The Riverine Grazier contacted each of the 13 members of the Balranald and Euston communities who have nominated to run for a position on Balranald Shire Council.

Read what they have to say about their aims as a councillor.

Local government elections will be held on Saturday September 14, 2024.

The East Loddon ram sale has gone from strength to strength since their first on property auction in 2018.

The clientele and offering has since doubled to around 120 rams at auction and over 100 grade rams after.

The Hooke family runs 15,000 non-mulesed SRS merino ewes in the Wanganella/Booroorban district, and sell rams in pastoral environments as far away as White Cliffs and Wilcannia as well as high rainfall areas such as Young NSW and south to the Victorian western districts.

It is hard to believe that the upcoming Caroonboon Merino Sale will mark our one year anniversary at Caroonboon,” said Caroonboon Merinos’ Georgie Meddings.

She and husband Derrym (pictured above) have enjoyed the first year.

“We are very glad that we made the move and are enjoy being able to live, work and contribute to this very special place."

The 41st Kismet Stud Annual Spring ram sale is on Wednesday October 2 at 1pm with inspection from 11am.

The sale will be on-property at Kismet, 5159 Riverina Highway, Howlong. This year 120 White Suffolks, 80 Southdown/ White Suffolk cross and 20 Poll Dorsets will be offered.

“We performance test through Stockscan and the figures will be available on the day or can be found on our website (www.kismetstud.com.au/ramsale),” Kismet’s Graham Wilson said.

Free camping at Sandy Point again reared its head, briefly, at a recent extraordinary meeting of Hay Shire Council.

In a Notice of Motion by retiring councillor, Peter Handford, Council was asked to impose a fee on campers using the facilities at popular Sandy Point Reserve.

“For what it costs us, I feel we need to get something out of it. It’s been going on for a long time,” Cr Handford said.

A Dunera Mass, part-written in Hay more than 80 years ago, is returning for a site-specific performance at Hay War Memorial Hall.

The dramatized concert will be performed in Hay during the annual Dunera Commemorative day on Saturday, September 7 and is supported by the Dunera Association, Hay Shire Council and Creative Australia.

For over 60 years Alma Merinos has adhered to a consistent breeding philosophy, producing Merinos perfectly adapted to the challenging conditions of the Hay Plains.

The result is a large-framed Merino with rapid growth rates and a reliable, medium-micron fleece, well suited to varying climatic conditions.

“Over the last six decades, we’ve carefully developed our genetic lines to produce animals that can thrive throughout their lives on the Hay Plains,” Stud owner Graham Morphett explained.

All four regional councils have strong numbers of candidates for the upcoming local government elections.

Read the full list of candidates for Hay, Balranald Edward River and Carrathool Shires, and find out where polling and pre-polling locations will be.

Hang onto your hats, teachers Leah Books and Kathy Duncan went international!

The pair flew off to Vanuatu, where they shared their skills, knowledge and teaching to classes of children and teachers. The program was one of many which a Queensland company called Global Teacher delivers.

“It was just something which popped up on our Facebook, and we decided to apply,” Leah said. “We had our interviews, explained we would not want to go without the other, and were both accepted.”

Introducing three new Hay Police officers. Constable Mauricio Guimares, Constable Luke James and Sargeant Nick Moulds are the friendly new faces we can turn to when we need the help of the police.

Read all about the new officers, when they caught up with Kimberly Grabham.

The announcement of a wage rise for early education workers has been welcomed by Hay Children’s Services.

Hay Children’s Services General Manager Emily Perkins said the announcement is a positive one.

“Our service welcomes the announcement by the government regarding the wage increase,” Ms Perkins said.

“We think it is great recognition of the impact early education has on future Australian populations.”

In the first half of 2024, one-third of Australians accessed Facebook for news, a new study reveals. The finding contradicts Meta’s long-standing assertion that news content is a minor part of the Facebook experience for most Australian users.

Hay has joined other councils in their opposition to the new levy on burials and cremations.

The tax will commence July next year at a rate of $156 per burial, $63 ash interment and $41 cremation.

Hay Shire Council owns three cemeteries for the communities at Hay, Maude and Booligal.

“This is another example of cost shifting by the NSW Government just to fix up their own finances,” Mayor Carol Oataway said.

Each year, the Balranald branch of Isolated Children’s and Parents’ Association hosts a special event. Hatfield Happening is a day of fun, friendship and laughter, with much achieved through the coming together of rural women.

This year’s panel consisted of Tertia Butcher, editor of The Riverine Grazier, Lisa O’Keefe of Koolaman Designs, Bree Wakefield from Banoon Station, Connie Mallett, well known Balranald identity and Marie Scott, of Belgium Park, Clare. These ladies shared their very different stories of adversity and survival.

NAIDOC Week 2024 was observed at Hay Public School last week, with art, dance and traditional foods.

Here from organiser Tara Dixon, chair of Hay Local Aboriginal Land Council and our junior correspondent Heath Thomson.

The Riverine Grazier team chose last week’s Hatfield Happenings event to announce a new digital masthead.

The Back Country Bulletin will be available in September, and will be a fully digital free news app and website.

The app will be available for both Apple and Android smart phone users.

The Back Country Bulletin will share news and alerts in real time, and will cover the communities within Hay, Balranald, Carrathool and Central Darling shires.

“The 27-year-old man found dead in dense bushland near the river at Uardry, Mihai-Robert Salajanu, has been on the mind of many in the district of late. 

“In our little outback bubble, misadventure and catastrophe pierce the surface of our consciousness for a short time but are quickly forgotten. 

“When taking a dive into the person Mihai was, understanding, empathy and a small feeling of connection begin to rise to the surface. “

Read Kimberly Grabhams delve beyond the headlines.

Australia’s largest off-grid poultry farm has commenced operations near Goolgowi.

Operated by Agright, a commercial poultry grower in Australia and New Zealand, the 40 shed operation ‘Meriki’ claims to be saving more than 1690 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.

"Sustainability is at the forefront of our business model,” Agright owner Daniel Bryant said.

To celebrate the centenary of Carrathool, 40-years-ago a time capsule was filled and sealed, to be opened on July 24, 2024.

Johlee Masters opened the time capsule, discovering a variety of items left for people to find four decades later. 

Amongst the aged treasures were a can of coke, a tin of malt, a box of Billy tea, many editions of The Riverine Grazier, other newspapers, and many letters to people. 

The Riverine Grazier’s Kimberly Grabham was there.

Hay’s Lurleen Hook was a child prodigy in the diving world in the mid-1930s, winnng gold at the 1938 British Empire Games.

Read all about her achievements in this fascinating biography.