‘Beyond what we did’: Three-peat great lauds new Lions
Brisbane champion Jonathan Brown believes the Lions’ new premiership three-peat winners are better than his early 2000s team and can win a fourth-straight flag.
Seven-hour power outage planned for Uralla and Walcha
Uralla and Walcha residents face a seven-hour power outage as Essential Energy carries out critical maintenance ahead of bushfire season.
Plans unveiled for final stage of Guyra Main Street upgrade
Guyra residents are being invited to have their say on plans for the long-awaited final stage of the Bradley Street upgrade before construction begins.
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.
Local News
Full fibre upgrades open to thousands of Inverell homes
Thousands of Inverell homes are still on copper, but that is about to change. Here is how to get full fibre, and when NBN staff will be in town to help.
No bed, no way home: the aged care logjam reaching New England hospitals
WEEKEND LONG READ: Medically ready to leave, but nowhere to go. Older people are stranded in New England hospitals, while families are left footing the bill, and politicians squabble.
Woman airlifted after bus crashes and catches fire near Glen Innes
A coach carrying 20 passengers left the New England Highway and burst into flames near Glen Innes on Friday night. One woman was airlifted, the driver was hospitalised, and an investigation is underway.
School holidays across the New England: What’s on for families
Sport, movies, crafts, circus challenges and live entertainment are among the activities keeping New England families busy these school holidays.
What's On
LONG READ >
No bed, no way home: the aged care logjam reaching New England hospitals
WEEKEND LONG READ: Medically ready to leave, but nowhere to go. Older people are stranded in New England hospitals, while families are left footing the bill, and politicians squabble.
Events
Weekly Women’s Tea & TalkEnds: September 28, 2026
Railway MarketsEnds: October 3, 2026
Tingha Community MarketsEnds: October 3, 2026
Sapphire City MarketsEnds: October 4, 2026
The Spring Food & Wine Festival, TenterfieldEnds: October 5, 2026
Annual Human Rights LectureEnds: October 15, 2026
Politics
Please explain: One Nation donations diverted to a liquor company
$56,000 of One Nation money. A shed on James Ashby’s private land. A distillery owned by Ashby and Pauline Hanson. Now the party is rushing to explain itself to members.
Glen Innes Severn Council sacks GM, takes control of PIO
Glen Innes Severn Council has sacked its general manager, and the Mayor says councillors will now hold the organisation to account. Here’s what else changed at a pivotal meeting.
Blessing family says Keith’s gun licence not revoked, as Joyce joins in misinformation
Politicians say Keith Blessing lost his gun licence. His family says that’s not true. Now Barnaby Joyce has joined in spreading the misinformation as part of election campaigning.
Gwydir Shire Mayor and Deputy returned
Gwydir Shire Council has confirmed its leadership team for the coming year, with Cr Tiffany Galvin re-elected as Mayor and Cr Sean Coleman re-elected as Deputy Mayor
Davis, Sparkes, survive Scott challenge in Glen Innes
David Scott put his name forward for both mayor and deputy mayor at Glen Innes Severn Council, and lost both, as Margot Davis and Carol Sparks retained the top jobs in for the next two years. Jen Philp takes over as deputy mayor in Uralla.
Farm crops could fuel the nation: report
Australia imports 80 per cent of its diesel. A new report says the answer could be growing in paddocks right now, and farmers could be the big winners.
Federal lender urges New England farmers to seek help early as conditions dry out
As seasonal conditions worsen across the New England, the federal farm lender behind $3.83 billion in loans has a message: don’t wait for a drought declaration to ask for help.
Energy and Environment
Water watchdog pushes for Basin overhaul
Drought exposed deep failures in how the Murray-Darling Basin is run. Now the water watchdog says a review of the Water Act is the chance to fix them.
Narrabri gas two steps from the “go button”
Santos says Narrabri gas is two approvals from the “go button”. Opponents have pounced on its CEO’s comments in a last-ditch bid to stop it. Here’s what Santos actually said.
BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT >
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!
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 as…
BUSINESS
Next Gen Gunnedah’s big year: from local mentoring nights to a seat at the table in Canberra
Next Gen Gunnedah is quickly making a name for itself, from packed-out networking nights to a place among some of the country’s most influential voices on regional Australia.
INDIGENOUS
Inverell’s Tahnee Capon turns hardship into hope through education
A Kamilaroi woman who spent a year couch surfing before living in a converted bus has been named a 2026 Adult Learners Week Ambassador, crediting study with turning her life around from homelessness to a career helping others in Inverell.
SPORT
NEGS goes back-to-back with Division 1 netball title
NEGS has backed up its drought-breaking 2025 netball season with another Division 1 championship, completing a successful year for the Armidale school.
On engage now
Engage is our hub for opinion, letters, comments and ideas.
- Opinion | Keeping the Light on the Hill burning
Denise asks what is government actually for? It is a question worth asking at a time when politics increasingly seems to be about outrage, grievance, personalities and winning the daily argument on social media. The post Opinion | Keeping the Light on the Hill burning appeared first on New England Times Engage.
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Good News
Tamworth CBD to light up for inaugural City of Lights Festival
Tamworth will transform into an after-dark spectacle this weekend as the city’s CBD hosts the inaugural City of Lights Festival, a free, family-friendly event celebrating the region’s history as a pioneer of electric street lighting.
Jack’s Creek named world’s best Wagyu for third straight year
Australian beef producer Jack’s Creek has been crowned the world’s best Wagyu producer for a third consecutive year at the 2026 World Steak Challenge in Amsterdam.
