BATHURST Regional Council will continue its chase for funding to resurface Mount Panorama despite the outcome of Saturday’s federal election The Coalition, via Nationals leader David Littleproud, last month pledged $14.9 million of funding to complete the council’s full plan of upgrades to the circuit Labor comprehensively defeated the Coalition in Saturday’s election while the seat of Calare remains in doubt but is likely to be won on preferences by incumbent Andrew Gee who dropped his Nationals affiliation midway through his previous term to serve as an independent The election result may have closed that particular door to federal funding but Bathurst Regional Council Mayor Robert ‘Stumpy’ Taylor said resurfacing Mount Panorama is still a priority “It’s not in desperate need of resurfacing but it is due to be resurfaced,” Mayor Taylor told V8 Sleuth I’d say we have another couple of years in it but then we’d have to be desperately looking at resurfacing or getting funding so that we could do it in sections “We’d like to do the whole circuit in one hit – it’s more beneficial that it all gets done in the one hit – but if we had funding to do portions of it we would definitely accept the funding to do in stages.” Mount Panorama was last fully repaved in 2014 but the track surface is just one element of a series of issues that the council wants to address Last year it allocated just over $10 million in its budget for works to the circuit, but was unsuccessful in landing a grant that would have paid for the projects. “The main issue is that the track needs resurfacing,” Mayor Taylor said. “We want to redo the kerbs as well, we want to do the whole lot to bring it all up to scratch to get another 15-20 years out of it. “Then we want to put in the marshalling lights. As you know, most modern circuits now have the marshalling lights, so we’re looking at doing that. “And then the (access) tunnel that goes under our circuit when the races are on, it needs attention to it as well. “That’s why we were looking at that $14.9 million which was pledged from the Coalition if they’d won the election. “Obviously that’s not going to be (happening), so what we have to do is just keep lobbying for funds to become available and keep putting (requests for) funding in to get those projects underway. “If we can get, I think it’s about $8-8.5 million to do the resurface of the track, we’ll lobby for that as a priority, but then we need to address the other issues. “Mount Panorama, it’s not just for our city, it’s a benefit to the whole region when the October race is on, and the February race with the 12 Hour is getting very popular. “We have accommodation booked as far as Dubbo and Katoomba, so it’s a huge benefit to the region. “So look, it’s disappointing, the elections, especially for our area and I think for regional New South Wales as well, because we just seem to be a forgotten commodity out here. “They concentrate, I feel, more on metropolitan areas and they seem to have that big escarpment – the Great Dividing Range – they don’t seem to want to look over at this area as much as they do in the metropolitan area, so it’s a bit disappointing in that regard.” saying he is waiting for all the votes to be counted Despite his rival's claim, Mr Farraway said there will not be a result in Calare on election night citing the large number of pre-poll votes that are still to be counted Nationals senator Ross Cadell had said the party was "out-performing what we've done on the day by about eight per cent" when it comes to pre-poll votes we don't really have a result tonight and we don't have a result because 52 per cent of the voters in Calare have pre-polled so over half of the electorate has voted early," Mr Farraway said "Those votes are going to take time to count Nationals candidate Sam Farraway in Bathurst on election night Picture by Rachel ChamberlainHe said he suspected it would take "a couple of days" to finish the count and determine the result "I said from the very beginning that this was a huge contest in Calare and that is good for democracy they've had a real contest in our electorate and our region and what will come from it is it will come down to preferences," he said It was always going to come down to preferences but I suspect the seat will come down to the wire I am going to wait until every single vote is counted I think every candidate that ran in this election should do the same because let's see what ends up in the final wash." the two-partied preferred count has Mr Gee with over 57 per cent of the vote The Australian Electoral Commission's virtual tally room shows that votes cast at multiple pre-poll centres including the Bathurst Girl Guides Hall and the St Barnabas Parish Hall in Orange I have been a journalist at the Western Advocate since 2014. Newsletters & AlertsView allDaily Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. Love footy? We've got all the action covered. The latest news, results & expert analysis. Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! but some aren't so confident a victory has been achieved yet All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAn independent MP having jumped ship from the Nationals mid-term Mr Gee declared Saturday's election result "Independence Day" for Calare The two-partied preferred count has Mr Gee with over 57 per cent of the vote with around 45 per cent of the total votes counted so far "I could not have done this without the love and support of my family I felt like the underdog all the way through," Mr Gee told his volunteers friends and family at the Orange City Bowling Club on Saturday night LIVE NATIONAL BLOG: Keep up to date with the main race as Albanese takes on Dutton for PM Mr Gee referenced a letter sent to his mother, Melva from the Liberal party informing her of her expulsion from the party after helping her son campaign as an independent "That's taking your eye off the ball," he said Sam Farraway told his supporters in Bathurst that no result should be declared yet with the votes close heading towards 50 per cent being counted "We don't yet have a result tonight and we don't have a result because 52 per cent of the voters in Calare have pre-polled Picture by Riley Krause."I suspect we're going to be counting for a couple of days to determine what the results will be." Mr Gee looks set to become the first independent member elected to the seat of Calare since the late Peter Andren in 2004 Swings against the National Party and Independent candidate Kate Hook have incumbent Andrew Gee in the box seat to win Calare An unusual seat this Federal election with Mr Gee ditching the National Party mid-term having stormed to victory in 2022 with the backing of the Coalition Mr Gee will likely retain the seat as an independent three years on While Sam Farraway has picked up 28.09 per cent of the first preference votes for the Nats this election that's a swing against the party of over 18 per cent Mr Gee has 23.13 per cent of the vote and is according to the Australian Electoral Commission's two-party preferred count There are some celebrations at the Gee camp at the Orange City Bowling Club while the mood in Bathurst for the Farraway post-election party is rather sombre Kate Hook and Sam Farraway and (insets) Julie Cunningham and Ben Parker.8pmKate Hook has spoken from Bathurst "We all expected that it will be close," Ms Hook said from her campaign party at the Victoria Hotel "Having two independents in the race made it really interesting Almost 15 per cent of the first preference votes have been counted now in Calare and it looks very likely we have a race between Andrew Gee and Sam Farraway Mr Farraway has 27.68 per cent of the first preferences while Mr Gee sits on 24.53 per cent of the vote Kate Hook's 16.13 per cent of the vote will prove crucial - as will Labor candidate Julie Cunningham's 9.36 per cent - with preferences to flow to the Gee camp and likely rocket the incumbent member back to Canberra for another term That Labor number is still a four per cent swing against the party in Calare and the general consensus around pre-poll votes tends to lean conservative meaning Mr Farraway could expect a strong result there .. Pictures Rachel Chamberlain and Riley Krause.6.45pmThe votes have begun rolling in for Calare and it's tight at the top while a massive swing has been revealed and Nationals candidate Sam Farraway is leading the first preference count He's polled 165 first preference votes - or 28.4 per cent of the vote - with incumbent member Andrew Gee 152 (26.16 per cent) The next rung down has Independent candidate Kate Hook with 82 (14.11 per cent) and then One Nation's Jennifer Hughes with 62 (11.53 per cent) Those four candidates have picked up double-digit percentages in terms of first preference votes The initial count reveals a pretty hefty swing against The National party with Mr Gee picking up 47.7 per cent of the first preference vote in 2022 Sam Farraway and Andrew Gee lead the initial first preference counts Picture by Nick McGrathEarlierThe polling booths are closed the voters of Calare have had their say and now the counting begins The exclusive YouGov poll revealed by this masthead, which included the seat of Calare, showed incumbent Andrew Gee winning 57 to 43 in a two-party preferred count over Nationals candidate Sam Farraway Whether or not that's the way the votes flow But we will have all of the updates for you as the roll in We've got an AEC vote tally counter which will update regularly and keep you up-to-date on which of the 10 candidates in the race for Calare are polling well Federal election 2025.Also relatedAround the grounds with Kate Hook"I started in Gulgong and deliberately did that I wanted to do that so they didn't feel forgotten three in Orange and three in Bathurst," she said we ended up with 636 volunteers and now our database has tipped over 2000 "We all realise it will be pretty close because you've got traditional voters people who vote for the person who is in because it's the easiest thing to do but then you've got someone like me who is coming in for the second time so I'm not an unknown as much as I was the last time the sun is out and we've got good weather for the polling day It's been a big campaign for all the parties and all the candidates and everyone across Calare," he said "I've always said that politics is about people and it's about making sure that you're delivering a plan excited that we've got the finish line at 6pm tonight." Picture by Rachel ChamberlainDr Julie Cunningham in Orange"We've certainly given it everything that we could We felt really proud of the policies that Labor has brought to the table particularly here in Calare," Dr Cunningham said "We've seen huge numbers through pre-polling so it's going to make for an interesting outcome tonight as the votes are counted." and we're looking forward to getting to the finish line," Mr Gee said "We've had a very positive message that we have been getting out there and I think people have responded to it very well so again that positive vibe keeps continuing today and we're all looking forward to 6pm when we could get those results." I have been a journalist at the Western Advocate since 2014 Riley KrauseSenior JournalistI am a senior journalist for ACM in the Central West Email me at riley.krause@austcommunitymedia.com.au I am a senior journalist for ACM in the Central West Nick McGrathRegional Editor - Western NSWEditor, Daily Liberal, Western Advocate, Central Western Daily Editor, Daily Liberal, Western Advocate, Central Western Daily but there’s a catchOverdue maintenance is promised for the legendary race circuit if the Nationals candidate – and the Federal Opposition – win at next month’s election + 5 PhotosNearly $15 million to upgrade the iconic Mount Panorama Bathurst race track has been pledged by National Party candidate Sam Farraway ahead of the 2025 Australian Federal Election Farraway is sitting for the federal seat of Calare – an area including the famous Bathurst circuit – and has promised to fund upgrades to the track if both he and the Federal Opposition are voted in on May 3 who won the seat as a member of the Nationals in 2016 before leaving the party to become an independent member in late 2022 MORE: BMW Bathurst 12 Hour one-two victory reiterates Valentino Rossi’s ability on four wheels “Mount Panorama brings in over $32 million a year to the local economy and supports jobs across the Central West,” Farraway said on social media.  “But after a recent safety inspection the track is overdue for critical repairs That includes resurfacing the 6.213km layout – last carried out in 2014 – after a plan to conduct the work early this year fell through as the $10 million required from the current Federal Government didn’t materialise “This $14.9 million investment will enable Bathurst Regional Council to carry out essential works and critical improvements to communications MORE: Bathurst stunt plane investigation launches – report The previous plan – announced by Bathurst Regional Council as part of its draft budget in April 2024 – included $1.7 million for tyre barrier updates $1 million for work on the Conrod Straight tunnel (which provides access to the inside of the track) A provisional $150,000 was planned for catch fencing but the track surface was – and remains – the key issue “The nature of that surface is that it is supposed to be replaced every 10 years and we are actually at that time now where the surface is due [for] its replacement,” Aaron Jones, from Bathurst Regional Council, explained to the local Western Advocate newspaper in April 2024.  “The need for the works associated with the tyre walls it was identified at our track safety inspections that we need to start giving some attention to those tyre walls MORE: V8 Supercars wants Daniel Ricciardo “Whilst we have been able to retain a track licence we are wary as to how long that licence would be retained if we did not do anything.” Mr Jones resigned from his long-standing position as the council’s finance director on April 11 Drainage also became an issue for the circuit – which is also a public road when not closed for an event – during the 2022 Bathurst 1000 V8 Supercars race when drivers had to negotiate large pools of water for extended periods after a downpour As well as the Bathurst 1000, Mount Panorama also hosts the annual Bathurst 12 Hour – won this year by BMW – and 2025 Bathurst 6 Hour due to take place over the Easter weekend on April 18-20 MORE: Ford’s electric van breaks Bathurst lap record The circuit precinct also contains the National Motor Racing Museum, which recently helped Ford Australia celebrate its 100th anniversary by supplying several historic race cars for the car maker’s event “Given the tough financial position of Bathurst Council this funding means they can focus on other local priorities – while we make sure the track stays safe licensed and race-ready for years to come,” Farraway said “This investment will ensure the track meets modern standards allowing the Bathurst 1000 and other major events to continue thriving.” The Federal Opposition has also announced it would abolish penalties for car makers not able to meet the Government's new emissions regulations, which are currently set to be enforced from July 1 2025. Copyright Drive.com.au 2025ABN: 84 116 608 158 all prices are shown as Manufacturer's Recommended List Price (MRLP) inclusive of GST Principal partner MyPlace is giving one lucky Panthers fan the chance to win the ultimate Bathurst Gameday Weekend Experience for two valued at $4,400 Enjoy accommodation at picturesque Rydges Mount Panorama corporate tickets to the Round 12 fixture against the Knights wine tour and lunch at Mortimers Winery and tickets to the Bathurst Sportsman's Lunch guests will enjoy uninterrupted views of Concord Straight and the local countryside Your stay will also include a complimentary breakfast at Chicane Bar and Grill and hotel facilities Enter the draw to win this amazing prize by completing the following form prior to Friday 9th May 2025 Entrants must be 18 years of age or older to enter The Zak Best/Chris Delfsma/Brianna Wilson Mustang started the six-hour race from seventh on the grid and crossed the line sixth outright and second in the A2 class It was, however, racing under a cloud of uncertainty having technically been disqualified from qualifying due to a technical breach It was thought there was an appeal in place that allowed the car to start from its seventh grid spot something that was supported by the final grid sheet issued right before the race However the car has since been disqualified from the race While a stewards report for the race disqualification is yet to be issued there is documentation detailing the qualifying disqualification and a Sunday morning hearing who advised that following an investigation in relation a non-compliant differential the Team Manager admitted that the differential fitted to Car 21 was a 3.73 in breach of the requirements under Group 3E Technical Regulations stating that the differential should be 3.55 as per the Recognition Form 3-20-005B,” read the report “Competitor Chris Delfsma deferred to Team Manager Andre Nader who advised Car 21 was delivered from a dealer with a 3.73 differential ratio and had been granted dispensation for the car to compete in the past with a 3.73 differential Ratio “Andre could not provide any written evidence to support this fact.” a little under two hours before the race start the competitors were advised that the penalty of disqualification had been upheld the aforementioned grid sheet that was approved by the stewards The disqualification of the #21 elevates Lindsay Kearns and Bradley Carr to second with Hadrian Morrall and Tyler Mecklem third in the A2 class Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox SUPERCARS F1 NASCAR INDYCAR GT MOTOGP PHOTOS TV PODS ACDELCO Subscribe to our daily and breaking newsletter for all the latest news delivered direct to your box Copyright © 2025 Speedcafe.com. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Our Team    /  Advertise with us  /  Privacy Policy Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox! All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThousands of people flocked to the showground to take advantage of the wonderful weather and see what makes the Bathurst Show one of the best in the state There were people from all across the state to take in all the action of the Kelso Electrical 2025 Royal Bathurst Show Following the success of the 2024 instalment the 2025 edition featured all of the Show classics we have come to know and love View +19 PhotosSee photos of smiling faces soaking up the sunshine at the Bathurst Show.This year, the Bathurst Royal featured rides and amusements A Western Advocate attended the event and snapped some photos of smiling faces on the show's first day Is there anybody you can recognise in the above gallery Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy Home › News The Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour takes place this weekend with 72 cars battling it out at Mount Panorama 15 different brands and over 20 models are included in the 2025 entry list and George Miedecke in their Secure Wealth Advisors BMW M4 Returning for another shot at victory are 2024 runners-up Ben Kavich and Thomas Randle in their Race For A Cure branded car They’ll face past winners and last year’s podium finishers who will once again team up with Will Davison The Class A2 promises to be a thrilling spectacle with two Chevrolet Camaros taking on a field of Ford Mustangs Among the contenders is a new Camaro entry from Tony Quinn and his grandson Ryder while defending Bathurst 1000 champion Todd Hazelwood joins last year’s A2 class winners Jason Gomersall and Aaron Seton in a Mustang the first all-female team to win a Bathurst enduro returns with Karlie Buccini and Courtney Prince now joined by second-generation racer Tabitha Ambrose in their Class B1 BMW Family pairings are a recurring theme this year including the father-daughter duo of Carlos and Annabelle Rolfo as well as Allan and Rob Jarvis in their Volkswagen Orange-based James and Trevor Keene will pilot a similar VW eleven cars on the grid feature either partial or full family lineups View the full entry list here. The 2025 Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour will take place on 18–20 April at Mount Panorama © Confederation of Australian Motor Sport Limited trading as Motorsport Australia • 2025ABN 55 069 045 665   Motorsport Australia acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present motorsport.org.au is powered by OctozyTerms of Use | Cookies All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThousands of people flocked to the showground to take advantage of the wonderful weather and see what makes the Bathurst Show one of the best in the state +16See photos of smiling faces soaking up the sunshine at the Bathurst Show.This year, the Bathurst Royal featured rides and amusements Looks like you’ve exceeded track limits! Use the search box below to find what you’re looking for… Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueFor each of the recruits it's something that they have wanted to do since they were kids and they were all influenced by a friend or family member already in the force After eight months of foundational training the new probationary constables were attested at a formal ceremony at the Goulburn Police Academy on Friday The class comprised 302 new probationary constables and six new police dogs and their handlers On Monday, May 5, these probationary constables first reported to their stations, with three being welcomed to the Chifley Police District in Bathurst Having three recruits join the ranks is something that Chifley Police District Superintendent Commander Darren Beeche said he was very excited about New probationary constables to join the Chifley Police District Picture by Alise McIntosh"It's great to have them here and to be slowly building up our staffing levels again," he said "They're a really welcome addition to Chifley to get on board to slowly reduce crime in the community We're down nearly 40 per cent in break-and-enters and theft from motor vehicles and nearly every other crime is headed in quite a significant downward trend and they're going to further drive that crime down." That's precisely what the new recruits said they were looking forward to the most: getting out into the community and getting started in their roles After working as a carpenter in Blayney and Orange for six years 24-year-old Liam Burrell said he was looking for a career change and being out in the cold weather and hitting nails," he said after being convinced by friends in the police at Bathurst and Orange after dreaming of the moment since he was a child Const Burrell said that his first day on the job was a full-circle moment "There's a preschool photo of me with a police hat on but I'm keen to get into it and get started." Const Burrell said that his main goal in the police force is to become part of the proactive team After living in Sydney for most of her life Lauren Bossinakis moved to the region when her partner joined the Police Force With a dream of her own and a desire to follow in his footsteps Const Bossinakis took the leap and transitioned from her career as a nurse to joining the force a part of me was always wishing I was there so I thought 'why wait anymore?'," she said the 23-year-old is one of Bathurst's newest probationary constables but I always wanted to be a cop," she said Const Bossinakis dreamed of a life in the force she said she was eager to get out in the community "I think I'm mostly excited about getting out there and doing it Const Bossinakis' dream is to progress through the ranks and eventually join the Police Dog Unit or become a detective After working as a mechanic for several years, thanks to the new payment incentives Mr Mangan made the move to join the police "I've always wanted to be a police officer Seeing a family friend enter the force and hearing all their exciting stories Const Mangan said he knew policing would be a great fit especially the fast-paced nature of the job I'm keen to get out on the road and get out and about," he said You never know what you're going to be doing." Const Mangan said he would like to get into police rescue he said he was just looking forward to his first day in his new role Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe man tried to punch several security guards resisted police and ended up being sent to Bathurst Hospital due to what was described as his psychotic state As the man appeared in Bathurst Local Court to be sentenced on a number of charges his solicitor asked the magistrate to note that two of those with whom he had been camping had written letters that were being used as part of his defence The court was also asked to note the man's cognitive challenges having previously pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm hinder or resist a police officer in the execution of duty and stalk or intimidate with the intention of causing fear of physical Nolan had also pleaded guilty to a charge of larceny related to an incident at Raymond Terrace that was separate to the incidents at Mount Panorama File picture.What happenedThe witness in the matter is the primary organiser of a large group of people who attend the Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama each year The group books 