2025 Debutant Ball - Hay NSW

Check out our photo gallery and behind the scenes video

Karen and Naz have travelled form Argentina to the tiny community of Ivanhoe, as part of their backpacking adventures.

Kimberly Grabham caught up with Ken recently - read the inspiring story.

The annual Shag Gregory Memorial Poker Run was a massive success, drawing over 200 participants and 188 poker hands. The event, held in memory of Shag (Edward) Gregory, raises funds for Motor Neurone Disease research and local charities. This year’s route covered Darlington Point, Yenda, and Carrathool, with festivities concluding at South Hay Pub. Winners included Kyle Aloi with the best poker hand and Kurt Woods, who took home a Milwaukee tool kit.

A rare First World War handkerchief, once issued to a local soldier, has found a new home in Hay. Owned by Brian Cunningham of Gunbar, this historic artifact is now safely preserved behind glass. Many such handkerchiefs were designed for soldiers in 1916, but this particular pattern appears to be unique. During WWII, similar handkerchiefs were even used as secret escape maps, hidden in uniforms to aid Allied troops in case of capture.

Financial support is sought to help the community of Booligal retain their beloved St Alban’s Church building.

“The community is thrilled to announce that the Diocese has accepted our offer to purchase St Alban’s,” spokesperson Alison Crossley said.

“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.”