“As we followed Sarah away from the floats at the start of the track, watching her ride off with her horses was so moving and inspiring, knowing she had been through so many extreme hardships at only 27 years of age, but still strives to make the best of each and every day. “

Read Lottie Ryan’s account of riding with Sarah Wheeler on the Outback Long Ride charity trek.

The loss of a parent is devastating. Losing both is unimaginable, but photographer and horse lover Sarah Wheeler is turning her grief into hope for others suffering from liver, pancreatic, stomach, bile duct and oesophageal cancers.

She is on a 5,500 kilometre journey to raise funds and awareness, and capture the landscape through her lens as she travels outback NSW and Queensland over nine months.

Anne Longworth bowed out as the final president of Bishop’s Lodge Management Committee last Wednesday when the final meeting took place after the last of Hay Shire Council’s Section 355 museum committees was dissolved. 

This reluctant step was taken at the request of the committee due to the chronic volunteer fatigue experienced in Hay over the last few years.

“Am I, or is my property, at risk of bush or grass fires? The reality is simple – if you live, work or travel near bushland or grasslands, you are in a fire risk area.”

A message form the NSW RFS Commissioner.

All the glamour of the 2024 Hay Races and the big winners in the Fashions on the Field competitions - photo gallery.

It was the end of an era last week when Hay’s pharmacist of close to 70 years finally passed on the baton.

“The time has come,” Allan Japp told The Riverine Grazier after signing over his share of Japp’s Pharmacy to Mina Malek who had been working with him for the past two-and-a-half years.

Hay vet Wayne Gardam (centre) with Susann Carter and Molly Edmonds and a local pet. Molly is completing work experience at the clinic and was on hand when The Grazier’s Kimberly Grabham called in to capture this photo

The public schools fee waiver of $6000 per year for the child of a Temporary Skilled Worker visa holder in Rural, Regional and Remote NSW is warmly welcomed by the NSW Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association (ICPA-NSW.)

“ICPA-NSW often deals with nuanced issues that have a ripple effect across the broader community. One such issue is the Temporary Skilled Worker Shortage Visas (482 Visas),” ICPA-NSW president Tanya Mitchell said.

Senior Manager for Community Bank Western Riverina, David Wilkes was in Hay last week and said it was great to see Bendigo Bank join forces with other intuitions for the benefit of all customers. Mr Wilkes (right) is pictured with branch manager, Paul Lenon and Customer Relationship Manager, Sandra Dolan. Image: The Riverine Grazier/Margie McClelland.

Year 12 students attended their final assembly at Hay War Memorial High School on Friday, heralding the official end to their secondary schooling.

Organisers of the Bill Baird Memorial Highway to Hell Challenge proudly presented a cheque to Ivanhoe Central School on the weekend.

A mayoral chain worn by the late OJ Smith has been returned to Hay.

“It needed to come back home,” former Hay resident Noelene Martin said.

“It had been sitting in a cupboard since we moved to Uranquinty and no one ever saw it.”

A Dunera Mass, part-written in Hay more than 80 years ago, is returning for a site-specific performance at Hay War Memorial Hall.

The dramatized concert will be performed in Hay during the annual Dunera Commemorative day on Saturday, September 7 and is supported by the Dunera Association, Hay Shire Council and Creative Australia.

Hang onto your hats, teachers Leah Books and Kathy Duncan went international!

The pair flew off to Vanuatu, where they shared their skills, knowledge and teaching to classes of children and teachers. The program was one of many which a Queensland company called Global Teacher delivers.

“It was just something which popped up on our Facebook, and we decided to apply,” Leah said. “We had our interviews, explained we would not want to go without the other, and were both accepted.”

Introducing three new Hay Police officers. Constable Mauricio Guimares, Constable Luke James and Sargeant Nick Moulds are the friendly new faces we can turn to when we need the help of the police.

Read all about the new officers, when they caught up with Kimberly Grabham.

The announcement of a wage rise for early education workers has been welcomed by Hay Children’s Services.

Hay Children’s Services General Manager Emily Perkins said the announcement is a positive one.

“Our service welcomes the announcement by the government regarding the wage increase,” Ms Perkins said.

“We think it is great recognition of the impact early education has on future Australian populations.”

Each year, the Balranald branch of Isolated Children’s and Parents’ Association hosts a special event. Hatfield Happening is a day of fun, friendship and laughter, with much achieved through the coming together of rural women.

This year’s panel consisted of Tertia Butcher, editor of The Riverine Grazier, Lisa O’Keefe of Koolaman Designs, Bree Wakefield from Banoon Station, Connie Mallett, well known Balranald identity and Marie Scott, of Belgium Park, Clare. These ladies shared their very different stories of adversity and survival.

NAIDOC Week 2024 was observed at Hay Public School last week, with art, dance and traditional foods.

Here from organiser Tara Dixon, chair of Hay Local Aboriginal Land Council and our junior correspondent Heath Thomson.

To celebrate the centenary of Carrathool, 40-years-ago a time capsule was filled and sealed, to be opened on July 24, 2024.

Johlee Masters opened the time capsule, discovering a variety of items left for people to find four decades later. 

Amongst the aged treasures were a can of coke, a tin of malt, a box of Billy tea, many editions of The Riverine Grazier, other newspapers, and many letters to people. 

The Riverine Grazier’s Kimberly Grabham was there.