2023: an interesting year for Hay, NSW

As the doors slowly close on 2023, it’s a weird feeling. It feels as though the year has gone by in a flash, and at the same time, held a lifetime’s worth of happening within its 365 days. Let’s take a quick stroll down memory lane as we read the last Grazier of the year, and say goodbye to 2023.

January –

•Sheila and Grant Volz raised close to $50,000 for their Paddle for Prems .

•A three-bin system was announced to be coming into play in Hay in the next 18 months.

•Australia Day was a massive success, with Hay’s 2023 Ambassador being Isabella Bain, five-time World-Campion gold medalist.

•Hay Rust and Dust Rally was featured, as they made preparations for their 2023 rally.

•Jane Griffiths was honoured as 2023 Citizen of the Year, for her tireless efforts for the community.

•Carol Bunyan was awarded an OAM for her community service to Hay history.

February-

•First mentions of a possible Country University Centre for Hay were raised.

•Local early learning centres were featured.

•Libby Eason’s efforts for the community were honoured, with a recognition in Parliament from Helen Dalton.

•Cutters enjoyed a bustling preseason event, with a visit from the ACT Brumbies team.

•Ivanhoe was still suffering the effects of drought with road closures affecting many aspects of life.

•Apprentices and trainees were featured.

•A $480 million mining project was announced by Iluka resources to be implemented near Balranald, and will create many benefits for the Balranald community.

•Hay senior cricket grand final was won by Crusaders.

March –

•Hay Veterinary Clinic was honoured at 2023 Hay Business Excellence Awards, being named Business of the Year.

•Winners of awards at Hay Business Excellence Awards were featured.

•Bendigo Bank made a generous donation of $30,000 to Hay Swimming Pool, for their renovations.

•Hay’s Inaugural Hayland Gathering was an amazing treat for the town, with many different aspects of Scottish culture showcased.

•2023 Poker Run was a huge success and enjoyed by all.

•Hay had a fugitive evade capture in Hay for a few hours, with his eventual apprehension.

•Gail and Norma Rosewarne were honoured with a Holy Blessing from the Pope and Vatican.

April –

•In excess of $125,000 was reported as fund raised in the Hay Rust and Dust Rally.

•Hay Bowling Club won the Division Four Zone Eight Open Pennant Group C Championship.

•Helen Dalton retained the seat of Murray.

•St Mary’s Parish School relay team Cool Running were heading to Sydney for the Polding Swimming Trials.

•100 years of Hay War Memorial High School was commemorated with a special pull-out feature.

•The centenary celebrations coincided with a moving Anzac Day, and were commemorated with a plaque.

Chrissy Murray escorted her grandfather, War Veteran Jim Cooper in the 2023 Anzac Day march.

The Riverine Grazier’s Managing Director Krista Schade distributing the names of young men and soldiers that Hay sent to war in World War One.

•Simon Bunyan celebrated having played 200 games for Hay Lions.

May –

•The 2023 Federal Budget was released, and described as quite bland.

•Local book clubs were featured.

•The local and regional housing crises were highlighted.

•Cobb Highway was briefly opened then closed again near Ivanhoe.

June –

•Peter Lugsdin was honoured for decades-long service to NSW Fire Service, being named on the 2023 King’s Birthday Honour List.

•June Long Weekend was jam packed with fun and entertainment, with a bowling tournament, and many more fun activities.

•Tim Matt, Geoff Harrison, and Harrison’s staff returned the Dexter Windmill back to Urana, after reconstructing it.

•Both the Voice to Parliament and tax time were looming, with features on both.

•Hay Services Club Gym was featured.

July –

•Balranald treasure, Alison Linnett made the chop for charity, plaiting her hair into little plaits and auctioning the right to cut them off at $20 each.

•Hay Hospital was one of two facilities that were being prioritised for Multipurpose Service status.

•Hay’s new Hydrotherapy Pool was announced to be built at Hay Swimming Pool site.

•Danielle ‘Drop Bear’ Curtis became a triple weight division champion.

•Ron and Jan Headon were recognised for years of tireless service to the community, being awarded life membership to the Rural Fire Service.

August –

•Reg Fell was honoured at NSW Volunteer Awards in Wagga, for his dedicated can collection fundraising enterprise, with all proceeds going to CanAssist.

•50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War was commemorated.

•Group 20 made the shock announcement that Hay Magpies were ineligible for the 2023 finals.

Despite the contentious conclusion for the 2023 Senior Magpies season, the Magpies had a great combined grades 2023 season. Pictured are the Under 6 boy’s team of 2023.

•Magpies Under 7 League Tag won their grand final.

•The Variety Bash made their annual trip through town for volunteers involved with Hay Public School to cook them a lovely breakfast. The charity made a $9000 donation to the school, to fund new timber playground equipment.

Bill Houston and Archie Auldist enjoying the morning that the Variety Bash came to town.

•An increase in the beer excise hit pubs, clubs and patrons in the hip pocket.

•Hay Shire Council held celebrations to commemorate 50 years since the construction of the current Hay Bridge.

•Ivanhoe Roosters made the Proten Grand Final, but after a hard-fought game that went for an extra 20 minutes, Narrandera Lizards were victorious.

September –

•HWMHS Aberline Stud took out the Supreme Dorper Exhibit at the Royal Melbourne Show.

