$12.7m Moree investment to create jobs, boost agricultural exports
A $12.7 million investment in Moree’s Special Activation Precinct will create jobs and expand the region’s agricultural freight capacity.
New era as Professionals Armidale switches to McGrath and Knight Frank
A familiar Armidale real estate name disappears this week after almost two decades. Director Ben Saxby explains why the agency is joining McGrath and Knight Frank and what it means for tenants and clients.
Armidale’s Narwan Eels defend under 17 boys title at Koori Knockout
Armidale club Narwan Eels have held on to their under-17 boys crown at the Koori Knockout, beating the Waterloo Storm Academy 22-10 in the grand final at Raymond Terrace on Monday, 5 October.
SBM26: Threads, smarts, choreographed
Today for Small Business Month, we’re celebrating three local businesses that keep the New England dancing, running well, and looking good.
Local News
Tamworth’s Dolly Day announces new ambassador and helps grow a love of reading
Tamworth has a new ambassador for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library – Golden Guitar winner and local mum Aleyce Simmonds
Armidale livestock unit celebrates 50 years
From a handful of traits to trillions of data points, an Armidale unit has spent 50 years reshaping Australian livestock. Now it is throwing a party, and auctioning a heifer.
Goat producers urged to have levy say
The goat levy hasn’t changed since 1997. Now producers face a vote that would more than double it. Here’s where the money would go, and why every vote counts.
Grants of up to $50,000 now open
A $540,000 pool, grants of up to $50,000, and one month to apply. Regional charities with a good idea have until Saturday, 31 October to put their case to the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation.
What's On
LONG READ >
Tough on crime, weak on details: how emotion rather than evidence drives justice reform
WEEKEND LONG READ: The NSW election is less than six months away, and both sides are selling ‘tough on crime’. The evidence says their tough slogans don’t make us safer. So why do they keep doing it?
Events
Annual Human Rights LectureEnds: October 15, 2026
Sapphire City MarketsEnds: October 18, 2026
The New England Community ShowcaseEnds: October 21, 2026
Holy Trinity Anglican Church Fete, Floral & Craft DisplayEnds: October 31, 2026- Sapphire City MarketsEnds: November 1, 2026
- Sapphire City MarketsEnds: November 15, 2026
Politics
Tamworth’s Jeff Bacon joins One Nation upper house ticket
Shooters, then Nationals, now One Nation. Third time lucky, Tamworth gun maker Jeff Bacon has landed second on an upper house ticket promising to repeal NSW’s new firearm laws.
Anderson urges locals to shut the laptop and shop local
Rising costs and a slow economy are biting local businesses. Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson has a simple ask for October: shut the laptop and shop in town.
Tough on crime, weak on details: how emotion rather than evidence drives justice reform
WEEKEND LONG READ: The NSW election is less than six months away, and both sides are selling ‘tough on crime’. The evidence says their tough slogans don’t make us safer. So why do they keep doing it?
Farmers back labour hire crackdown, but warn shearers and harvesters must not be caught
Labor wants every labour hire firm in NSW licensed. Farmers agree rogue operators must go, but warn the shearing team and harvest contractor could get caught in the net.
100,000 first home buyers in a year
More than 100,000 first home buyers have used the expanded 5% Deposit Scheme in its first year, including more than 28,000 in NSW, according to new figures from Housing Australia.
Farmers want slasher taken to length of daylight saving
While city workers might rejoice, for farmers the onset of daylight saving time is a six-month grind – and they’re calling for compromise.
Landholders encouraged to report plague locust sightings
Landholders across NSW are being urged to report signs of Australian plague locusts as authorities monitor activity across the state.
Energy and Environment
Regional women rush clean energy course
Nearly 70 regional women applied in a single month. A new program is training women to help their communities shape the renewable energy rollout, and demand has been huge.
Origin walks away from Skye Ridge wind farm near Walcha
Origin has walked away from its 870MW Skye Ridge wind farm near Walcha, effective immediately, to double down on its Northern Tablelands project west of Armidale. But the move was no surprise.
BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT >
Primary Health Network continues to support and invest in the Glen Innes community
Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network (HNECC PHN) has reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to Glen Innes through continued investment in local healthcare services, community programs and innovative models of…
Have your say on the future name of Killean
New owners of McLean Care want your help in naming the main home, and have put up $5000 to make it worth your while to have your say. Vote now!
BUSINESS
SBM26: Flowers, Massage, Tech help
Today for Small Business Month, we’re celebrating three local businesses that keep the New England beautiful, relaxed, and stress free.
INDIGENOUS
Gunnedah petition demands Aboriginal flag in Council chamber
Gunnedah’s deputy mayor warned of “a reverse type of apartheid” before councillors voted to hang just one flag in the chamber. Now Aboriginal community members are fighting back with a petition.
SPORT
Roosters win NRL grand final in one point nail-biter
One point. One last game for Daly Cherry-Evans. The Roosters survived a wild Knights fightback to win the NRL grand final in a close finish.
On engage now
Engage is our hub for opinion, letters, comments and ideas.
- QW: Change the school time
I dont like daylight saving, but another option, particularly for school children (& teachers) is to have school start later in the day. Children’s brains aren’t wired (particularly secondary students) for such an early start. The post QW: Change the school time appeared first on New England Times Engage.
> Submit your own opinion, letter or comment to New England Times Engage
Good News
Gunnedah and Liverpool Plains call for local legends
Every town has a local legend who never gets thanked. Gunnedah and Liverpool Plains want their names, and in Gunnedah there are new award categories to find them.
Liverpool Range firefighters honoured for 1,700 years of service
One joined in 1951, the other in 1956, and they are still turning out. Meet the Liverpool Range firefighters among 55 volunteers honoured for a combined 1,700 years of service.
