The Renegades have confirmed they will sign an injury replacement. Tom Rogers is set to return from his own shoulder injury, while Brendan Doggett and Will Sutherland are expected to take on more work.
Beaches at Coogee and Maroubra in Sydney's east have been closed to swimmers after a whale carcass was spotted floating against the coastline. The dead whale, suspected to be a young humpback, was seen at Lurline Bay on Thursday morning. Randwick Council says the beaches will stay closed until further notice while the whale is removed. Whale scientist Vanessa Pirotta says the animal is likely a young adult or teenaged humpback and has advised against swimming in the area.
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Harry Hoekstra took another wicket on the morning of day three of the Sheffield Shield match in Hobart. His dismissal of Ben McDermott left Tasmania at 5 for 75. Hoekstra has taken seven wickets in the match so far, including 5 for 46 in the first innings. Victoria needs to win after a poor showing in the first round against South Australia. The Tigers were building a lead, which was approaching 150 runs.
Ashleigh Gardner hit 84 from 45 deliveries and took two wickets as Australia beat New Zealand by 40 runs in the second women's T20 international in Sydney. Australia posted 7-167 at North Sydney Oval, with Beth Mooney scoring 37. Georgia Wareham took 3-18 as New Zealand were restricted to 8-127. The win means Australia have retained the Rose Bowl with one match to play. The series finale is on Thursday night.
Ben McDermott and Jake Doran are set to be key figures in Tasmania's round two Sheffield Shield match against Victoria, which could go either way. After 14 wickets fell on Tuesday at Bellerive Oval, the pair rescued the home side for the second day running. Tasmania reached 4-39 at stumps, a lead of 73, with McDermott unbeaten on 12 and Doran on 14. Victoria had been well placed before Mitch Owen took 4-58 and Marcus Bean took 3-32, sparking a collapse.
Australia have been asked to bat first in the second women's T20I against New Zealand at North Sydney Oval after losing the toss. Phoebe Litchfield returns from a low-grade hip strain, replacing Tahlia McGrath in the side. Australia lost the opening match by two wickets, and New Zealand need to win the series to end a long gap in trans-Tasman T20I wins. New Zealand opener Georgia Plimmer hit a career-best 85 not out in the first game. The series decider is set for Thursday, October 22.
