News Updates

By KEA BROWNING This year’s Coonamble Gold Cup races were a not-so-minor success for Coonamble-born racehorse trainer Danny Williams. Mr Williams won the Baradine Cup with the horse My Blue Jeans and jockey Aaron Bullock and the Coonamble Cup with his horse Petaluma and jockey Daniel … [Read more...] about Trainer Danny Williams returns to Coonamble

By KEA BROWNING PHOTO CREDIT: Lock the Gate, copyright D. Sewell At 9am on Wednesday 30 September, the NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC) announced their approval of the controversial Narrabri Coal Seam Gas (CSG) Project. Confoundingly, the news came less than 24 hours after NSW … [Read more...] about Pilliga gas project gets the go-ahead

THE LONG-STANDING issue of how to improve traffic flow at the intersection of the Castlereagh Highway and Coonamble's main street was back on the table at Council's meeting on September 9. After deferring the idea of a roundabout suggested by consultants Sala4D as part of the Shire Masterplan … [Read more...] about Reduced speed zone proposed for sections of highway

WITH a win over Binnaway last Saturday the Bears consolidated fourth spot in the Castlereagh competition and a spot in the semi-fianl for the season 2020. (Albeit with only two wins) Coach Paul Cleary fielded possibly his strongest side for the season although still missing personnel through … [Read more...] about Bears squeeze into Semi-Finals

REMEMBER when Coonamble used to have large gatherings of humans? In the pre-COVID world small groups of people would devise an activity to entertain themselves and others, they'd pick a venue and invite their friends - or the wider world - to come along. Like many small towns, Coonamble has … [Read more...] about Part of the local good life

PUBLIC ART doesn't just put a place on the map - it can also put it in the post. A new commemorative stamp issue was released on Monday 7 September by Australia Post featuring four colourful water tower murals from across Australia - including Gulargambone's 'Lucky Dip' created in 2018 by artist … [Read more...] about Stamped! Gulargambone’s ‘Lucky Dip’ is in the mail

COONAMBLE artist Kevin 'Sooty' Welsh is reaping the rewards of his commitment to his creative work as his latest exhibition puts him in the right place at the right time with regional tourists putting their hands in their pockets to take home a piece of the district.The Outback Arts Gallery is … [Read more...] about ‘Scarred’ exhibition coincides with surge in demand for local Indigenous art

By KEA BROWNING PHOTO: Tim O’Neill is the Store Manager at Cant Bros Home Timber & Hardware. He says that electrical goods like power tools are getting harder to stock. The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown has caused global shortages of a range of products, especially electrical items. At … [Read more...] about Dealing with supply chain disruptions

By KEA BROWNING ARMANI Dixon is nine years old. She loves basketball, soccer and art. Armani goes to St Brigid's Catholic School and lives on a sheep farm near Combara, where she spends her spare time helping care for the sheep and riding her motorbike. When she was four years old, Armani … [Read more...] about Armani Gives Back

Unemployment in the Orana Far West region has hit historic lows - making recruitment more difficult for businesses striving to recover from the double-whammy of drought and COVID-19. While low unemployment is generally good news, tempting workers to step out of their coastal and city comfort … [Read more...] about More jobs than people as western NSW becomes the land of opportunity