Glen Innes local Jan Lemon has been recognised in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours list with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her decades of tireless service to the local community. Mrs Lemon was awarded the OAM in the General Division “for service to the community of Glen Innes.” Her extensive volunteer work across a number of local organisations has made her a familiar and much-respected figure in the town. A long-time member of the Glen Innes and District Australia Day Committee, Mrs Lemon has served as Chairperson, Spokesperson and Master of Ceremonies since 2016, and as…
It has been an eventful few weeks on the fairways for local golfers, with Glen Innes and Deepwater clubs hosting competitions, fundraisers, and planning for future events. Glen Innes Ladies Tee Off for a CauseEighteen ladies took part in a Stableford competition at Glen Innes Golf Club, playing for the Bobby Woods Trophy while raising funds for cancer support. The day was generously organised by Leta Kempton and Nancy Kiehne, with a lunch served after play. Lindy Newsome claimed top honours with a solid round of 34 points, edging out Pru Newby who finished close behind on 33 points. Rosie…
The Glen Innes Elks Rugby Club will celebrate 50 years of continuous rugby since reforming in 1975. Whilst records show that rugby union was first played in Glen Innes in 1880 it has had a chequered start over the years with many starts, including combining with rugby league in 1931. However, under the guidance of Don Hall - the president in 1975 - the club has not looked back since this time, playing continuously for the last 50 years. To celebrate 50 years the Elks have organised a big weekend over the 27th and 28th of June. The weekend will…
Ashton's Circus dazzled crowds last night beneath the big top at the Glen Innes Showground. Photos by Glen Innes News correspondent Annette — who, despite our best efforts, remains only mostly certain she won’t run off and join the circus herself.
Dear Prime Minister RE: An Open Letter to the Prime Minister – When the Bush Pays for the City’s Silence There is a silent crisis unfolding across New South Wales—and it is not just about dollars and cents. It is about the growing divide between communities and their councils, the crushing pressure on local governments to fill widening service gaps, and the toll this broken system is taking on the very people who step forward to lead. Across the state, councils are being forced to consider Special Rate Variations (SRVs)—some in excess of 100%— not by choice, but by necessity.…
Early courthouses were used as venues for church services, polling places, meetings - even it is said, for theatrical performances (although I’ve not been able to find any such performances in Glen Innes unless you count the spirited acting some solicitors could be relied upon to produce.) There have been three buildings where justice has been dispensed in this district. First in a tiny rough wooden slab hut in Wellingrove, then after Glen Innes became the official centre in1859, a basic four-roomed building for Court of Petty Sessions. In 1873 after a citizen ‘grand indignation meeting’ had demanded a new…
Glen Innes Severn Council’s Draft Operational Plan for 2024–25 outlines a range of proposed increases to fees and charges across core services—including waste, water, sewer, development, and community events. These proposed changes come in addition to a potential Special Rate Variation (SRV), which—if approved—would further raise general rates for property owners across the region. While the SRV is still under consultation, the Council has already detailed increases to specific service charges and user fees as part of its strategy to address financial shortfalls and move toward long-term sustainability. As residents consider the full picture, the combined impact of higher rates,…
Dear Mayor and Councillors, April and May are my favourite time of year. Not only because of autumn colours but also because of two special community events: ANZAC Day and the Celtic festival. It was these events in particular that gave me the true feeling of being a part of the community and it was that sense of community that ultimately led to my desire to become an Australian citizen. Though circumstances have meant that I am temporarily away from my community, I find it very fortuitous that I was home during the community consultation period for Council’s proposed Special…
As conversations continue across the community about council budgets and a potential rise in rates, many residents are asking how councils actually fund their services — and why some areas seem well-resourced while others go without. One key piece of the puzzle is grant funding. Here's a closer look at how grants work for local councils in Australia — where the money comes from, how it's used, and why it doesn’t always offer the flexibility people might expect. Where the Money Comes From Grants to local councils are most commonly provided by: Federal Government: Through programs like the Financial Assistance…
Glen Innes Severn Council is proposing an expansion of its Access Bus service in a bid to improve transport options for older residents living in the villages of Deepwater, Emmaville, Glencoe and Red Range. Currently operated through Council’s Life Choices – Support Services (LC-SS) program under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), the Access Bus provides eligible residents in Glen Innes with regular transport to essential services and community activities. Feedback from recent community engagement, including the 2024 Glen Innes Severn Council Aged Care and Disability Community Consultation Feedback Report and discussions facilitated through Transport for NSW forums, identified limited…