•Hay Lions celebrated a successful 2023 season at their Presentation Night, Lions bringing home the premiership after 28 years.

Pictured is Lions legend Robert ‘Buck’ Howard, Seniors Co-Coach Jason Aylett, Ferg Cattanach, Brad Pocock, Angus Gardiner, Tim Zambon, and Seniors Co-Coach Mick Cattanach at the 2023 Lions Presentation.

•Dom Booth was voted Lions best senior, with Bill Auldist earning his fourth reserve grade Best.

Pictured are the Junior Lions, including Grace Auldist, winner of the Guts and Determination Award, with mother Jade winning the same award for her grade.

•Jade and Grace Auldist won Guts and Determination awards for their respective grades, and a new award was named after club stalwart Robert ‘Buck’ Howard.

•Jessie Carter and Simon Parr were named Best and Fairest for Magpies League Tag and Senior teams, respectively.

Pictured is Simon Parr with Lily Weymouth, at the 2023 Magpies Presentation.

•100 years of Hay Guides was celebrated.

Zoya Shazahd is pictured undertaking one of the many delightful activities Hay Guides has to offer.

•Another successful Hay show was held with Emma Johnston being sashed Hay Show’s 2023 Young Woman.

Emma Johnston (pictured) and Daniel Green won Scout of the Year in their respective categories.

•Robertson’s Hot Bread Kitchen celebrated 40 years of business.

Valued Robertson’s Hot Bread Kitchen employees, Louise Lugsdin, Debbie Woods and Lauren Hicks.

•Balranald Roos earned a place in the grand final and narrowly missed out on the premiership.

•B Reserve and Under 17 Lions netball teams won their respective premierships.

•Varroa Mite biosecurity hazard was detected in beehives in Eurolie and Nericon in the Riverina.

•The Cheaper Medicines Policy made it through the Senate, with country doctors believing that it is a victory for country patients.

•Dunera Day was celebrated with the annual re-enactment.

•Hay Darts Association held its 2023 Presentation, with Sue Symons being honoured with Life Membership.

Pictured is Sue at the 2023 Darts Presentation with Darts Association President, Matt Smith

October –

•Explosive allegations were covered in the Riverine Grazier, after it was discovered that the owners of Gundaline Station were facing serious allegations from former employees about management practices, particularly in relation to staffing, and biosecurity measures, but strenuously denied any wrongdoing.

•Japp’s Pharmacy celebrated 90 years of dedicated service to the town of Hay.

•An ancient asteroid impact structure was identified underneath the Hay Plains.

•A meteorite from Eli Elwah was found to be in a museum in a German university by Lou Gardam.

•Will Nadin and Ben Ryan were joint Best and Fairest award winners for Hay Cutters Rugby Union’s 2023 season, one for which the Cutters walked away premiers.

•Ellie Jamieson won the 2023 Lions Netball Best and Fairest.

•A new spider genus was named after former HWMHS student Simon McClusky. The spider was named Megmonodontium mccluskyi, after Simon, to honour him for his volunteer work in paleontological excavations.

•2023 Booligal Sheep Races were a huge hit.

•Bendigo Bank Hay celebrated their six-year birthday.

November –

•November kicked off with an exciting bang, with the Riverine Grazier celebrating 150 years of independent publication and ownership. A morning tea was held, with important people from the publication’s history in attendance, and former worker Gordon ‘Cocky’ Hurst cutting the cake. A cocktail evening was held at the Bishops Lodge that evening. Gordon had given almost 50 years of dedicated service to the Grazier, and he was featured on the front page of the anniversary edition.

•The wonderful Brett Boulton featured on out last front page for November, having won Best Dressed Man at the highly successful 2023 Fashions on the Field at Hay Races.

•An all new and all female board was elected for Haydays.

•Krista gave a fascinating report on her time in America on a study tour funded by the Digital News Academy.

•Rallies were held in Deniliquin, Griffith and Hay to protest against water buybacks.

Helen Dalton pictured in Griffith with protesters against water buybacks.

•Hay’s adventure park, Maude Bridge, and new pool amenities were officially opened.

•A stellar Rainbow on the Plains Titanium was held.

Every year, the superb Josh and Michael, travel hours to come and be a part of Rainbow on the Plains, and spread the message of love and inclusivity.

•It was announced that Hay was chosen to be the first site for world first bio fertiliser plant, with Ravensworth being chosen as the test site for UAG Bio Nutrients.

•Hay Shire Council, Hay Youth Taskforce Hay and Hay Tafe joined together to hold the Employment and Education Expo.

•Hay Shire Council was working towards establishing a country university campus in Hay.

•Hay Plains Landcare and Hay Shire Council formed a partnership to address revitalisation of the Hay roundabout.

Hay Shire Council General Manager David Webb, Landcare’s Bert Matthews, Sally Ware, and Jenny Dwyer at the Hay Roundabout site, discussing options for revitalisation.

•Engie opened their community Hub in Hay.

December –

•Benson McRae and Santa featured on the front page of the Grazier.

A delighted Benson McRae posing with Santa, and holding his bell at St Mary’s School Fete.

•It was reported that Hay could have its own university campus as soon as 2024.

•Water debates rage on in the Murray Darling Basin.

•LV Boddinar held a clearance sale, signalling the end of nearly 100 years of trading in Balranald.

It was the end of an era, with agent Tony Conway volunteering his time to conduct the auction.