File picturesConsumer confidence in the housing market is rebounding due to interest rate cuts and further cuts on the horizon with real estate agents across the Riverina recording record sales 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 areaContinueBuying and selling rentals and commercial properties are all recording strong market trends making it a paradise for some and almost an impossibility for others Wagga and Griffith markets have recorded a similar trend across the board Stean Nicholls Real Estate director Nicholas Clark said the Albury market had experienced one of its stronger starts to the year "The housing market is very strong in the lower to mid range of properties "Interstate and national investment is strong with investors from Sydney Melbourne and Canberra buying properties in that mid range "The $800,000 to $1.2 million range are also moving well with families looking to upsize and grow." Thurgoona and East Albury are all attracting strong interest while the northern areas such as North Albury and Lavington are experiencing a lot of investor demand The rental market in Albury is reflective of the current market trends with Mr Clark saying vacancies are minimal "We have a rental portfolio of more than 600 properties with a vacancy rate of 0.25 per cent," he said Big River Real Estate sales agent Jesse Taylor in Deniliquin said the market to date is "absolutely flying" "We've sold 16 properties in the last three months "Sales in the $700,000 to over a million range in the high price brackets are moving well "In terms of investors and renovators the properties in the lower range around $200,000 onwards are a mixed bag." Mr Taylor believes people are resetting after 2024 and when it comes to the rental market he said it was nearly impossible to crack "As soon as we put a property up we get obliterated," he said "It takes us nearly a week's worth of work to try and sort it out." Deniliquin has a lot of vacant shops and buildings but Mr Taylor said the smaller commercial shops were going OK "It's the big commercial ones that struggle with affordability and interest," he said Mr Taylor indicated the Albury commercial markets had slowed down over the past 12 to 18 months but confidence was returning and the market was starting to bounce back sales manager at Nutrien Harcourts in Griffith with his vendor Nutrien Harcourts sales manager Robert Cavallaro says being a little bit more isolated reduces the number of houses on the market at any one time "Given that we have such a strong economy because of our diversity with irrigation and the industries that surround us so there is a housing shortage most of the time," he said first home buyers are still strong as opposed to the cost of building a new home and that keeps the established market up." Mr Cavallaro called the rental market in Griffith a "tough gig" "There is always a line-up of people waiting to look at rentals," he said "There is also good constant capital growth each year." When it came to commercial property in Griffith Mr Cavallaro said there was a real shift forming from retail to a growing hospitality precinct The housing market sales are flying in Deniliquin according to Jesse Taylor from Big River Real Estate."It's a little bit sad when you go through the main street of Griffith and the retail shops are closed," he said "We are finding there is more of a shift to food outlets as opposed to retail in the main street." Mr Cavallaro believes the hubs and plazas have created a place for shoppers to find a central point for everyone to do their shopping creating a shift in retail traffic away from the main street our advantage is that Griffith is so economically strong so people love going out for food and drinks," he said "So I think it will be a shift from the main street being a major retail outlet to more of a food hub." the Wagga market seems to be taking a much more conservative approach according to One Agency agent Harry Mangelsdorf "Buyer activity has been down since the election date call," he said "We've seen a little bit of a ripple effect from that as well as the school holidays people kind of checked out for that period "I believe once the election has wrapped up there will be more confidence and stability in the market." A journalist living in Deniliquin and loving a hybrid role with The Daily Advertiser in Wagga Wagga 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 Charles Sturt's Three Rivers DRH currently has two projects that will benefit the aged care workforce in Deniliquin and surrounding areas The aged care sector in Deniliquin and surrounding areas is receiving a boost through capital works projects and an industry forum as a focus is placed on rural and regional healthcare Charles Sturt University’s Three Rivers Department of Rural Health (DRH) was awarded $2.25 million in funding in November 2022 under the Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training (RHMT) Aged Care Expansion Grant to complete works in the Deniliquin region This funding has allowed for the expansion