Six years ago Kristina Sanne, Director and Lead Teacher at Jacaranda Highland Dancers in Grafton, was approached by a few persuasive Glen Innes families keen to have highland dancing classes made available in Glen Innes for their children. Despite some initial misgivings about the logistics of expanding her dance studio, and the commute up the Gwydir, Kristina said yes. She now teaches at the Masonic Lodge Hall on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings, once a fortnight. The studio continues to grow and currently there are 20 children and 2 adult students from a wide range of backgrounds, not just for…
Who are the Skinner Boyz? Brothers Nathan and Joel Skinner aka The Skinner Boyz are fast becoming musical sensations in their adopted hometown of Glen Innes, where their musical careers are taking off. Nathan, who is older, and Joel grew up on the coast, sharing a love of surfing and music. Taught the guitar largely by his father, Nathan’s early musical influences included finger picking from the 30s, old country blues and “just about every song from Mississippi John Hurt”. Joel was taught the guitar by his father and also Nathan. He used to love listening to Nathan playing his…
Glen Innes is preparing to welcome thousands of visitors from across the country as it hosts the Australian Celtic Festival from 1–4 May 2025. Now in its 33rd year, the festival remains Glen Innes Severn Council’s largest annual event and is recognised nationally as a key celebration of Celtic heritage and community spirit. Held at the Australian Standing Stones National Monument in Centennial Parklands, the 2025 event will pay tribute to the Celtic nations of Brittany, Cornwall and Wales. The program includes live music, traditional ceremonies, artisan markets and community festivities spread across the township. Mayor Margot Davis said the…
Residents and visitors to Glen Innes will soon have an upgraded picnic shelter to enjoy at Centennial Parklands, thanks to a $44,000 grant from the New South Wales Government. The funding, provided through the Local Small Commitment Allocation (LSCA) program, will support the replacement of the ageing picnic shelter with a modern and accessible facility. The LSCA program aims to enhance local communities by supporting a range of initiatives, including park and playground upgrades, events, and essential services. Member for Northern Tablelands, Brendan Moylan, recently visited Centennial Parklands to inspect the current shelter and highlighted the importance of the project.…
The Geographical Names Board (GNB) is inviting community feedback on a proposal by Glen Innes Severn Council to officially name a local landmark in Glen Innes as The Australian Standing Stones. Located within the Centennial Parklands and accessed from Watsons Drive, the landmark serves as a tribute to Celtic heritage in Australia. It acknowledges the contributions of Celtic people to the nation’s development, particularly in the Glen Innes region. The Australian Standing Stones were established to commemorate this history, providing a venue for cultural celebration and education. The site hosts the annual Australian Celtic Festival, which attracts visitors from across…
The local Australia Day festivities begin this year with a free breakfast being served at Pinkett Hall from 8am, followed by free morning tea at Glen Innes & District Services Club in Glen Innes from 10:30am. After morning tea, the morning at the Services Club continues with official ceremonies and award presentations from 11:30am. There are a number of awards being presented on the day. Organisers have said that the calibre of the nominees was very high and that it was very difficult for the judging panel to decide on a winner in many of the award categories. Citizen of…
Latha-fhèill' Anndra sona dhuibh uile or, Happy St. Andrew's Day to all! At 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, 30 November, the Scottish flag-lowering ceremony took place at the Australian Standing Stones in Glen Innes. Due to ongoing rain, most of the festivities were relocated to the cozy atmosphere of The Croft. The event, well-attended by locals and TV media, marked St. Andrew’s Day—a celebration observed not only in Scotland but also in several Eastern European countries and Scottish communities worldwide. Filmed by SBS/NITV along with Ernie Dingo in attendance, the program kicked off with a welcome by MC Petar Grulovic, proprietor…
Wanting to get fit? Needing to get fit? Advised to get fit? Where do you start? There’s always the gym, but some people don’t feel comfortable in a gym and some people can’t afford to pay the fees. Luckily, Glen Innes has a couple of free options for getting fit. Every Saturday at 8am up at the Standing Stones, Parkrun enthusiasts run a 5k track entirely on trail paths. This course is the highest elevation course in Australia at between 1200-1160m above sea level and the views are spectacular. Every week, this fun free event is organised and monitored by…
Glen Innes was host to the Retreat Caravan Owners Club over the last week. A total of 31 caravans and 61 visitors from NSW, Victoria, Queensland and even WA, gathered at the Showground for a week of social activities and exploration of the area. The group meet on a regular basis, usually three times per year, with a preference to spend their time in small country towns and rural areas. One member commented to a GIN journalist how impressed they were with the terrific facilities offered by the showground. Whilst many of the vans are fully equipped with all modern…