10 campsites and is made up of extended members of the witness' family as well as friends including one of the victims in the matter Nolan is an associate of the witness and had attended the event for the past three years without incident several of the group left the Mount Panorama precinct to go to licensed premises in the Bathurst CBD Nolan separated from the group at some point and they returned to the campsite without him He arrived at the campsite later in the day and continued to drink one of the members of the group was cooking at a barbecue within the campsite when Nolan approached her from behind and slapped her on the buttocks She turned around and told Nolan she didn't appreciate it and to back off Nolan attempted to tell her it was another person in the group who slapped her but Nolan verbally abused her and others in the campsite sensing that Nolan was becoming more and more aggressive Nolan began to kick and punch bins and swags and hit himself in the head with one of his boots The witness told several of the younger female members of the group to go to an adjoining campsite while he attempted to calm Nolan and get him to go to bed the witness attempted to reason with Nolan warning him on several occasions that he would be forced to contact security to have Nolan removed as he was scaring members of numerous campsites Nolan continued to act in an aggressive and threatening manner only to to get back out and continue his combative behaviour Picture by Carla Freedman.The witness had not called them but believed neighbouring campers had done so out of fear As security attempted to de-escalate the situation Nolan attempted to take hold of an axe that was resting in a wood pile and said words to the effect that he would kill everyone Security personnel attempted to restrain him and Nolan tried to punch several security guards and tried to bite one guard on his right arm Nolan got his head under the guard's arm and took hold of him then dropped his body weight to the ground The guard fell in a fashion that led to him having his shoulder placed in a position that gave him immediate pain The guard suspected that his shoulder had been dislocated A number of police arrived and helped security in restraining Nolan He continued to yell at police and security Given what was described in the police documents as Nolan's "psychotic state" he was initially taken to Bathurst Hospital via police vehicle for a mental health assessment He continued to yell and kick while in the police vehicle and hospital until he was sedated by medical staff File picture.He was assessed by medical staff at around 8am was arrested and taken to the police station he said he had no recollection of the incident He denied using methamphetamine and said he had drunk at least 10 beers and had some cannabis Nolan declined to be interviewed or to take part in any electronic recording said Nolan stole a 2013 specialised dual suspension mountain bike Magistrate Gemma Slack-Smith said the court had a Magistrates' Early Referral Into Treatment (MERIT) drug and alcohol report for Nolan references and a Sentencing Assessment Report "Very positive and very thorough," Nolan's solicitor James Taylor said He said all material indicated his client's remorse and contrition with respect to what he had done Mr Taylor said his client was on a disability support pension At the time of the incidents at Mount Panorama Nolan had drunk a bottle-and-a-half of Sambuca Mr Taylor said - a volume of alcohol that might have had a "more fatal end result" for others "He has no recollection of the incident itself and "has accepted whatever has been alleged by police" Mr Taylor asked the court to note a character reference from the witness as well as a letter from the female victim "His behaviour was appalling," Mr Taylor said of Nolan "But he has done his utmost to repair the damage." He said his client had cognitive challenges while Ms Slack-Smith said it was clear from material before her that Nolan came from a very deprived background and "has some significant challenges in his life" Nolan was on an 18-month Community Correction Order (used for crimes that do not warrant imprisonment or an Intensive Correction Order but are too serious to be dealt with by a fine or lower level penalty) at the time of the incident at Mount Panorama and had gone 15 months on that order without offending He said his client did have an assault matter in 2015 on his criminal history When Mr Taylor said he wasn't sure if the court would decide the Section 5 threshold (where there is no alternative to jail) had been crossed police prosecutor Inspector Bruce Wells said he would not be opposed to a Community Correcton Order with supervision Ms Slack-Smith noted that Nolan had pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity and so was entitled to a 25 per cent discount on sentence She also noted that she did not have any information about the extent of the security guard's shoulder injury Ms Slack-Smith said the MERIT report before her was "very positive" saying Nolan had initially found it difficult to engage in the process but had then become very engaged and had reduced his alcohol use The difficulties of Nolan's childhood and his cognitive challenges were also noted by Ms Slack-Smith as was the supervision plan proposed for him For assault occasioning actual bodily harm Ms Slack-Smith convicted Nolan and imposed a Community Correction Order of 18 months with supervision at Maitland It includes a rehabilitation and treatment condition for drug and alcohol counselling Ms Slack-Smith convicted Nolan and fined him $300 Ms Slack-Smith convicted Nolan and fined him $700 Ms Slack-Smith convicted Nolan and imposed an 18-month Community Correction Order Ms Slack-Smith told Nolan that he could pay off his fines by attending drug and alcohol counselling their latest win a convincing victory over the Gold Coast Suns Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOSThe Brisbane Lions' premiership defence is hitting somewhere near top gear and there's plenty in reserve for Chris Fagan who is forecasting selection headaches for the table-toppers Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueA 12th win from the last 13 encounters with Gold Coast on Sunday at the Gabba followed the Lions' dominance of St Kilda a week earlier They're now 7-1 and back on top of the AFL ladder despite acknowledging struggles with team defence and consistency around the stoppages Fagan's side were ominously dominant in those two areas on a wet night in Brisbane on Sunday a ruthless third term setting up a comfortable 9.12 (62) to 7.7 (49) scoreline that flattered the Suns Brisbane's Will Ashcroft had a huge impact in the Lions' win over the Suns at the Gabba (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)Midfielders Will Ashcroft Lachie Neale and Josh Dunkley put on a clinic as the Lions won clearances 47-28 Charlie Cameron ended a three-game goal drought with a trio of majors the small forward also missing two set-shot snaps he would normally swallow up And Jack Payne returned from illness to put the clamps on Coleman Medal leader Ben King who didn't touch the ball until the third term Suns coach Damien Hardwick tipped his cap to the "humming" Lions Brisbane coach Chris Fagan says the table-topping Lions still have plenty in reserve (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)"The past two weeks we're getting back to somewhere near what we look like when we play our best footy," the coach said "The boys have embraced the pressure stuff and team defence side of things and we've got good results on the back of that." That effort came hours after Keiden Coleman's impressive return from a knee reconstruction in a two-point VFL win against the Suns 10 marks and five tackles in his first game since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in round one last year Keidean Coleman made an impressive return to the Lions' VFL side 14 months after an ACL rupture (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)Fellow defender Tom Doedee also starred the Adelaide recruit playing his fourth game since overcoming back-to-back knee reconstructions Doedee had initially been reluctant to put his name forward for AFL selection but has told Fagan he is ready for a recall Sam Day (hamstring) will likely be sidelined but the coach said forwards Kai Lohmann (shoulder) and Logan Morris (calf) should both be available to face North Melbourne in Hobart next week It creates a selection headache for the coach who took his side to the flag with Coleman Darcy Gardiner and Lincoln McCarthy all sidelined by knee injuries last year "We've got a few coming at us," Fagan said "He (Coleman) has got to push his way into the side .. I'm reluctant to change a group that's doing a good job and sometimes it's good to get a second game Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOSA brazen serial groper who preyed upon 18 women in a nightclub has avoided jail time after a judge found his risk of reoffending was low Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueDavid Maria Anthony Rayan was facing up to 10 years in prison but was instead sentenced to a two-year community corrections order on Monday He dodged reporters' questions as he left the Victorian County Court The former PwC IT worker pleaded guilty to 17 charges of sexual assault and one count of attempted sexual assault over the attacks at Revolver Upstairs in Melbourne's inner east CCTV footage from the nightclub showed Rayan groping his victims on the buttocks stroking their backs and kissing them on the arms and shoulders The attacks happened on three separate occasions in September and October 2023 Rayan admitted to police he touched one of the women accidentally but claimed he could not remember the other incidents because he was too drunk Victorian County Court Judge Peter Rozen said he held reservations about those claims as he sentenced Rayan over the "brazen" attacks The attacks occurred at Revolver Upstairs in Melbourne's inner east (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)"Your offending was deliberate and you knew what you were doing," he said The women were entitled to feel safe in the nightclub and the scale of Rayan's crimes was concerning He noted that three victim impact statements were read to the court where the women described their ongoing anxiety and shattered sense of security Judge Rozen also decided Rayan's moral culpability was considerable and said the 34-year-old lacked insight into his offending But the judge accepted the sexual assaults were at the lower end of seriousness given Rayan's victims were adults and the attacks were fleeting The sentencing judge said David Rayan's offending was out of character (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)His risk of reoffending was also low no pending charges and no diagnosed mental health conditions "I accept this offending was out of character for you," the judge said Rayan was sentenced to a two-year community corrections order with 180 hours of unpaid community work He will also have to complete treatment for alcohol abuse and programs to reduce his risk of reoffending National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThis year registered nurse and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation coordinator at Bathurst Health Service is helping to spread the word about the importance of heart health Though Ms Thompson has been an advocate for heart health in Bathurst for more than a decade she will be commemorating the week as a published researcher her research project surrounding the importance of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation was published in the Australian Journal of Rural Health The project was titled, 'Changes in Mental and Physical Health Outcomes Following One Day a Week Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation in Regional New South Wales' conducted at the Bathurst Hospital from 2021 to 2023 based on the significant physical and mental health benefits of a one-session-per-week rehabilitation program for individuals with heart and lung diseases Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation coordinator at Bathurst Health Service Picture by Alise McIntoshMs Thompson has been running this rehabilitation program for 16 years The program focuses on medically supervised exercise and education designed to improve cardiovascular health and help support individuals recover following heart diagnosis and surgeries After seeing the results of this program first-hand Ms Thompson connected with a CSU Orange researcher and physiotherapist and a lead researcher from Western Sydney University they were able to highlight the significant physical and mental health