Gregory Andrews is travelling around Australia on an eBike, with a message.

He sat down with The Riverine Grazier's Krista Schade after a blustery ride across the Hay Plains from Balranald.

Find out why.

The Grazier invites you to meet the candidates running for a position on Hay Shire Council, in the 2024 Local Government elections.

Hay Show celebrates its 150th agricultural show in the small Riverina town, but is older than 150 years - read on to find out why.

Clean Peak Energy has officially commenced construction of its Hay Solar Farm, adjacent to Hay Cemetery, east of Hay township.

The advancement of the project was marked with an on-site sod turning, which brought together Clean Peak Energy executives and staff, Hay Shire Council and host landholders.

The development will boast around 10,000 solar photovoltaic panels which track the movement of the sun, and is expected to create 65 jobs during construction.

Hay Poll Merino sheep stud Woodpark Poll Merinos will hold its annual ram sale at Conargo Sportsground on September 23 this year, edging closer to its home base after almost two decades at the Jerilderie Racecourse.

The stud places about 600 rams a year with flocks from Longreach, Wilcannia and Mossgiel, through to local producers, and across southern New South Wales and Victoria.

The Woodpark Poll auction offers 150 rams a year with grade ram selections on-property at “Eurolie” Hay October, securing most rams for clients.

The Riverine Grazier contacted each of the 13 members of the Balranald and Euston communities who have nominated to run for a position on Balranald Shire Council.

Read what they have to say about their aims as a councillor.

Local government elections will be held on Saturday September 14, 2024.

The East Loddon ram sale has gone from strength to strength since their first on property auction in 2018.

The clientele and offering has since doubled to around 120 rams at auction and over 100 grade rams after.

The Hooke family runs 15,000 non-mulesed SRS merino ewes in the Wanganella/Booroorban district, and sell rams in pastoral environments as far away as White Cliffs and Wilcannia as well as high rainfall areas such as Young NSW and south to the Victorian western districts.

It is hard to believe that the upcoming Caroonboon Merino Sale will mark our one year anniversary at Caroonboon,” said Caroonboon Merinos’ Georgie Meddings.

She and husband Derrym (pictured above) have enjoyed the first year.

“We are very glad that we made the move and are enjoy being able to live, work and contribute to this very special place."

The 41st Kismet Stud Annual Spring ram sale is on Wednesday October 2 at 1pm with inspection from 11am.

The sale will be on-property at Kismet, 5159 Riverina Highway, Howlong. This year 120 White Suffolks, 80 Southdown/ White Suffolk cross and 20 Poll Dorsets will be offered.

“We performance test through Stockscan and the figures will be available on the day or can be found on our website (www.kismetstud.com.au/ramsale),” Kismet’s Graham Wilson said.

Free camping at Sandy Point again reared its head, briefly, at a recent extraordinary meeting of Hay Shire Council.

In a Notice of Motion by retiring councillor, Peter Handford, Council was asked to impose a fee on campers using the facilities at popular Sandy Point Reserve.

“For what it costs us, I feel we need to get something out of it. It’s been going on for a long time,” Cr Handford said.

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.

For over 60 years Alma Merinos has adhered to a consistent breeding philosophy, producing Merinos perfectly adapted to the challenging conditions of the Hay Plains.

The result is a large-framed Merino with rapid growth rates and a reliable, medium-micron fleece, well suited to varying climatic conditions.

“Over the last six decades, we’ve carefully developed our genetic lines to produce animals that can thrive throughout their lives on the Hay Plains,” Stud owner Graham Morphett explained.

All four regional councils have strong numbers of candidates for the upcoming local government elections.

Read the full list of candidates for Hay, Balranald Edward River and Carrathool Shires, and find out where polling and pre-polling locations will be.

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.”

In the first half of 2024, one-third of Australians accessed Facebook for news, a new study reveals. The finding contradicts Meta’s long-standing assertion that news content is a minor part of the Facebook experience for most Australian users.

Hay has joined other councils in their opposition to the new levy on burials and cremations.

The tax will commence July next year at a rate of $156 per burial, $63 ash interment and $41 cremation.

Hay Shire Council owns three cemeteries for the communities at Hay, Maude and Booligal.

“This is another example of cost shifting by the NSW Government just to fix up their own finances,” Mayor Carol Oataway said.

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.