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…
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…
Repairs to the New England Highway are set to commence next week following extensive damage caused by increased traffic after recent flooding across New South Wales. The record-breaking floods that impacted the NSW coast last week forced the redirection of traffic to the New England Highway. The increased volume of vehicles has left the road surface significantly deteriorated, with numerous potholes creating hazardous conditions for drivers. Member for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan confirmed that he had received advice from the NSW Government that road works will begin next week. He said he has been advocating for urgent repairs in response…
The Glen Innes Bowling Club has received a valuable safety upgrade, with the installation of a defibrillator now available to all members and visitors. This addition was made possible through funding from the New South Wales Government’s Local Sport Defibrillator Program. The program provides financial assistance to clubs and sporting organisations across the state to acquire Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), enhancing emergency response capabilities in local communities. Member for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan visited the Glen Innes Bowling Club to formally announce the funding and meet with staff and members. “The Glen Innes Bowling Club hosts hundreds of people per…
Befitting its name, the Oasis Community Garden is a quiet haven welcoming people from across Glen Innes. The Garden’s Coordinator is Cheryl Rudd and Michelle Gaynor is the Secretary. They report that people come to the Garden for many different reasons: for example, there are newcomers to Glen Innes who want to learn more about gardening in a cold climate; there are people living in units who do not have their own garden - or just have a pocket sized garden - who enjoy being able to grow their own veggies. The Oasis Community Garden was set up just six…
Polymath (n): a person of wide knowledge or learning, from the Greek. This term and its definition certainly applies to local resident, Michael Burge. Michael is a journalist, author, publisher and artist who lives at Deepwater. He also holds a design diploma from NIDA. And he runs a popular book club and writer’s group in Deepwater, publishes books, does the publicity for his own work and has a strong online presence. Lots of fingers, in lots of pies. In late 2019, Michael published his debut novel, Tank Water. It’s sequel, Dirt Trap will be released in November. These novels explore…
In a significant step towards promoting student health, sustainability, and community engagement, Glen Innes High School has installed three new Hydrobank water stations. This initiative replaces the original water bubblers—installed over 30 years ago in 1990 as a School Representative Council (SRC) project—with modern hydration units that reflect current health and environmental standards. The new Hydrobank stations offer both drinking fountains and bottle refill points, ensuring students, staff, and community members have hygienic and convenient access to water throughout the day. Unlike the previous bubblers, which only allowed water to be consumed directly, these updated units enable bottle refills for…