benefits of a one-session-per-week rehabilitation program for individuals with heart and lung diseases and it has been published," Ms Thompson said "It's been the most incredible year to have your work that you're so passionate about those in need attend one session a week at Ochre Health where they undertake structured exercises to improve their overall wellbeing after a heart attack and we're educating people on the importance of exercise becoming a part of their daily routine," Ms Thompson said "We're also educating them on a heart-healthy diet making sure that they adhere to their medications Patients are assessed at their first visit Ms Thompson said the changes in patients' physical and mental health is phenomenal and then just to see them progress physically I'm just so taken aback by what I witness," she said Not only was Ms Thompson able to witness these results in a controlled environment she has also seen the benefits in the real world and witnessed all the benefits of our patients not only do I see them here for the six-week program but I then am fortunate to see them out in the community; and it's just amazing," she said Having these experiences be validitated in a research paper is something that Ms Thompson said has been extremely satisfying she is on a mission to continue her efforts Ms Thompson will be hosting an event for heart week at the Bathurst Health Service This event will focus on encouraging people to have a heart check with their GP's and to take positive steps to reduce their risk of heart disease "Cardiovascular disease is still one of the most prevalent health conditions in Australia," Ms Thompson said "CVD is a major cause of death in Australia; responsible for causing around one in four (24%) of all deaths what they're trying to do is to reduce that statistic." Ms Thompson will be in the foyer of the Bathurst Hospital to highlight the importance of heart health She will also be doing some demonstrations of the types of exercises that help to prevent heart disease and sharing information regarding the Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation program Ms Thompson will also be helping to promote the program as part of the low-cost, no-cost program exercises available as part of a collaboration between the Neighbourhood Centre and Western Sydney University Andrew Gee swapped out the soft drink he'd been sipping on all night for a beer Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe same could not be said for the rest of his watch party at the Orange City Bowling Club where drinks were flowing soon after polling closed at 6pm Following a tough campaign a year-and-a-half after his defection from The National Party many were keen to relax "with a cold brew" as they watched the votes trickle in "I just wanted to get over the line before we celebrated," Mr Gee said of his decision to wait But the independent politician wasn't sure he'd be afforded that opportunity on Saturday night Despite polling indicating Mr Gee would come out on top he anticipated having to sweat out a result "I can honestly tell you that I was not expecting to be celebrating tonight," he told this masthead I was thinking that even if it was close that this could drag out for a long time Andrew Gee on the phone with a soft drink in hand Picture by Riley Krause"I was not expecting to be calling it tonight and not expecting the result to be that emphatic Although telling his own watch party in Bathurst that he would wait until "every single vote" was counted before conceding defeat on Sunday morning Sam Farraway did just that "With just over 80 per cent of the primary vote counted my lead in first preferences is now just over 6000 votes and I have fallen behind on preferences," he said in a statement "It's unlikely there are enough remaining votes to regain the lead "I want to congratulate Andrew Gee on a result that will see him retain the seat of Calare." Andrew Gee celebrates winning Calare alongside friends Picture by Riley KrauseAs of 5pm on Sunday Mr Gee had nearly 24,000 first preference votes compared to his former party candidate's 30,000 it was preferences that set the incumbent apart; 56 per cent to 44 per cent So what did the former Nats member attribute to this willingness for Calare to elect an independent for the first time since 2004 "It shows that people are not as rusted on as they used to be," Mr Gee said "I think it shows that people are willing to give the independents a go and they're a lot more open minded about it." Mr Gee also believes major parties can no longer take any seat for granted "They can no longer have the belief that no matter what these communities will keep backing major parties; that time is over," he added "There's this sense of entitlement to a seat that the major parties think 'this is a National Party seat and how dare anyone challenge that.' That has made it difficult to campaign with that attitude." Andrew Gee looking into the voting numbers prior to calling his victory Picture by Riley KrauseMr Gee was not the only candidate to note there had been "a lot of chirp" at the polling booths both on and prior to Saturday But as a former Nationals member contesting what had been a safe seat for two decades "I always knew this fight was going to be horrendous because they were coming for us," he said of the Nationals Even with the advertising that was coming out in the last two or three days with the campaign we knew that they were going to throw everything at us." He hoped his victory would bring about change of how candidates and political parties operate come next election cycle everyone will reflect on the campaign that was and that next time round On a night where Opposition Leader Peter Dutton lost his seat - the first opposition leader ever to do so - the Labor party secured a majority government This could limit the amount of sway Mr Gee - along with other independent and minor party members - can have during the coming three years The Coalition election night party in Brisbane on Saturday Picture by Dana Daniel"I think our voice will be even stronger because we've been able to go through this test this election and come out the other side," he added we're obviously going to have to fight and hold the government to account and make sure we get our fair share I think we go back to the next parliament with an even stronger voice." So what does his "long list" of projects and priorities for Calare include Unsurprisingly he pointed to the Great Western Highway and Dixons Long Point crossing as infrastructure projects he'll be pursuing But he also wants to tackle the rural doctor shortage crisis, cost of living and "getting the right energy mix". "We also have a lot of vulnerable people in our communities," Mr Gee said "I think there's a lot more work we can be doing to be getting more support behind the vulnerable members." he's planning on taking a break after what was a "very delighted and humbled that the result has been so decisive," he added I am a senior journalist for ACM in the Central West. I cover council, human interest, and crime. Email me at riley.krause@austcommunitymedia.com.au Today's top stories curated by our news team Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert Your digital replica of Today's Paper Test your skills with interactive crosswords Jayden Ojeda and Simon Hodges are going for their third straight win together and will once again bring George Miedecke along for that attempt Miedecke was part of the winning team in 2024 in the BMW M4 and is looking for his second win This year’s entry list features a smorgasbord of production cars split across eight classes Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour The 2025 Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour takes place on April 18-20 across Easter Class X is for the fastest production cars Other eligible cars include the Holden HSV GTS VF A1 – Extreme Performance Forced Induction Class A1 features a wide variety of turbocharged cars including the Audi TT Popular cars include the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X and the BMW 1M A2 – Extreme Performance Naturally Aspirated Its most popular cars are the Ford Mustang It also features a Chevrolet Camaro and a Holden R8 Clubsport B1 – High Performance Forced Induction Class B1 is open to a bunch of different cars but this year only features four turbocharged BMW production cars – albeit B2 – High Performance Naturally Aspirated Class B2 features a pair of BMW E92s and three Holden Commodores Class C performance is popular with hot hatches and features a diverse mix of cars including the Volkswagen Golf and Scirocco Class D has a bumper grid this year filled with Toyota 86s Class E compact is made up entirely of Mazda 3 hatchbacks The Bathurst 6 Hour will be free-to-air on SBS and on subscription services Fox Sports and Kayo There will also be limited live stream coverage on the Bathurst 6 Hour Facebook page Details on how to watch the Bathurst 6 Hour outside of Australia will be available HERE The Bathurst 6 Hour will be supported by the Trico Trans Am Series Australian Pulsar Racing & Formula RX8 Australian Prototype Series & Regulator Automation New South Wales Supersports Championship Australian Historic Touring Car Association CLICK HERE for the full Bathurst 6 Hour support class entry list coverage of the Bathurst 6 Hour will be live-streamed on Facebook from 8:20am to 11am Coverage will continue on Fox Sports from 12pm to 5:30pm SBS will begin its coverage at 1pm with a two-hour window through to 3pm Sunday’s coverage of the Bathurst 6 Hour begins on Fox Sports from 9:45am and concludes at 5:30pm SBS will begin its coverage from 11am through to 5:30pm and Anton De Pasquale headline the entry list in Class X Bryce Fullwood is also entered in Class A2 Supercars co-drivers Jayden Ojeda and David Russell are also contenders in Class X Other high-profile names include Porsche Carrera Cup Australia driver Oscar Targett multiple Bathurst 1000 starter Tyler Everingham TCR Australia Series race winner Zac Soutar Please enter your username or email address to reset your password Historic Holden Commodore Supercar lands in BathurstSupercars17 AprChassis WR 025 has been delivered to the National Motor Racing Museum2 mins by James PaveyWAUWalkinshaw Andretti UnitedChaz Mostert...Historic Holden Commodore Supercar lands in Bathurst Chassis WR 025 delivered to National Motor Racing Museum Car debuted in 2020, last raced in Supercars in 2022 An historic Walkinshaw Andretti United Holden Commodore Supercar has landed in Bathurst at the National Motor Racing Museum. Chassis WR 025 has been delivered to the museum, located near Murray's Corner at Mount Panorama. The Commodore was one of two final Holden Supercars raced by WAU in the championship, before the team switched to Ford to commence the Gen3 era. WR 025 was built for star recruit Chaz Mostert in 2020, with the driver racing the car to a first-up podium at the Adelaide 500. Mostert and Warren Luff shared the car at the 2020 Bathurst 1000, finishing third. Bryce Fullwood shifted into WR 025 before Nick Percat took over for the 2022 season. Percat famously helped Mostert complete a one-two finish for WAU in the team's final event as a Holden team at the 2022 Adelaide 500. WR 025 then landed in the hands of current WAU main game driver Ryan Wood, who raced the car in Super2 in 2023. Wood won five races and three rounds before stepping up to Supercars in 2024. The car has since been restored to its 2022 Adelaide colours, which is an homage to the 1990 Bathurst-winning Holden Racing Team livery. "Our newest arrival today at the National Motor Racing Museum is Nick Percat’s 2022 ZB Commodore Supercar, in the special livery worn at the Adelaide 500, marking the end of the Holden brand in Supercars," a National Motor Racing Museum post reads. "Percat would score a memorable 2nd place behind team mate Chaz Mostert in the Saturday race, in the evocative Holden Racing Team colours." Fans can see WR 025 at the National Motor Racing Museum throughout this weekend's Bathurst 6 Hour. Transport for NSW has been improving safety along a 50 kilometre section of the Mitchell Highway for the past few years with a number of projects now complete The latest sections completed and now open to traffic include Vittoria Curve in May 2024 following Vittoria East and East Guyong which were completed in December 2023 The road from Bathurst to Orange sees around 10,000 traffic movements a day and has a history of road crashes proven life-saving solutions are being installed at various locations View the November notification (PDF, 332.93 KB) for more information The next stage of work to improve road safety on the Mitchell Highway between Bathurst and Orange will