NERU finals field locked in after final round
Robb College ran up 85 points and Glen Innes women thumped Tamworth 64-0 in the final round, and now the New England Rugby Union Semi-finals draw is set. Here’s who plays who this weekend.
Award-winning comedy heads to Moree Memorial Hall
Two of the entertainment world’s most seasoned performers are coming to Moree. Grab a $20 ticket and see if a ventriloquist and a cruise-ship comedy veteran can out-laugh each other.
Regional theatre students to work with industry professionals these school holidays
Young performers in Armidale and Tamworth will get the chance to train with current musical theatre professionals these school holidays, as UpStage Australia brings its one-day musical theatre workshops to the region.
Uralla farmer leads charge as new guide maps out electrification options for regional business
Uralla producer Justin Hoad has already made the switch. Now a new guide is helping others follow his lead to electrify and save.
Local News
Narrabri council to investigate more pedestrian crossings
Narrabri Shire Council will investigate new pedestrian crossings in Boggabri, Narrabri and Wee Waa, and has unveiled brighter new entry signs for towns across the Shire.
Man charged after allegedly punching Inverell police officer
A 49-year-old man has been charged after allegedly punching a police officer in the face in Inverell last week.
New England Girls’ School opens its doors for Open Morning
New England Girls’ School is having an open day on 28 August, giving prospective families a look at the local institution that has delivered more than 130 years of regional education.
Barnaby Joyce fails to clear up One Nation migration confusion
Barnaby Joyce said his colleague was wrong on One Nation’s migration numbers, then confirmed that PALM workers don’t count. But he refused to say what skilled workers the New England would have to go without.
What's On
LONG READ >
The tax that built a black market
WEEKEND LONG READ: A federal tax has turned main streets into a battleground for organised crime, insurance hikes and arson. Canberra is still dismissing calls to cut the tobacco excise as a thought bubble.
Events
Guyra Craft MarketEnds: August 29, 2026
Nemingha Community Garden Build a Wildlife Pond WorkshopEnds: August 29, 2026
Stained Glass Art WorkshopEnds: August 30, 2026
Weekly Women’s Tea & Talk hostedEnds: August 31, 2026
The Rusty PickupsEnds: September 3, 2026
Tingha Community MarketsEnds: September 5, 2026
Politics
One Nation’s real migration plans revealed to be bigger than Labor’s
One Nation’s promise to “slash” migration to 130,000 has become a policy to increase migration to at least 230,000, live on national TV.
The tax that built a black market
WEEKEND LONG READ: A federal tax has turned main streets into a battleground for organised crime, insurance hikes and arson. Canberra is still dismissing calls to cut the tobacco excise as a thought bubble.
Building inspectors give New England sites tick of approval
Just four fines from 32 building sites: New England’s builders have impressed state regulators during a compliance blitz that also swept through the Mid North Coast.
Joyce denies One Nation are ‘a pack of homophobes’
“You can absolutely bet I will not go.” Barnaby Joyce denies One Nation are homophobic, but won’t say if he backs Mardi Gras, only saying he won’t be there and he doesn’t have an opinion.
No water, no REZ: how Armidale is using the REZ as leverage to fix a decade-old problem
WEEKEND LONG READ: There’s an $800m price tag on getting water security for Armidale and Uralla, and ratepayers don’t have it Now the state wants a $24 billion energy zone built here, and Mayor Sam Coupland is using that need as leverage: no water, no REZ.
Biggest goat levy shakeup in 30 years
Goat producers are being urged to vote after workshops across the country backed the biggest shakeup to their industry levy since 1997, more than doubling what they pay per transaction.
Graeme Sait to deliver four-day Nutrition Farming workshop in Guyra
Internationally recognised regenerative farming educator Graeme Sait will return to the New England in September for a four-day workshop in Guyra.
Energy and Environment
New environmental standards, guide, leave farmers with more questions than answers
Farmers are being asked to work under a new set of national environmental rules that the NFF says is too complex and uncertain to use with confidence
Construction begins on new $1.2m pest insects research lab
Construction has begun on a new $1.2 million pest insect research laboratory in Tamworth to help farmers combat destructive agricultural pests.
BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT >
From open homes to open hearts: Professionals Armidale’s community BBQ making a difference
A real estate agency might not be the first place you’d expect to find a community fundraising program, but Professionals Armidale is quietly becoming as well known for its local giving as…
Is your IT structured? Or just functioning?
Many regional businesses only review their IT support when problems escalate. But more businesses are reassessing how their technology systems are managed, and the story of what happened to Acacia Medical tells…
BUSINESS
Canola crush growth hinges on meal, not just oil
Australia could double its canola crush, but Rabobank says it all comes down to one thing: finding buyers for the leftover meal. NSW growers and graziers are in the mix.
INDIGENOUS
Funding to prevent violence through Aboriginal sport
A $625,000 fund is open to Aboriginal groups across NSW running sport programs aimed at preventing family and sexual violence, with applications closing in October.
SPORT
Hillgrove teen wins Tahs scholarship
Hillgrove’s Rocco Eastwood, 15, has landed the Waratahs Ian Campbell Scholarship and a training stint with a Sydney Premier club.
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Good News
Ella Baché Armidale named ‘The Gold Ella’ National Salon of the Year
Ella Baché Armidale has taken out the top honour at the 2026 Ella Awards, winning ‘The Gold Ella’ National Salon of the Year as the skincare brand celebrates its 90th anniversary.
Narrabri Shire honoured for turning vandalism into art
A vandalism hotspot turned into public art, and it worked so well the tagging stopped. Narrabri Shire has picked up two Local Government Week awards, its fourth year running.
