A crowd of 1500 supporters lined Lachlan and Moppet Streets on Saturday for the 2022 Australian Hay Mini Nationals parade and show and shine.

A lack of staff has long plagued local businesses, and this month will see the closure of Hay Ag & Auto, entrenched in the Hay community for 26 years.

Back in March, dating app creator Tinder announced that it would be unveiling their ‘Big Rainbow’, in a regional town, somewhere in Australia, and Hay is in the top four.

An historic moment in the history of Australia.

The century-old Pride of the Murray will pass along the Hay Plains this week on its way to Longreach where it will be restored and find its new home for the next 100 years on the Thomson River.

The route from Moama to Longreach through Hay Shire was chosen because it is straight with few obstructions.

Hay has always been a town that produces a plethora of talented, focused, and ambitious people, both in the sporting realms and otherwise. The rate at which these young adults are rising just seems to be faster than ever before. Massive case in point being 14-year-old Nathaniel Clarke who appeared on Channel 7’s Weekend Sunrise program on Saturday.

Hay’s burgeoning wool industry has received a boost with news local girl and former national wool handling champion Kayla Garner to train the next generation of wool classers at TAFE NSW Hay.

After Covid-19 forced the cancellation of Mr Gay Pride Australia 2020 and 2021, the competition will be returning in 2022, joining forces with the Rainbow on the Plains Festival in Hay where the finale will be hosted in November.

A Coalition Government pre-election promise of $2

million towards the construction of a new pool for Hay

has been lost after the Australian Labor Party won the

2022 election with 73 seats against 54 for the Liberal

National Party on Saturday.

In a media release received last week, Local Government NSW said the housing crisis had reached boiling point for NSW Councils.

The Underdown Productions crew working on Mad Max Furiosa started arriving in Hay in March and for two months have been welcome members of the local community. They personally funded the spectacular fireworks display on Saturday night to thank Hay for hosting them.

Is there a shortage of houses in Hay?

There is a general consensus among local real estate agents and the community that there is, and General Manager David Webb believes the lack of housing restricts growth for the town.

Councillors are divided.

Local man always “on the go”, Jim Ovens is at it again.

President of Hay Bowling Club, mailman, Design Yr Sign owner, and more has been cooking up – sausages only – in the lead up to an event he is hosting in June.

“Today you become an Australian Citizen.” Those were the words of Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alex Hawke MP, in a message to Hay’s newest citizens.

Graham and Carrie Matthews are now the new proud owners of Hills Corner Store Hay, their official trading name.

The 2022 Riverina Field Days will be on again at Griffith Showgrounds on May 13 and 14 with a new sponsor for the next three years, Lowes Petroleum.

A re-elected Coalition Government will deliver a new lease of life to Hay’s Swimming Complex, investing $2 million towards its reconstruction.

Works at Hay showgrounds are expected to be completed by next month, with phases one and two already finished.

Euen and Elsbeth Kerr travelled to Launceston, Tasmania to compete in the 2022 Highland Dancing Champion of Champions of Australia and returned home with several placings as well as trophies.

Phot gallery - ANZAC Day 2022, Hay NSW; The town that went to war

Hay will soon be further escalated as a tourism destination with its very own Blue Plaque at Historic Bishop’s Lodge.