not only focus on saving human lives it will also focus on the preservation of local wildlife Read the full media release for more information Transport for NSW is delivering safety improvements for the Mitchell Highway between Bathurst and Orange to improve safety for road users and reduce the risk of crashes along the 50 kilometre section of the highway A number of emergency repairs have also taken place to improve the safety of all road users Following severe weather at the end of 2021 major repair works were carried out between Bathurst and Orange Extensive patching and pothole work was carried out along the Mitchell Highway along with safety upgrade work including sealing road shoulders and widening centre lines Road safety improvements such as the construction of a westbound overtaking lane at Guyong and road surface improvements and culvert works at East Guyong have been recently completed The aim of these safety improvements is to increase the separation of oncoming vehicles and provide a more forgiving road environment for when people make mistakes vegetation removal and drainage improvements throughout the project Some documents on this page may not comply with accessibility requirements (WCAG) If you are having trouble accessing information in these documents, please contact us Night detour of the Mitchell Highway between Bathurst and Orange from Tuesday 6 December Changed traffic conditions on the Mitchell Highway at Vittoria Mitchell Highway East Guyong safety upgrade July 2021 - Reduced speed limit along Mitchell Highway near Thompson Road in Orange February 2021 - Work continues for a safer Mitchell Highway at East Guyong For further information about this project Email: western.projects@transport.nsw.gov.au Transport for NSW recognise and celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal peoples and their ongoing cultures and care of Country We pay respect to traditional custodians and Elders past and present The Triple Eight co-owner has given the strongest hint yet that the Supercars powerhouse is lining up an outright attack on the race with the GT3 Mustang Ford Performance boss Mark Rushbrook declared the appearance of its GT3 racer in the Aussie endurance classic is only a matter of time after car availability kept it out of the 2025 contest A Bathurst 12 Hour campaign would mark a spectacular beginning to Triple Eight’s new Ford era which will see it become the Blue Oval’s Supercars homologation team has also flagged a Toyota GT4 entry at Bathurst next year as part of his Tony Quinn Foundation program designed to help young Kiwi drivers “I think next year we’ll run the GT3 Mustang in the 12 Hour “We’ll run some young Kiwis because Toyota are a good partner for us in New Zealand [We’ll put them in GT4] because to put young kids into GT3 is proper danger “The whole plan there is to go to the Dubai 24 Hour in ’28 and try and have a crack at that and I want to go back 20 years later and do it again Quinn campaigns a Toyota Supra GT4 in the Monochrome GT4 Australia series through his own Keltic Racing operation He’ll be joined for this weekend’s second round in Sydney by 20-year-old Kiwi Hugo Allan who recently won the 2024/25 NZ Toyota GR86 Series The Tony Quinn Foundation supports a host of young Kiwis including in the Toyota Formula Regional Oceania and Toyota GR86 classes The Dubai 24 Hour is part of the 24H Series promoted by Dutch body Creventic and currently runs to a multi-class format headlined by GT3 machines Quinn won the race in 2008 aboard a VIP Petfoods Porsche alongside son Karl Quinn More than 5000 campsites renewed ahead of this week’s close of renewal period Campsite renewal period closes at 12:00pm AEST on Tuesday 15 April A record-breaking number of fans have already secured their spot for the 2025 Repco Bathurst 1000 with more than 5000 campsites renewed ahead of this week’s close of the exclusive renewal period The campsite renewal period closes at 12:00pm AEST on Tuesday 15 April with any unsecured sites to be released for public sale Fans who missed out on renewals will have another chance to secure a site when the public sale begins at 10:00am AEST on Wednesday 7 May Over 1800 sites are expected to be available across six of the eight campgrounds all available public sale campsites were exhausted in just 90 minutes Camping at the Bathurst 1000 continues to be one of the most sought-after experiences in Australian sport festival vibes and unrivalled access to the action on and off the track This year’s Great Race will be held from October 10-13 Supercars CEO Shane Howard said: “This is obviously incredibly pleasing news on the back of our return to New Zealand being sold out “We are immensely grateful for the support of our passionate Bathurst campers who have locked in their spot once again for this iconic event “The Repco Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama is a highlight of the Australian sports calendar camping remains incredibly popular for our marquee event “We anticipate that this year’s event will once again draw a significant crowd with over 7000 campsites expected to be filled.” Campsite details, FAQs and public sale access are available via this link. Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueHis Bathurst Panthers side suffered a 62-6 hammering at the hands of Dubbo CYMS on Sunday It was only two seasons ago when Panthers made their last trip to Apex Oval to take on the Fishies and copped a similar thrashing That one was a 60-0 loss and Betts didn't mince his words after either result He used "embarrassing" to describe both while on Sunday he added "terrible" and said his side played like an under 7s side If Panthers do manage to turn things around this season and play finals footy there's one ground they certainly won't want to go to Dejected Bathurst Panthers players at Apex Oval Picture by Nick GuthrieAn early blockbusterWellington and Dubbo CYMS have one of the great rivalries in the western area and the latest blockbuster between the two could be played next weekend The Cowboys and Fishies are two of just three sides to sit unbeaten after the first two rounds of the season CYMS' quality is well known and the expectation is they will be towards the top of the ladder every season but the Cowboys have been one of the more eye-catching performers of the early rounds Hawks captain Nathan Potts said he Wellington "would be there at the end of the season" Wellington players celebrate a try against Orange Hawks Picture by Dominic UnwinWe'll get a real indication of both sides' quality next weekend Bathurst St Pat's could be counting the cost of their match against Parkes Spacemen for some time Having already lost recruit Riley Cheshire to a torn meniscus in round one halfback Tyler Colley was carried off after suffering a knee injury They were also missing Pone Tongia due to a wedding in Samoa and they felt the effect Dwyer would no doubt have enjoyed checking the result from his overseas sojourn in Bali Bathurst Panthers may have been terribly disappointing at Dubbo on Sunday but newcomer Grant Garvey was one bright spot A former under 20s Origin hooker who made one appearance for the Roosters in 2016 Garvey was smart around dummy half while his kicking game was also impressive before he His signing adds to the number of players with top-level experience in the Peter McDonald Premiership Justin Carney's arrival at Macquarie means there are two ex-NRL players - the other being Shane Rodney at Hawks - coaching PMP sides in 2025 Jack Buchanan and Vincent Leuluai all playing alongside a host of players with NSW Cup and Queensland Cup experience Hawks signing Philimon Kimisive is also a former Papua New Guinea representative No wonder why many involved in the PMP think it could become the best competition in the bush Bathurst Panthers made the headlines ahead of round two when they confirmed the signings of Grant Garvey and Willie Baker but there have been some other interesting names to pop up so far this season Willie Baker (left) and Grant Garvey made thier Bathursrt Panthers debuts on Sunday Picture by Nick GuthrieYoung prop Junior Fifita made his debut for St Pat's on Sunday while another was Mason Williams who appeared off the bench for Macquarie on Sunday Williams has spent a number of years at Wellington while there was also one lone season with the Nyngan Tigers Williams could prove a valuable addition for the Raiders Nyngan Tigers 42 defeated Lithgow Workies Wolves 12 Dubbo CYMS 62 defeated Bathurst Panthers 6 Mudgee Dragons 28 defeated Macquarie Raiders 14 Parkes Spacemen 30 defeated Bathurst St Pat's 26 Wellington Cowboys 26 defeated Orange Hawks 20 Nick GuthrieSenior sport journalist - WesternI started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior sport journalist for Western NSW. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo, Orange, Bathurst and everywhere in between. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out. I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior sport journalist for Western NSW. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo, Orange, Bathurst and everywhere in between. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out. All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThat was the magistrate's blunt summary as a man appeared in Bathurst Local Court after he filmed himself burning some of his ex-partner's belongings the man initially refused to put out the blaze even when Fire and Rescue NSW arrived at his house Timothy Clifford McKellar, 40, of Moresby Way, West Bathurst 2025 to plead guilty to destroying or damaging property Police documents before the court said McKellar and the victim in the matter were in a relationship for two months living separately and travelling between Sydney and Bathurst they each left property at the other person's address A 40-year-old man has pleaded guilty to setting some of his ex-partner's belongings on fire File picture.The relationship ended and they started arguing about returning each other's belongings McKellar and the victim organised to return each other's property on March 15 the victim did not attend as McKellar was demanding property which was gifted to her The victim received a text message from McKellar at about 4.50pm on Sunday I'm done I waited for you yesterday I done so f..king done" A video from McKellar was received by the victim at around 5.26pm in which he addressed the victim directly he then turned the camera to show a large blue suitcase sitting on top of a fire drum which was well alight The victim attempted to call McKellar a number of times Police attended Moresby Way at around 5.40pm and spoke to McKellar He escorted police around the property and they could see the drum was well alight Fire and Rescue NSW attended and asked McKellar to extinguish the fire but complied after it was explained that it was a total fire ban Police said they cautioned McKellar and he said "it's rubbish and she wanted to get rid of it" He said he was asked to get rid of it and he did Police said they contacted the victim and asked if she wanted McKellar to get rid of the belongings and she said she hadn't asked him to do that McKellar was cautioned again at around 6.20pm taken to Bathurst Police Station and offered the opportunity to participate in an electronically recorded interview McKellar was represented by solicitor Evan Dowd who said his client had told the victim to keep the items of his that were at her house because he didn't "want to deal with it anymore" Mr Dowd said items of clothing had been left at both houses He acknowledged that his client did have two previous intimidation charges on his record both of which had been dealt with by a fine Mr Dowd said his client had pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity and had been reporting to Bathurst Police Station as required since being arrested and he asked the court to consider a Community Correction Order (used for crimes that do not warrant imprisonment or an Intensive Correction Order but are too serious to be dealt with by a fine or lower level penalty) for the charge the conduct is pathetic conduct," Magistrate Gemma Slack-Smith told him Ms Slack-Smith convicted McKellar and imposed a Community Correction Order of nine months Bathurst Regional Council was quite comfortable incorporating land sales into its budget but in 2025 it will no longer rely on them Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueIt comes after the new Windradyne subdivision fell flat upon its release 12 months ago As of March 2025, the number of lots sold in the 91-lot subdivision was just 23, and that was only after Ray White sold 16 lots in one day on March 24 Settlement for those 16 lots will be staggered, with seven expected to settle