Screen time caps coming to NSW schools
NSW public schools will cap daily screen time from next year, after new research found teenagers spending up to seven hours a day on devices and literacy results going backwards.
Youth takes the helm at Liverpool Plains
At 38, Charlie Simkin is Liverpool Plains Shire Council’s new mayor. He’s flagged waste, housing and infrastructure as priorities for the next two years, working alongside new Deputy Mayor Jason Allan.
Moree born first female High Court judge dies
Pioneering Australian judge Mary Gaudron has been honoured for her contributions to Australia’s legal landscape after her death at age 83.
Police drones pushed as extra safety tool for Tamworth and Gunnedah
Tamworth and Gunnedah residents could benefit from improved police response and community safety under a push to expand the NSW Police drone program.
Local News
Stunning day at Varley Oval for cracker AFL grand finals
Inverell turned the tables on the Tamworth Swans to claim the Regional Australia Bank Cup, while Gunnedah overcame a determined home side in the womenโs decider during the AFL North West grand finals at Varley Oval on Saturday.
Blues come from behind to score back-to-back triumph
The Armidale Blues staged a second-half comeback to secure back-to-back first-grade titles, while Walcha, the Tenterfield Bumblebees and Glen Innes Elks also celebrated grand final victories. Read what happened.
White Elephant Ball returns for another big night supporting local youth
Tamworth is getting ready to dress up, dig deep and make a difference, with the White Elephant Ball returning for its 12th year in support of youth mental health.
NSW strategy aims to grow Aboriginal businesses and regional opportunities
A new five-year NSW strategy aims to help Aboriginal businesses overcome barriers, access funding and create opportunities across regional communities.
What's On
LONG READ >
A Hillgrove miracle: is this the happiest workplace in the region?
WEEKEND LONG READ: At the re-opened Hillgrove Mine, staff say the culture, not the antimony, is the real story. How did they avoid the Armidale curse?
Events
I Love Your Faces: The Don Lane StoryEnds: September 16, 2026
Stained Glass WorkshopEnds: September 19, 2026
Sapphire City MarketsEnds: September 20, 2026
Tamworth Weiner Dog Festival 2026Ends: September 20, 2026
Stained Glass WorkshopEnds: September 20, 2026
Stained Glass Art WorkshopEnds: September 20, 2026
Politics
Cotton industry calls for visa clarity
Cotton growers are being warned visa uncertainty could hit the seasonal workforce needed for picking and ginning, as industry leaders demand answers from Canberra.
Free qualifications on offer for tradies
Up to 6,000 experienced tradies could get a free, faster pathway to formal qualifications, as a new national training program launches first in NSW.
Saffin defends regional ministers after confirming administrative error
Janelle Saffin says the numbers back up what she told budget estimates all along, it was never misuse, just a mix-up over which budget line her Sydney travel came from.
Coalition ramps up attack on Saffin over expenses
“One night, out of a year,” she said of a Ballina hotel stay. Now the Coalition is dragging Minister Janelle Saffin to the Auditor General to explain that and dozens of other travel claims that may not be right.
One down, 10 to go: Webb re-elected Mayor in Tamworth
Eleven New England councils choose their mayor within a month. Tamworth’s result is in โ the 5-4 split that’s ruled council for two years just held again. A challenge is confirmed for Gunnedah. Who’s next?
Boggabilla agricultural leader Rebecca Fing named 2027 Nuffield Scholar
Boggabillaโs Rebecca Fing will take her farm safety research overseas after being named a 2027 Nuffield Scholar.
New England households to benefit from energy support funding
New England households will get help cutting energy bills, with Southern New England Landcare sharing $4.7 million in state funding.
Energy and Environment
Glen Innes Severn calls for fair REZ funding model
Glen Innes Severn Council is pushing for a fairer funding model to share New England Renewable Energy Zone benefits across communities.
Guyra water treatment upgrades bolster blue-green algae preparations
Guyraโs drinking water supply is better prepared for blue-green algae season following major upgrades to the townโs water treatment plant.
BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT >
From open homes to open hearts: Professionals Armidale’s community BBQ making a difference
A real estate agency might not be the first place you’d expect to find a community fundraising program, but Professionals Armidale is quietly becoming as well known for its local giving asโฆ
Is your IT structured? Or just functioning?
Many regional businesses only review their IT support when problems escalate. But more businesses are reassessing how their technology systems are managed, and the story of what happened to Acacia Medical tellsโฆ
BUSINESS
A Hillgrove miracle: is this the happiest workplace in the region?
WEEKEND LONG READ: At the re-opened Hillgrove Mine, staff say the culture, not the antimony, is the real story. How did they avoid the Armidale curse?
INDIGENOUS
Gunnedah Council sets out reconciliation plan
Gunnedah Shire Council has launched a two-year plan aimed at strengthening reconciliation and relationships with local First Nations communities.
SPORT
Hazlewood tips Smith to make a statement in South Africa
Josh Hazlewood believes Steve Smith could have a point to prove when Australia returns to South Africa for its first Test series there since the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.
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Denise writes there are practical skills, trades and crafts sitting right under our noses for which there is genuine demand, good money and, in some cases, employers crying out for people. The post Deniseโs Desk: The $1,200 Lesson Hidden in a Wedding Dress appeared first on New England Times Engage.
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Good News
Tamworth ambulance staff honoured for courage and outstanding service
NSW Ambulance staff have been honoured in Tamworth for courage, clinical excellence and dedication while responding to emergencies across the region.
Tamworth students shine in 2026 Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards
Tamworth students have claimed several top honours in the 2026 Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards, including the Senior Secondary and Primary School awards.
