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.

Students from St Mary's Primary School and Hay Public School, together with their Year 10 mentors from Hay War Memorial High School have just spent the last six months immersed in another successful program to highlight the plight of our local and elusive, native bird, the Plains-wanderer.

The Plains-wanderer is an extremely endangered species that inhabits the vast Hay Plains. At only around 15cm tall and almost flightless, the Plains-wanderer is vulnerable to many predators such as birds of prey, foxes and cats.

Hay CWA Casserole days have been the catalyst for fun, laughter and catching up.

The third casserole day last Thursday was another raging success. Read Kimberly Grabham’s story on how piping hot casseroles became the catalyst to bring community together.

The Riverine Grazier’s Tertia Butcher provides an update on renewable energy projects in the South West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), situated around Hay and Balranald in NSW.

The Rainbow on the Plains Festival is a celebration of inclusions and diversity held annual in Hay. The Pride festival committee won the 2024 Hay Business Award for local business champion, and organisers Jade Auldist, Will Miller and Brett Boulton were on hand to collect it.

The minimum lot size is to be removed in Hay township (both North and South Hay) and some primary production land will be rezoned to low density residential in a bid by Council to address the housing shortage.

“This is the easiest and most cost-effective way,” General Manager, David Webb said.

Hay Services Club hosted a soft launch last Wednesday evening of its new restaurant operated by Chef Nelson Kong.

Invited guests were treated to an array of specially selected dishes and the opportunity to meet Chef Nelson, his wife Stephanie Yu and sous chef Alan Ho.

Chef Nelson hails from Canberra but has cooked all over the world, travelling and working in China, Japan, South East Asia and Europe as well as across Australia.

Farmer Leila McDougall is determined to raise awareness about farmer suicide after "losing too many people."

Hailing from Tatyoon in Victoria McDougall the 35-year-old began writing the feature film during the pandemic when Mellow in the Yellow, an annual music event she organises to promote mental health, was cancelled during lockdown.

Stream the feature length film now - link in story.

An emotional candlelight vigil was held at Hay Lions Park on Wednesday evening, bringing together a group of more than 30, who each took a stand against family violence.

National vigils are held annual on the first Wednesday of May to remember and honour those who have been killed by domestic or family violence.

This year, the family of murdered Forbes teacher and mother Molly Ticehurst asked the nation to come together or to leave their house light on in her memory, which prompted the gathering in Hay.

Kimberly Grabham reviews Tim Booth best seller “You Called an Ambulance for What?”, a humours tome of the trials of being a paramedic.

Read Kimberly Grabham’s book review on Linda Goldspink-Lord’s touching tribute “Crawling Through the Darkness.”

Whooping cough is surging in Australia. How can we protect ourselves?

In the first three months of 2024, 2,799 cases were recorded in Australia. With more than 1,000 cases being in New South Wales and Queensland.

Hay Public School’s rock ‘n roll fete photo gallery.

The annual Hay Public School Easter Hat Parade was its usual fun and dazzling display of talent on Thursday. Children proudly paraded their Easter Hats, dancing to some lively classic kids tunes.

The second annual Hayland Gathering was held in Hay on the weekend and was another highly successful event.

The Gathering is the brainchild of local dance teacher Kylie Kerr (centre) pictured below with supporters Will Miller and Jenny Dwyer.

Read about local Swifties Elsbeth, Rhyla, Grace and Savannah about Taylor Swift’s Australian concerts.