before the end of the 2024-25 financial year Council's director of Corporate Services and Finance said council had not anticipated such a slow take-up of the Windradyne land as its land releases have historically sold quickly "It's only now with the Windradyne estate land release that we are experiencing a very slow take in land sales," he said "Every other time that council has sold land He said the council was not reliant on land sales prior to the COVID-19 pandemic but the resulting economic impact of the global health crisis changed that but then the council copped another blow with the November 2022 floods but then when we had the natural disasters in November 2022 where we had such a significant impact on a lot of our road and bridge networks which were not covered by disaster recovery funding that unfortunately undid a lot of the work that we had done and increased our reliance again back on land sales," Mr Jones said The Windradyne subdivision was in the pipeline at the time and expected to perform similarly to the council's other land releases After discovering a $7.3 million decrease to its unrestricted cash position in the last quarter council staff and councillors agreed it was time to end the council's reliance on land sales The draft budget for the 2025-26 financial year are being prepared so council's operating result and unrestricted cash position will not be dependent on land sales occurring Picture by Rachel ChamberlainThe draft budget is slated to be included on the agenda for the council's April ordinary meeting where the council is expected to resolve to put it on public exhibition Mr Jones said it has been tough to prepare the budget without land sales because what we are now looking at is reductions in spend in operational items," he said the community can expect to see a scaling back of the services the council provides members of the public can provide their feedback which will be considered by councillors before the budget is adopted While the council will not be relying on land sales moving forward it will still be actively trying to sell land Mr Jones said the proceeds of future land sales will be set aside in an internal restricted asset with the intention of using the money to carry out one-off infrastructure projects or future land development STEPHEN Grove isn’t committed yet to returning to the Bathurst 12 Hour – but it’s not a sign that he’s done with the event It’s because he’s totally focused on his debut in the world’s biggest sportscar race The Supercars team owner returned to racing last weekend for the first time since sustaining a back injury in a violent crash at the 12 Hour in February Grove and son Brenton competed in the first round of the International GT Open season at Portimão aboard an Iron Lynx-run Mercedes The run marked the next step in the preparations for their debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June The enormity of the buildup for that event means that Grove Snr hasn’t given too much thought to what his 2026 race program will look like and whether that includes the Mount Panorama GT enduro “Because Le Mans is such a big event and there’s so much preparation – gym the simulator and all the technical side – my focus is just on Le Mans,” Grove told V8 Sleuth I promised myself I’d go back and do (the Gulf 12 Hours in) Abu Dhabi “We got taken out of that race so I really want to go back and do that again and that’s probably the only thing on the agenda at this stage.” While his last three Bathurst 12 Hour campaigns have ended with crashes Grove has attained plenty of silverware from the race He claimed five class wins between 2014 and 2020 the first and last of those both netting top 10 outright finishes “I have no problem with going back and doing the Bathurst 12 Hour,” he said Over the 13 or 14 years I’ve done it “The last couple of races haven’t been good but you’ve just got to get back on and go up there The Groves’ next race in their build-up to Le Mans will be the 12 Hours of Misano on May 22-24 The NSW Government is funding safety upgrades between Lithgow to Bathurst under the Safer Roads Program 42 moderate injury crashes and 2 minor injury crashes A high proportion of these crashes (34) involved vehicles leaving the road 15 were recorded as either run off road to the right or head-on crashes and 19 were recorded as run off road to the left There have been no further fatal crashes since this time (to the end of August 2020) These alarming numbers triggered significant investment under the Saving Lives on Country Roads program to implement treatments that will reduce the incidence and severity of cross centreline crashes along this section of the Highway More information is available in our latest notification (PDF, 403.94 KB) More information is available in our latest notification (PDF, 416.44 KB) Changed traffic conditions near the Great Western Highway in Lithgow from Tuesday 28 May More information is available in our latest notification (PDF, 231.11 KB) Nightwork on the Great Western Highway at Kirkconnell from 15 May 2024 More information is available in our latest notification (PDF, 444.14 KB) Ongoing nightwork on the Great Western Highway at Kirkconnell from 10 December 2023 More information is available in our latest notification (PDF, 257.68 KB) The NSW Government has developed the Saving Lives on Country Roads program to help address the disproportionate number of fatalities on country roads by delivering a number of safety improvements for high risk country roads The crash history between Lithgow and Bathurst features a high incidence of run off road crashes and in some locations a high incidence of cross centre line crashes so the NSW Government has funded important safety upgrades to increase the separation of oncoming vehicles alert drivers when they leave a lane and provide a more forgiving road environment for when people make mistakes Safety treatment works recommended and approved for installation include: Read more about the benefits of safety treatments at Towards Zero. We will keep the community updated as the project progresses ImageCollapse the ImageSafety treatments completed at GlanmireImage controls: Lithgow to Bathurst safety work Wallang Flat Email: western.projects@transport.nsw.gov.au The Panthers’ 2025 trip to Bathurst pits them against Newcastle Knights in a Saturday showdown Carrington Park plays host to the Round 12 encounter where the Panthers will aim for an eighth-straight win over Newcastle Early bird general admission tickets are just $40, and are available via 123tix.com Alternatively Panthers fans in regional NSW can secure a Bathurst Panther Membership a $50 voucher to the Mber+ Store and a selection of over 30 exclusive products as well as many more benefits CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) The NSW Government is investing $200 million in the Bathurst Hospital Redevelopment to provide patients staff and carers with access to modern facilities and expanded healthcare services to meet the healthcare needs of the Central West region now and into the future the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) planning documents and hospital designs were placed on public exhibition until 11.59pm however you can continue to view the project’s Review of Environmental Factors (REF) report which has been prepared to assess the potential benefits and environmental impacts of the project The submissions received will be used to finalise the details of the design Health Infrastructure engages with community and stakeholders including seeking input and feedback on our projects in accordance with our Community Participation Plan The project team appreciates the valuable time and input provided by staff stakeholders and the community into the design process for the redevelopment Register for updates on the project and consultation Call 131450 for the free interpreter service Arabic: بالرقم 131450 لاستخدام خدمة الترجمة المجانية اتصل Vietnamese: Gọi 13 14 50 để sử dụng dịch vụ thông dịch miễn phí Greek: Καλέστε το 13 14 50 για τη δωρεάν υπηρεσία διερμηνέα Italian: Chiama il 13 14 50 per il servizio di interprete gratuito Tagalog: Tumawag sa 13 14 50 para sa libreng serbisyo ng interpreter Hindi: नि: शुल्क दुभाषिया सेवा के लिए 131450 फोन करें NSW Government Cabinet Office We pay respect to the Traditional Custodians and First Peoples of NSW and acknowledge their continued connection to their country and culture Identifying information collected is recorded in line with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW) (PPIP Act) and the Department's Privacy Management Plan (PMP). The Department will only collect personal information for a lawful purpose which directly relates to our primary function as a NSW Government agency and for obtaining feedback about NSW Government services For further information please refer to the Privacy collection notice on the specific Have your say consultation This privacy information applies only to the information you are providing in the Have your say consultation If you unsubscribe, your information may not be permanently deleted from the service provider system and instead, stored on a suppression list that prevents future emails from being sent to your email address. To have your data permanently removed from the suppression list database, please send a request to: YourSay@customerservice.nsw.gov.au You may also contact privacy@customerservice.nsw.gov.au if you have any questions about this privacy information Need an account? Sign up today We will send you instructions to reset your password Back to Log in Creating an account helps us better understand your needs and the needs of the community. Completing the questions below helps us better understand the diverse range of people who contribute their ideas. The questions are optional. Would you like to follow this project to receive email updates? Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueBathurst Regional Council held an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday 2025 to consider a further Pathway to Sustainability report prepared by the director of Corporate Services and Finance recommended 50 separate budget variations that totalled $2,086,300 Implementing the variations is set to result in improvements to council's year-end unrestricted cash position of $9,663,300 A large number of the variations are deferrals of projects such as the rehabilitation of Hereford Street ($100,000) and the reconstruction of Wambool Road ($350,000) The council has also found savings in items such as its Panorama Punish contribution ($2050) Christmas lights and decorations ($35,900) its New Year's Eve event contribution ($7000) and savings in commercial properties ground maintenance ($50,000) Reductions in expenditure are also part of the variations with examples including the footpath renewals program ($100,000) The council also chose to remove Proclamation Day Christopher Morgan speaking at a previous Proclamation Day ceremony Picture by Phil BlatchDeputy mayor Ben Fry said the variations were "regrettably necessary" "[The report is] a bit of a sobering articulation and culmination and arithmetic of the times and the environment that we operate in," he said I don't think any of us actually entered public life to dismantle or stop progress and stop projects and programs but when we're faced with these kind of fiscal realities He commended the council executive on the quick work they did to identify changes that could be made to improve the council's cash position we have to agree with this report," Cr Fry said Although she did vote in favour of the budget variations councillor Natalie Cranston offered up some criticism of the report during discussion Speaking to the $2,086,300 budget variations and the $9,663,300 favourable impact on the council's cash positon she said: "We need to be clear about what is actually driving that result." "Over $7 million of cash improvements comes from deferrals we've known about for months," she said these projects were never going to happen this year "Recognising this now is not a financial breakthrough "Items like Christmas lights and the New Year's Eve event also needs clarification council made decisions months ago not to spend that money setting it aside potentially to offset unfavourable budget variances elsewhere "This report is simply retrospectively adjusting the budget to reflect a decision already made at an operational level and the savings we'd already realised." Cr Cranston said it raised "serious concerns" to her about the quality of the council's forecasting the council is expecting to receive a cash injection from the recent sale of land in the new Windradyne subdivision Seven of the 16 lots sold in March 2025 are listed to