News

From helmets to heartfelt letters: Wee Waa history students step back in time

WEE WAA High School students in Stage 5 History have been studying ‘Australians at War’. As part of their learning, students researched a battle involving Australian forces and created an artefact connected to their chosen event. Loela Palmer designed a memorial plaque, Roley O’Shea wrote a letter from a soldier to a loved one, Ella Korach produced a censored soldier’s letter, Zac Phillips created a ration tin, and Oliver Hayman constructed a helmet.

Jul 27, 2026

Crisis housing shortage leaves families with nowhere safe to go

PEOPLE escaping domestic violence are being forced to sleep in cars, stay with relatives or leave their communities because of a severe shortage of crisis accommodation across regional NSW. The pressure is particularly acute in New England and North West NSW, which has the state’s highest recorded regional domestic and family violence rate at 705.2 incidents per 100,000 people. A 2025 Domestic Violence NSW report said severe housing shortages were forcing some victim-survivors to remain with perpetrators, while a survey of regional and remote services found they were operating at almost 300 per cent of their funded capacity. Member for […]

Jul 27, 2026

New format for Christmas Street Carnival in 2026

THE Narrabri Christmas Street Carnival will enter a new format this year, shifting away from closing the main retail section of Maitland Street. A carnival meeting was held prior to the July meeting of Narrabri Chamber of Commerce to discuss ideas about changes to the event. With Maitland Street not closing for the evening, the event will also no longer feature carnival rides. It will also return to a Thursday evening, to be held on 10 December. The event is a massive undertaking by the chamber, previously costing $23,000 every year, and is sponsored by local business and industry. Chamber […]

Jul 27, 2026

Final call for Australianof the Year nominations

PEOPLE whose work, leadership or community service deserves wider recognition could be nominated for the 2027 Australian of the Year Awards, with entries closing at the end of the month. Nominations are being accepted across four categories: Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Australia’s Local Hero. The awards recognise people who have made a meaningful contribution, inspired others, overcome challenges or created positive change through their work or community involvement. Potential nominees could include volunteers, health workers, educators, advocates, cultural leaders, businesspeople or others who have helped address a problem, supported […]

Jul 26, 2026