Anne Longworth bowed out as the final president of Bishop’s Lodge Management Committee last Wednesday when the final meeting took place after the last of Hay Shire Council’s Section 355 museum committees was dissolved. 

This reluctant step was taken at the request of the committee due to the chronic volunteer fatigue experienced in Hay over the last few years.

“Am I, or is my property, at risk of bush or grass fires? The reality is simple – if you live, work or travel near bushland or grasslands, you are in a fire risk area.”

A message form the NSW RFS Commissioner.

“Everyone passed with high distinction and I am very proud of their achievements.”

Wool handling champion Kayla Garner praised the largest wool classing cohort, who recently graduated with high distinctions at Hay TAFE.

Tribute has been paid for the efforts of local community members and volunteers in the search and rescue of a fatal helicopter crash near One Tree on Friday.

Retired paramedic, Robert Marmont said locals rallied to render assistance after an official alert went out to all aircraft in the area.

“It was a local plane which located the site of the accident and it was local landholders and the Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue members who provided shade for the patient and emergency workers,” Mr Marmont told The Riverine Grazier.

“They stood for ages in the hot sun, holding a tarp over the site.”

All the glamour of the 2024 Hay Races and the big winners in the Fashions on the Field competitions - photo gallery.

The 2024 Rainbow on the Plains Festival was another huge success for the township of Hay.

Check out all the images and a wrap up of events.

It was the end of an era last week when Hay’s pharmacist of close to 70 years finally passed on the baton.

“The time has come,” Allan Japp told The Riverine Grazier after signing over his share of Japp’s Pharmacy to Mina Malek who had been working with him for the past two-and-a-half years.

Independent Member for Murray Helen Dalton has released a video, calling out foreign farm owners, and Australia’s farming managers, saying lives are at risk, and hush money is offered to workers to stay silent.

Murrumbidgee Council has released a report following investigations into an alleged fuel spill at Gundaline Station, east of Hay.

A historic moment at Alma’s selection day: (from left) classer Andrew Rutherford joined three generations of the McKeon family - Bob McKeon, son Mark McKeon, and grandsons Jack and Patrick Ward. Image: supplied.

The kids of Hay Littles Athletics have performed well at two regional carnivals.

Hay vet Wayne Gardam (centre) with Susann Carter and Molly Edmonds and a local pet. Molly is completing work experience at the clinic and was on hand when The Grazier’s Kimberly Grabham called in to capture this photo

The public schools fee waiver of $6000 per year for the child of a Temporary Skilled Worker visa holder in Rural, Regional and Remote NSW is warmly welcomed by the NSW Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (ICPA-NSW.)

“ICPA-NSW often deals with nuanced issues that have a ripple effect across the broader community. One such issue is the Temporary Skilled Worker Shortage Visas (482 Visas),” ICPA-NSW president Tanya Mitchell said.

Contamination across the three-bin system continues to be an issue and Hay Shire Council will be forced to take action against repeat offenders.

“Council staff are constantly finding waste that should not be in your green-lidded bin,” General Manager, David Webb said.

“If this becomes an ongoing issue at your household, Council will issue you a letter to address the problem.

“If the problem continues, a contamination notification sticker will be applied to your bin.”

Cr Carol Oataway has been re-elected mayor of Hay Shire Council.

The mayor retained her seat after surviving a challenge from newly elected councillor, John Perry in an open vote, 5 – 3.

Hay has a new deputy mayor after a tightly contested election between Crs Martyn Quinn, Lionel Garner and Geoff Chapman.

The three-way vote concluded with five votes in favour of Cr Quinn, pictured with Mayor Oataway.

A suggestion by Cr Lionel Garner to again patch up Hay swimming pool rather than replacing the three pools was quickly dismissed by Council.

“We can’t do it,” General Manager David Webb said.

“The pool cannot be patched up any more. It leaks and is ready for a catastrophic failure any time.

Awards for Best News Story, Best Special Publication and Best Print Advertisement as well as runner-up awards for Best Human-Interest Photo and Best Front Page were presented to The Grazier team (from left) Margie McClelland, Tertia Butcher, Krista Schade and Cheyenne Hurst.

Thirty-five years ago, Peter Bisset joined the staff of Hay Lands Office as a Lands Officer, with a commencing salary of $18,492 per annum. He was one of 13 employed in the iconic old building in Lachlan Street.

On December 20 this year, Peter is likely to be the last one from the Hay Lands Office to shut the door behind him. The Department says at least three other NSW Government staff will continue to occupy the building. Image: The Riverine Grazier/Tertia Butcher.

Regional politicians have released their expenses for the three month period of April to July 2024. We have the details of MPs Sussan Ley, Mark Coulton, Micheal McCormack and Senator Perin Davey.

Read on to see how $380k was spent in Farrer.

Senior Manager for Community Bank Western Riverina, David Wilkes was in Hay last week and said it was great to see Bendigo Bank join forces with other intuitions for the benefit of all customers. Mr Wilkes (right) is pictured with branch manager, Paul Lenon and Customer Relationship Manager, Sandra Dolan. Image: The Riverine Grazier/Margie McClelland.