settle by June 30 providing approximately $2.1 million in sale proceeds The remaining nine lots will settle in the 2025-26 financial year Council is also expecting settlement on two industrial lots before June 30 How to watch the 2025 Meguiar's Bathurst 12 Hour30 JanFrom broadcast to streaming here's all the ways you can watch the 2025 edition of Australia's International Enduro2 mins by Bathurst 12 HourAdvertisementFANS across Australia and around the world will be able to watch this year’s Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour live A comprehensive broadcast package will see Australia’s International enduro enjoy more than 25 hours of combined broadcast and streaming coverage this weekend The broadcast is headlined by national television coverage in Australia on Fox Sports and the Seven Network with streaming available by Kayo Sports or 7plus Sport February 1 at 1:00pm local time with coverage of qualifying two support races and the Pirelli Pole Battle to decide the Allan Simonsen Pole Award The fight for the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour will then be shown live on Sunday with coverage commencing at 5:30am AEDT and running for twelve and a half hours through to 6:00pm New Zealand audiences can watch live on Sky Sport NZ while international audiences further abroad can watch the action via the SRO GT World YouTube Channel and other key streaming partners including the Radio Show Ltd Channels every practice session and key support category sessions on Friday and Saturday will be streamed live on YouTube and the event’s social media channels Streaming coverage begins at 8:35am AEDT on Friday and 7:50am on Saturday The on-air team will include the returning regular mix of local and international voices five-time Repco Bathurst 1000 winner Garth Tander and Richard Craill leading the call from the commentary box Chad Neylon and Shea Adam will return to cover the action in pit lane Live timing for the event can be found here. Bathurst 12 Hour YouTube and Social Channels Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueDescribed as a "David and Goliath" sized battle Mr Gee said the result exceeded his "wildest expectations." "I am extraordinarily humbled by this result and grateful for the trust that the communities of Calare have put in me to serve as their federal member for the next three years," he said "Serving the people of Calare is the honour of my life." with more than 53 per cent of votes counted The independent politician stunningly quit The National Party in 2022 over differing views regarding the failed Voice referendum he said despite having a "fraction" of the personnel and funding of other candidates "There's been a lot of chirp on the booths but I want to say thank you for the dignified way you've all conducted yourselves," he said "Like all campaigns we've had our ups and downs Whenever something has happened and when things were looking grim Andrew Gee, surrounded by supporters, declared victory for the seat of Calare on Saturday night. Picture by Riley KrauseOn the same night Mr Gee declared victory Nationals candidate Sam Farraway told his supporters in Bathurst that no result should be declared yet "I suspect we're going to be counting for a couple of days to determine what the results will be." declared victory for the seat of Calare on Saturday night Picture by Riley KrauseAmong the dozens of supporters to celebrate alongside Mr Gee at the Orange City Bowling Club included a spattering of Eugowra locals One of whom told the now four-time Calare member that "together "Tomorrow the work of fighting and delivering for our region continues," Mr Gee vowed Motorsport legend Jacky Ickx returns to Bathurst with Genesis07 JanHotter than lava - Genesis X Gran Berlinetta Concept will make its global racetrack debut at Mount Panorama with legendary driver and former Bathurst 1000 winner Jacky Ickx at the wheel 4 mins by AdvertisementThe X Gran Berlinetta Concept headlines the Genesis Magma program marking the brand’s expansion into high-performance vehicles Also hitting the track at Bathurst will be a star of the Goodwood Festival of Speed Genesis will enter the World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2026 and IMSA SportsCar Championship in 2027 Motor racing legend Jacky Ickx will return to Mount Panorama for the first time since his 1977 Bathurst 1000 victory driving the Genesis X Gran Berlinetta Concept in its global racetrack debut The stunning Genesis X Gran Berlinetta Concept will thrill the crowds at the Bathurst 12 Hour endurance race (31 January - 2 February 2025) as Jacky Ickx gets behind the wheel for a series of spirited demonstration laps across the weekend This will be the first time anywhere in the world that the X Gran Berlinetta Concept will be seen driven in anger The Concept was first shown at the 2023 Gran Turismo World Series World Finals in Barcelona It was created as part of Polyphony Digital’s Gran Turismo series and has been available to race in the virtual world of the game since January 2024 The Genesis GV60 Magma Concept will also be cutting laps at the Bathurst 12 Hour having recently won its class at the famous Goodwood Festival of Speed – a hugely impressive first outing in what was the car’s global dynamic debut The bold-looking and ballistic-performing Genesis GV60 Magma Concept demonstrated its exceptional capabilities on the famous Goodwood Hillclimb claiming a class win in the four-seater production car category and taking an impressive 16th place overall in the weekend's Shootout The GV60 Magma is on track to enter production later this year becoming the first Genesis Magma model to go on sale Genesis ultimately aims to develop a high-performance Magma model for each production vehicle in its lineup maximising both aesthetics and performance Known within the world of Genesis as the “Gentleman Disruptor” brand partner Jacky Ickx is the perfect collaborator as the luxury Korean marque launches its high-performance Magma program Ickx has an epic and enduring motorsport career that spans both formulae and eras starting out racing motorcycles in 1960 before accelerating into the world of Formula One in 1967 winning eight races and scoring 25 podiums The Belgian simultaneously tackled the world of endurance racing winning the grueling 24 Hour race of Le Mans a then-record six times and in 1977 achieved his famous Bathurst 1000 win at his first visit to the track co-driving for Alan Moffatt in the mighty Ford Falcon XC V8 said he was beyond thrilled to have such a luminary of motor racing on hand for the racetrack debut of such important vehicles as the X Gran Berlinetta Concept and the GV60 Magma concept “With his phenomenal achievements over many years his unique knowledge and a contributing strong desire to influence the automotive landscape Jacky aligns perfectly with our brand,” Douglass said “As a prominent figure who has been consistently ingrained throughout the evolving automotive performance landscape over the years it is an honour to have Jacky on board to help shape the future of Genesis.” Ickx is excited about tackling the Mountain again more than 40 years after his victory at one of global motorsport’s most iconic races “I have always admired Genesis for its cultured elegance and design aesthetics and sincerely believe in a relationship that is founded on authenticity and admiration for each other,” he said “I have also long admired Mount Panorama at Bathurst as one of the world’s great motor racing venues and I can’t wait to put the incredible Genesis X Gran Berlinetta through its paces “What I loved the first time was the atmosphere of Bathurst The people are really passionate for motor racing The success of the event is created by the public and the spectators and that was what was so nice about Bathurst.” Genesis recently announced its intention to enter world of endurance motorsport with the launch of Genesis Magma Racing team and will compete in the prestigious World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2026 followed by the IMSA SportsCar Championship (IMSA) in 2027 This exciting venture will put Genesis on the world’s most challenging tracks showcasing the brand’s engineering expertise and endurance capabilities and bring the Genesis notion of Athletic Elegance to the world of motorsport By entering the LMDh sports prototype category Genesis joins an elite group of manufacturers vying for success on the world’s most prestigious racing stages Iconic endurance events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Daytona 24 require teams to balance peak performance with durability and efficiency testing both machinery and drivers to their limits The 2025 Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour is gearing up for another exhilarating endurance weekend and this year, fans will notice a change in the Race For A Cure car The shift marks a new partnership between the Kavich brothers a leading small business marketing and sales software provider The brothers will be joined by Supercars star Thomas Randle who has been part of the Race For A Cure campaign since 2023 Randle embodies the Race For A Cure mission adding deeper meaning to the team’s pursuit for victory “Having a driver of Thomas Randle’s calibre “His presence gives us a clear advantage on the track thanks to his professional talent but it’s his personal connection through his own experience that makes an even bigger impact “Randle brings credibility and profile to the program helping us raise awareness in a meaningful way He’s also a genuinely great guy – personable easy to work with and a real pleasure to have as part of the team.” the Kavich brothers are accelerating into a fresh era trading yellow for orange while strengthening their fight against breast cancer “The partnership between Thryv and Race for a Cure is a very special one,” Balsillie said “The work and funds that the Kavich family have raised for Breast Cancer Trials is incredible it’s the awareness and hope that they are giving to the broader community “As a company we are completely honoured to support the Race For A Cure team they are combining their love of motorsport with such a great cause and we can’t wait to see them out on the track this weekend.” The Kavich brothers are second-generation racers inheriting their passion from their father a former Australian Touring Car driver and 1988 AUSCAR champion Tony raced under Yellow Pages’ sponsorship at Bathurst in the 1980s driving a Mazda RX7 and later a Holden Commodore “The first time we attended the Bathurst 1000 as children was with Yellow Pages branding on our father’s car,” Ben Kavich said “To head to a well-loved Bathurst endurance event of any sort introducing new vibrant brands and colours to the sport makes us proud “We are thankful for the faith placed in us by Thryv to be able to represent them.” Ben and Michael have competed in every Bathurst 6 Hour since its 2016 debut securing strong finishes including a recent second place finish in 2024 was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after the inaugural event utilising their existing team as a voice for change and research Since its launch in 2017, Race For A Cure has raised nearly $250,000 for Breast Cancer Trials leveraging motorsport to fund critical research that improves survival rates and treatment options The Kavich brothers will battle it out at Mount Panorama, Bathurst amongst 72 cars, proving an action-packed weekend. The 2025 Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour will take place over the Easter long weekend All the cars: 2025 Meguiar's Bathurst 12 Hour Spotters GuideBathurst 12 Hour01 FebHere's your guide to follow along from home, spotting your favourite team or driver easily2 mins by Supercars.comBathurst 12 HourA bumper field will tackle the 2025 Meguiar's Bathurst 12 Hour Here's your guide to follow along from the track or from home On-track action commences Friday with four practice sessions before the Pirelli Pole Battle settles the Allan Simonsen Pole Award winner on Saturday The 22nd running of the Repco Bathurst 12 Hour then commences at 5:45am on Sunday morning Tickets are on sale online, with fans encouraged to purchase online prior to the event. Click here for TV and streaming details #9 Hallmarc Team MPC Audi R8 LMS Evo II (Bronze)Lee Holdsworth #14 Volante Rosso Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage GT3 (Silver)Jamie Day #19 Team Nineteen Mercedes-AMG GT4 (GT4)Mark Griffith #24 Method Motorsport McLaren Artura GT4 (GT4)Anthony Levitt #25 Method Motorsport McLaren Artura GT4 (GT4)Tom Hayman #26 Arise Racing GT Ferrari 296 GT3 (Pro)Chaz Mostert #27 Heart of Racing by SPS (Bronze)Ross Gunn #32 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 (Pro)Augusto Farfus #36 Arise Racing GT Ferrari 296 GT3 (Pro-Am)Alessio Rovera #44 Valmont Racing Audi R8 LMS EVO II (Pro-Am)Marcel Zalloua #46 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 (Pro)Valentino Rossi #47 Supabarn/Tigani Mercedes-AMG GT3 (Silver)James Koundouris #50 KTM Vantage Racing KTM X-Bow GT2 (Invitational)Trent Harrison #75 SunEnergy1 Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 (Pro)Kenny Habul #77 Craft-Bamboo Racing Mercedes AMG GT3 (Pro)Lucas Auer #91 The Bend Porsche 911 GT3R (Pro-Am)Yasser Shahin #93 Wall Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 (Silver)Brendon Leitch #183 Audi R8 LMS EVO II (Pro-Am)Broc Feeney #222 Scott Taylor Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 (Pro)Cam Waters #888 Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 (Pro)Maro Engel #911 Absolute Racing Porsche 911 GT3R (Pro)Matt Campbell Cameron Crick and Dean Campbell claimed victory at the 2025 Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour from the 66th on the grid the lowest starting position win in Bathurst’s endurance race history The 2025 edition also broke the event attendance record with 20,471 people watching the action from the grandstands – which is 2,000 more spectators than the previous record The weekend involved the largest starting grid at Mount Panorama with 69 cars lined up for a rolling start after a late withdrawal from #111 BMW due to electrical issues with 50 teams finishing the race and 21 changes for the lead across the six hours of competition The battle for the lead went down to the wire Jayden Ojeda and George Miedecke finishing runners up by just 0.8287s – setting yet another Bathurst 6 Hour record the trio became the second team in race history to score three consecutive Bathurst 6 Hour podiums Crick and Campbell’s winning performance was nothing short of amazing with Crick also setting the fastest lap of the race on the final lap – 2:21.8817 Despite starting the day from a lowly 66th Crick charged through the field on the opening lap to 32nd After the first safety car period was triggered due to Ian Joyce’s incident at Hell Corner on lap three Crick’s performance strengthened to pilot the BMW to 10th by lap eight Taking home third place were the #30 Ford Mustang trio of Aaron Seton becoming the first non-BMW to appear on the outright podium since 2019 Gomersall and Seton repeated their 2024 A2 victory this year It’s the fifth straight win for the Ford Mustang in class Michael Kavich and Thomas Randle maintained the lead in their BMW M2 Comp However the race saw a sequence of safety cars challenging the Kavich brothers and Randle to protect their position The bold Thryv Race For A Cure car ultimately finished the Bathurst 6 Hour in 29th place Karly Buccini and Courtney Prince also defended their Class B1 crown with Tabitha Ambrose standing on the Bathurst podium for the first time with Team Buccini’s BMW 340i including Patrick Navin and Nathan Halsted who claimed Class C aboard their VW Scirocco R the Waltec Motorsport BMW M2 claimed victory with Cameron Laws Cody Gillis and Jack Webster behind the wheel while B2 saw the #6 Quest Apartments BMW steered by Brent Howard Adam Gosling and Tim Wolfe claim victory for the first time Class D went to Toyota for the sixth consecutive year with The Racing Academy’s Isaac Demellweek and Romeo Nasr taking the win by a lap after a hard battle RaceAway Track Time claimed the win with Ronin Lindenmayer Kym DeBritt and Phil Alexander taking the victory The Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour returns to Mount Panorama in 2026 on April 3-5 View the full results here. Spotters Guide: 2025 Meguiar's Bathurst 12 Hour30 JanThere's some great looking cars contesting this year's Meguiar's 12 Hour2 mins by Bathurst 12 HourAdvertisementA BUMPER field will tackle the 2025 Meguiar's Bathurst 12 Hour. Here's your guide to follow along from home, spotting your favourite team or driver easily. On-track action commences Friday with four practice sessions, before the Pirelli Pole Battle settles the Allan Simonsen Pole Award winner on Saturday. The 22nd running of the Repco Bathurst 12 Hour then commences at 5:45am on Sunday morning. Tickets are on sale online, with fans encouraged to purchase online prior to the event. Stephen Grove, Brenton Grove, Fabian Schiller #9 Hallmarc Team MPC Audi R8 LMS Evo II (Bronze)Lee Holdsworth, Dean Fiore, Marc Cini #14 Volante Rosso Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage GT3 (Silver)Jamie Day, Mateo Villagomez, Jaylyn Robotham #19 Team Nineteen Mercedes-AMG GT4 (GT4)Mark Griffith, Adam Christodoulou, Daniel Bilski #24 Method Motorsport McLaren Artura GT4 (GT4)Anthony Levitt, Jake Santalucia, Cameron Campbell #25 Method Motorsport McLaren Artura GT4 (GT4)Tom Hayman, Paul Buccini, Ryan Sorensen #26 Arise Racing GT Ferrari 296 GT3 (Pro)Chaz Mostert, Will Brown, Daniel Serra #27 Heart of Racing by SPS (Bronze)Ross Gunn, Ian James, Zacharie Robichon #32 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 (Pro)Augusto Farfus, Kelvin van der Linde, Sheldon van der Linde #36 Arise Racing GT Ferrari 296 GT3 (Pro-Am)Alessio Rovera, Jaxon Evans, Elliott Schutte, Brad Schumacher #44 Valmont Racing Audi R8 LMS EVO II (Pro-Am)Marcel Zalloua, Sergio Pires, Scott Andrews #46 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 (Pro)Valentino Rossi, Charles Weerts, Raffaele Marciello #47 Supabarn/Tigani Mercedes-AMG GT3 (Silver)James Koundouris, Theo Koundouris, David Russell, Luke Youlden #50 KTM Vantage Racing KTM X-Bow GT2 (Invitational)Trent Harrison, Glen Wood, David Crampton #75 SunEnergy1 Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 (Pro)Kenny Habul, Jules Gounon, Luca Stolz #77 Craft-Bamboo Racing Mercedes AMG GT3 (Pro)Lucas Auer, Jayden Ojeda, Maximilian Gotz #91 The Bend Porsche 911 GT3R (Pro-Am)Yasser Shahin, Sam Shahin, Laurin Heinrich, Morris Schuring #93 Wall Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 (Silver)Brendon Leitch, Tony D'Alberto, David Wall, Grant Denyer, Adrian Deitz #183 Audi R8 LMS EVO II (Pro-Am)Broc Feeney, Ricardo Feller, Liam Talbot #222 Scott Taylor Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3 (Pro)Cam Waters, Craig Lowndes, Thomas Randle #888 Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 (Pro)Maro Engel, Mikael Grenier, Mikael Grenier #911 Absolute Racing Porsche 911 GT3R (Pro)Matt Campbell, Ayhancan Guven, Alessio Picariello Aboriginal families considering formal complaint after they were forced to leave an Inverell pool by police Jenny helps Blak women transition from prison to the community She fears what happens when funding runs out Indigenous deaths in custody a 'national shame' Govt hails justice reinvestment as the answer Victoria slammed for betraying Aboriginal community with 'knee-jerk' bail laws BMW brilliant: WRT wins gripping Bathurst 12 HourBathurst 12 Hour02 FebThe #32 M4 GT3 dominates a dramatic and incident-packed race, which featured seven Safety Car interventions4 mins by James PaveyBathurst 12 HourTeam WRT BMW wins absorbing 2025 Meguiar's Bathurst 12 Hour Belgian squad claims first Bathurst 12 Hour win since 2018, and BMW's first in GT3 era 51,372 attend dramatic event, which featured seven Safety Car interventions Team WRT BMW has broken through to win an absorbing 2025 Meguiar's Bathurst 12 Hour, with the Belgian squad claiming an unprecedented one-two finish. The winning car of Kelvin van der Linde, brother Sheldon van der Linde and Augusto Farfus completed 306 laps en route to victory, which was BMW's first in the 12 Hour's GT3 era, and WRT's first at the Mountain since 2018. The #32 M4 GT3 dominated the 2025 Intercontinental GT Challenge season-opener in a dramatic and incident-packed race, which featured seven Safety Car interventions. Click here for Bathurst 12 Hour race resultsThe victory also came three weeks after WRT securing victory on debut for the new-for-2025 BMW M4 GT3 EVO The race boiled down to the final hour amid question marks over fuel strategy Absolute Racing Porsche and pole-sitters Craft-Bamboo Racing Mercedes-AMG all stopping in the final half hour Kelvin van der Linde finishing 10.2 ahead of Raffaele Marciello who combined to second with Valentino Rossi and Charles Weerts the powerhouse #75 75 Energy Mercedes-AMG combination of Jules Gounon/Luca Stolz/Kenny Habul secured a remarkable fourth consecutive podium "Tastes sweet after that one honestly that was the hardest two hours of my life," said Kelvin van der Linde which is sometimes harder than pushing flat out you know you can't really do the pace that guys behind are doing Especially when Chaz was coming at the end there the guys were giving me numbers to hit and I knew it was going to be tight "I'm first of all very proud to be here with this guy [brother Sheldon] and second of all very proud to be here with Augusto as a guy I watched in touring cars on the TV as a young kid at home Daniel Serra (#26 Ferrari) and Ayhancan Guven (#911 Porsche) stopped on lap 265 handing over to Mostert and two-time winner Matt Campbell Campbell battled to fire up and lost time in the lane to Mostert who set about charging home with an eye on another stop Auer stopped and rejoined on lap 268; at the time Mostert caught and passed Auer with an ambitious move at The Chase and with Sheldon handing over to older brother Kelvin on lap 273 Stolz (#75 Mercedes-AMG) and Marciello (#46 BMW) came in on lap 275 the former giving the 75 Energy entry to three-time winner Gounon van der Linde led a charging Mostert by six seconds Gounon and Marciello ranged up on the fuel-saving Auer Mostert forced van der Linde to defend on lap 286 at Forrests Elbow and they ran line astern into Murray's Corner Mostert bombed down the inside at The Chase which blew out to six seconds before he lost time clearing the #50 KTM Auer was 13.8s behind van der Linde on lap 290 with Gounon and Marciello remaining locked onto the #77 Arise Racing pulled the pin and brought Mostert in with 23 minutes remaining with Marciello disposing of Gounon in a hair-raising run down Conrod Straight behind Auer Absolute Racing pulled Campbell in from fifth Mostert powered in the fastest lap of the race Craft-Bamboo dragged Auer in with six minutes remaining with the Bronze class #27 Heart of Racing by SPS of RossGunn/Zacharie Robichon/Ian James seventh The #36 Arise Racing Ferrari of Jaxon Evans/Alessio Rovera/Elliott Schutte/Brad Schumacher claimed Pro-Am honours in eighth with the #93 Wall Racing Lamborghini of Tony D'Alberto/Brendon Leitch/Grant Denyer/Adrian Deitz scoring the Silver win in ninth GT4 honours went to the #24 Method Motorsport McLaren of Jake Santalucia/Anthony Levitt/Josh Buchan CAMERON Crick took the chequered flag first on the final lap of the recent Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour securing victory for he and local racer Dean Campbell in their BMW M2 But the first lap of the car’s race was arguably more impressive; Crick MORE: Crick recounts vital 30-overtake Bathurst lap Ride onboard with Crick for his epic start to the Bathurst 6 Hour 2025 Bausele Bathurst edition timepiece launched24 JanLimited edition watch to celebrate Bathurst 12 Hour's new era in 20252 mins by Bathurst 12 HourA THIRD edition of a Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour official watch highlights the ongoing partnership between the Event and Australian boutique watchmaker “We are thrilled to present the third edition of the Bathurst 12 Hour Official Watch a timepiece that celebrates the thrill and heritage of this iconic motorsport event,” said Bausele founder “After two successful years with the Sydney Diver we’re taking things to the next level with a customised OceanMoon designed in collaboration with George from Koda Watches in Sydney ensuring every watch is as unique as the race itself.” This year’s edition features a striking yellow detail on the dial the new naming rights partner of the 2025 Bathurst 12 Hour With the exciting addition of Ferrari and Aston Martin to this year’s lineup this watch is not just a timepiece—it’s a celebration of speed a select number of timepieces available to purchase following the event will include tyre marbles taken from the race itself in the crown Both the outright winners and Pro-Am class winners will receive one of the unique timepieces as part of their reward for winning Australia's International enduro - with the winners prizes including rock from the iconic Mount Panorama sign within the crown “As a proud long-standing partner of the Bathurst 12 Hour we are honored to create a watch that embodies the spirit of this truly unique event Bausele will have a presence at the event this year, while further details will be available via the official Bausele Watches website, www.bausele.com