of student placement programs in Deniliquin capital works projects with two partner aged care facilities and extensive professional development programs for the local aged care workforce The two new projects in Deniliquin and surrounding areas are aimed at providing quality education for students on placement and to showcase collaborative work happening in the aged care sector A refurbished indoor area at Orana Residential Home will provide an educational hub for living skills training and intergenerational knowledge exchange didactic lectures and workforce preparation experiences An intergenerational meeting space and functional mobility garden for residents will be revealed at Navorina Nursing Home where students can learn clinical assessment communication skills and participate in social activities with residents An allied health chair has also been installed and can be used by visiting health professionals Deniliquin-based Clinical Educator and Lecturer in Rural Health with Three Rivers DRH Ms Cassie Biggs said these changes will positively affect residents’ lives and student learning opportunities “The capital works funding has enabled both sites to undertake work to enhance the residential spaces while providing an opportunity to increase student learning activities,” she said students live and work in the local community Three Rivers DRH has also partnered with Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network to host the free 2025 Murrumbidgee Aged Care Forum on Tuesday 6 May from 9am to 3pm health practitioners and advocacy services Ms Biggs said the student placement programs contribute to the growth of a compassionate and empathetic clinical workforce that understands the challenges of the industry “Our residents enjoy the social interaction and find a sense of value in contributing to student learning “Students gain insight into the benefits of rural living the sense of community and the work-life balance that it offers and hopefully will consider a career in the country when they graduate.” Nicole Barlow local_offerWagga WaggaCharles Sturt UniversityThree Rivers local_offerCharles Sturt UniversityIndigenous local_offerCharles Sturt University local_offerCharles Sturt UniversitySustainability Get the latest Charles Sturt news in your inbox 'Yindyamarra Winhanganha' - The wisdom of respectfully knowing how to live well in a world worth living in '+days[time.getDay()]+' '+time.getDate()+' '+months[time.getMonth()]+' '+time.getFullYear()+' Despite being considered a safe Labor seat, the Division of Bendigo saw a shift away from incumbent member Lisa Chesters at Saturday’s federal election. Ms Chesters has represented the seat since 2013, and the Labor Party has held it since 1998. While Ms Chesters received 33.89 per cent of the first preference count, the Nationals challenger, Andrew Lethlean, trailed closely behind on 30.57 per cent. On Monday afternoon, the ABC projected a narrow win to Ms Chesters, estimating a result of 50.3 per cent to 49.7 per cent on a two-party preferred basis following the distribution of preferences. First preference counts have been received by the Australian Electoral Commission from all 66 polling places. In Rochester, Mr Lethlean received 48.41 per cent of first preference votes, Ms Chesters 18.54 per cent, the Liberal Party’s Matt Evans 11.02 per cent, Heather Freeman of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation 7.52 per cent, Family First’s Evelyn Keetelaar 4.34 per cent and the Greens’ Avery Barnett-Dacey 4.13 per cent. The remaining candidates each received around one per cent or less. In Elmore, Mr Lethlean received 48.3 per cent of first preference votes, Ms Chesters 22.45 per cent, the Liberal Party’s Matt Evans 9.07 per cent, Heather Freeman of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation 8.39 per cent, the Greens’ Avery Barnett-Dacey 5.44 per cent, the Legalise Cannabis Party’s Wayne Taylor 2.95 per cent, Family First’s Evelyn Keetelaar 2.49 per cent and the remaining candidates each received less than one per cent. In Goornong, Mr Lethlean received 45.76 per cent of first preference votes, Ms Chesters 24.85 per cent, The Greens’ Avery Barnett-Dacey 7.58 per cent, the Liberal Party’s Matt Evans 6.06 per cent, Heather Freeman of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation 5.76 per cent, Family First’s Evelyn Keetelaar 4.55 per cent, the Legalise Cannabis Party’s Wayne Taylor 4.24 per cent and the remaining candidates each received less than one per cent. Preferences will determine the final result of the seat in coming days. In order of the ballot, the first preference count for each candidate across Bendigo is as follows: Evelyn Keetelaar, Family First Party Australia 2.85 per cent Avery Barnett-Dacey, Australian Greens 11.15 per cent Heather Freeman, Pauline Hanson's One Nation 4.66 per cent Lisa Chesters, Australian Labor Party 33.89 per cent Andrew Lethlean, the Nationals 30.57 per cent Matthew Bansemer, Libertarian Party 0.91 per cent Rohan Tyler, Victorian Socialists 1.70 per cent Wayne Taylor, Legalise Cannabis Australia 3.21 per cent Matthew Evans, Liberal Party of Australia 10.08 per cent Federally, the ABC was projecting Labor to obtain 85 seats, the Coalition 39, independents eight, and Centre Alliance and Katter’s Australian Party one each. The remaining 16 were still in doubt, particularly in metro Melbourne and Brisbane. For a party to form a majority government, 76 of 150 seats are needed, with the ABC chief election analyst Antony Green calling the election to fall in Labor’s favour early on Saturday night. In what is being described as a landslide election for Labor, the LNP have managed to secure terms locally once again, including in Sam Birrell’s seat of Nicholls and Sussan Ley’s seat of Farrer. 