It’s a simple cross of nails mounted on a small wooden plaque. But the story behind the cross and how it came to be a powerful symbol of peace and reconciliation after the Second World War is a poignant one.

The cross is believed to be a Coventry Cross of Nails, made from nails salvaged from Coventry Cathedral in England after it was destroyed by German bombing in November 1940.

It was discovered at St Paul’s Anglican Church in Hay, NSW, and gifted to the Australian War Memorial.

At the recent Hay Shire Council meeting, the updated Investment Attraction Strategy was presented to council. The 2022 – 2027 IAS was adopted in 2022 and has guided the economic development function of Council.

Booroorban-based Maddy Telford scooped the pool at the Royal Melbourne Show last week, winning the supreme Red Angus exhibit with her 14-month-old bull, MGT T3 Texas.

It is the second Royal Melbourne win for Maddy, who took out the Grand Champion in 2022, with MGT T3 Texas’ grandmother.

Read on to learn more about Hay’s touching tribute for returned service men and women; the beautiful painted water towers, overlooking Sandy Point Reserve.

Robert Rice Howard was born in 1833, and was Sydney’s State

Executioner, the hangman, for 30 years.

Howard was considered of dashing appearance before an unfortunate accident disfigured him in he late 1860s when a horse kicked him in the face. This badly disfigured his nose and ruined his taxi business and he turned to drink. The most unpopular job in the city was the role of Hangman.

Nosey Bob, as he was now referred to, assumed the role between the years 1873 through to 1903 and during his time he hanged 64 people.

John William Alexander Jackson born on 13 September 1897 on 'Glengower' Station at Gunbar, and is the youngest Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross.

Looking for the best coffee spots in Hay, NSW? Read on!

The village of Booligal was a hive of activity on Saturday as one of the regions most unique events enjoyed a successful relaunch.

Over $20,000 has been raised in total, with plans for funds to be donated to local charities including the Royal Flying Doctors Service, used to improve local community buildings and to build a bigger and better event next year.

Former Hay War Memorial High School student, Simon McClusky has been honored for his volunteer work in paleontological excavations by having a spider named after him.

Dr McClusky discovered the fossil site of what has been named Megamonodontium mccluskyi at McGraths Flat near Gulgong in Central NSW.

Over a century ago, before World War I, this paper was praising a young local in the most glowing terms. The Riverine Grazier was predicting that “big things may be expected” from the town’s “boy champion”, who “promises to be … the best Hay has ever produced”. The Grazier also reported the assessment of an admired local teacher, who described the youngster as “a coming champion”.

The Hay schoolboy attracting such lavish compliments was 14-year-old Norman Callaway, who was a highly talented cricketer. His parents, Tom and Emily, had resided at Hay for over thirty years, and Norman had grown up in the family home at Hatty Street.

Bishop’s Lodge Historic House in Hay, NSW is a remarkable iron building constructed in 1889 as the official residence for the Anglican Bishop of Riverina.

The house and its 19th-century garden are now maintained as a house museum by the Bishop’s Lodge Management Committee.

Owned by the Anglican Diocese until 1946, the Lodge was home to the first three bishops -Sydney Linton, Ernest Anderson, and Reginald Halse. Between 1935 and 1946 it also became the Linton House hostel for boys attending the Hay War Memorial High School. From 1946 until 1985 it was a private residence.

The town that went to war and a very unique memorial.

The Hay War Memorial High School Museum commemorates both Hay and district war service and the history of the school in this unique war memorial which has served the Hay community since 1923.

The Hay War Memorial High School was opened on Anzac Day in 1923 as the town's war memorial built to honour those volunteers who lost their lives while on active service during World War I. Of the 641 who served in World War I, 103 did not return. This impacted greatly on the Hay and district community, which had one of the highest enlistment rates for a small town in Australia.

Read about the tragic tale of Alexander Bryson known as The Boy Murderer, who’s deadly acts near Hay, NSW saw him sentenced to hang.

A fugitive wanted on 10 outstanding warrants who initiating a police pursuit from Balranald before being captured in Hay has escaped full-time custody when he walked away from Griffith Local Court with an intensive correction order for 18 months.

Hay War Memorial High School's Aberline stud had a very successful finish to the Melbourne Royal Show when it took out the supreme Dorper exhibit with its grand champion ewe.

The Aberline stud also won the White Dorper supreme exhibit with its grand champion ewe.

In addition, the Hay team took out the Best Maintained Team and Champion School in the Sheep Schools’ and Youth Competition.

Hay Associated Agents hosted the annual Hay Sheep Sale on Friday, with prices struggling to reach last year’s tops, but local agents were pleased with results.

2022 Merino ewes were the focus of the day, with 23,000 head on offer, as well as 1,200 Merino ewe lambs, 5,750 older Merino Ewes and 500 Merino weather lambs.

Booligal breeders Helen and Greg Rogers of Yarto Pastoral Co again topped the sale, with $252 paid for 800 head of March/April 2022 drop Merino Ewes.

Sanity has prevailed, at a cost of $75 million in planning costs. This was the reaction of Booligal landholder, Gordon Turner to the announcement last week that the Wyangala Dam Wall Raising project will not proceed.

The complete wrap-up of the 2023 ram sales across the region.

One of Hay’s cornerstone businesses, Robertson’s Hot Bread Kitchen has celebrated 40 delicious years of baking.

Lucy Shea and Bailey Caughey were inducted last week as the 2024 Hay War Memorial High School captains. Vice captains are Jensen Hargreaves and Sean Johnston.