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 areaContinueEmergency services were called to a home located on Finley Road at Deniliquin about 8.40am on Friday following an influx of calls to triple zero. Fire and Rescue NSW Riverina zone commander Superintendent Stewart Alexander said three fire trucks were deployed to the scene where firefighters got to work quickly to render the fire under control. "It's a weatherboard house that was fully alight," Superintendent Alexander said. While no one was injured, the home has sustained significant damage with the fire moving into the roof space. Fire crews have extinguished the fire but remain on scene monitoring the conditions and ensuring there is no toxic gases or a chance of re-ignition. Superintendent Alexander said the cause of the fire has not yet been identified. Newsletters & AlertsView allDaily Deniliquin will benefit from new Key Health Worker Accommodation which will help attract more paramedics to the bush This accommodation for Deniliquin is part of the Minns Labor Government’s $10 million investment in key health worker housing for paramedics in regional NSW Additional locations selected on greatest need are being finalised and will be announced in due course The $10 million for housing NSW Ambulance personnel is allocated from the Minns Labor Government’s $200.1 million Key Health Worker Accommodation program which was announced in the 2024/2025 State budget The $200.1 million program supports more than 20 projects across rural The funding will secure approximately 120 dwellings across regional NSW which includes the building of new accommodation refurbishment of existing living quarters and the purchase of suitable properties such as residential units It is estimated the four-year program will support the recruitment and retention of more than 500 health workers and their families by providing a range of accommodation options The program is one of a number of investments the Minns Labor Government is making to strengthen the regional rural and remote health workforce and builds on the success of the NSW Government's $73.2 million investment in key health worker accommodation across five regional local health districts (Far West The Minns Labor Government is committed to supporting our paramedic workforce investing in a record pay increase for paramedics in December 2023 making them among the highest paid in the country and rolling out 500 additional paramedics in regional Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Health "The Minns Labor Government is committed to investing in modern sustainable accommodation options for key health workers including paramedics who are the backbone of our regional “We’re committed to strengthening our regional “The provision of simple accommodation close to work is a major drawcard for healthcare workers potentially looking to take up work in the regions.” Quote attributable to the Member for Murray “Paramedics are critical to the safety and wellbeing of rural and remote communities A funding boost to accommodation for essential workers in Deniliquin will hopefully help recruit more desperately needed health professionals to the area “Any investment in rural and remote health care services is always welcomed Key health workers play a vital role in the wellbeing of communities in the bush and this investment in housing for paramedics in Deniliquin will go a long way to attract first responders to the area.” “Our paramedics play a vital role in delivering life-saving care to communities across NSW “The people of Deniliquin can have confidence that NSW Ambulance is dedicated to providing high-quality emergency care in their community and right across the Riverina.” Documenting the heritage of Deniliquin and the impact of the Rotary Club of Deniliquin was the strong focus of Rotary’s entries into the 2000-2025 time capsule While the time capsule was unearthed on January 26 this year three of the club’s envelopes remained sealed until this week The unveiling was postponed until members of the Rotary Club at the time could return to Deniliquin to be part of the discovery That special celebration was held at the Coach House Hotel on Monday night Current president Iain Goodway said it was an eye-opening evening particularly as a relatively new resident of Deniliquin “It was exciting to have a number of the Rotarians involved in that time capsule there including current members and those who came back for the night and to speak to the group about themselves and the club at the time “We even had some come to Deniliquin from Queensland and the Goulburn Valley region to be part of it “It was a great evening of people reconnecting after a long time with tales of Rotary’s involvement in the Ute Muster the art show and other projects that no longer exist shared “(My wife) Debi and I are fairly new to the community so it was great to see that history shared and to be part of Rotary’s legacy going forward.” Items in the envelopes included letters and reports for the Rotary executive of the day There was also a souvenir newspaper from the 1992 celebrations on the 150th year of Deniliquin along with materials relating to celebrations of the event Mr Goodway said there were also a number of “very interesting” articles with one in particular creating a lot of discussion “It was published in the Deniliquin Pastoral Times on July 11 2000 and the heading was ‘Ransom paid for capsule’s return’ stole Rotary’s time capsule and demanded a ransom which was paid and donated for a charity initiative “There were also many items about Rotary members photos of members and letters from members about the club and their lives was a large collection of photographs of the Deniliquin CBD of the day Envelopes for inclusion must be returned to My Shop in Napier St They can be purchased from My Shop in Napier St Aussie golfer Steph Kyriacou closed with an incredible albatross to finish in a tie for sixth place as Korea's Haeran Ryu claimed a five-shot victory at the LPGA's inaugural Black Desert Championship in Utah Kyriacou finished with the shot of the day a fairway metal on the par-5 18th that rolled in for an albatross giving her a 67 to tie for sixth place at 16 under The Australian's closing 67 followed rounds of 71 Compatriot Grace Kim also finished in the top 10 taking out ninth place at 15 under after rounds of 67 Ryu closed with an eight-under 64 to finish at 26 under She became the second player to go wire-to-wire on the LPGA Tour this year It was also her second time winning a new event after taking out the FM Championship at the TPC Boston last year She was coming off a rough finish at the Chevron Championship last week sharing the 54-hole lead at the first major of the year until closing with a 76 This one was closer than the five-shot margin indicated Ryu was clinging to a one-shot lead over Germany's Esther Henseleit going to the back nine She missed a six-foot birdie putt on the 10th - her third straight miss from short range for birdie But then she made a 15-foot birdie putt at the 11th and an eagle at the 13th put her ahead by four shots who now has won in each of the past seven years dating back to her first win as an 18-year-old on the Korea LPGA not making another birdie until the 18th hole for a 66 She tied for second with China's Ruoning Yin (67) "Started out great on the front nine and then couldn't quite keep up on the back," Henseleit said "Haeran played amazing and she really deserved to win it today." who got back into the mix with a 62 in the third round She ran off four straight birdies starting at the 11th The last one got her to within three shots of Ryu The South Korean responded with an approach into three feet on the 15th for a birdie to restore her lead to four shots and Yin fell back with a double-bogey from the bunker on the 16th closed with a 65 to finish alone in fourth Ryu is the 10th winner in 10 tournaments on the LPGA Tour this season Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to convene his security cabinet to discuss the expansion of the Gaza offensive and a possible resumption of aid into the besieged enclave In a video message posted on the social media platform X on Sunday Netanyahu said he was convening the security cabinet to discuss "the next stage" of the war in Gaza The development came hours after part of a missile launched from Yemen by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia fell close to Israel's main gateway It was unclear if the ministers would give final approval at the meeting but the military has already begun issuing tens of thousands of call-up orders for its reserve forces "We are increasing the pressure with the goal of returning our people (hostages) and defeating Hamas," Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir told troops Already in control of almost a third of Gaza's territory Israel has faced growing international pressure to lift an aid blockade that it imposed in March after the collapse of a US-backed ceasefire that had halted fighting for two months Ministers have justified the blockade by saying that Hamas has seized aid intended for civilians and kept it for its own fighters or sold it Israel has faced warnings of famine in Gaza as supplies run low Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported last week that a new plan was in the works by which aid will soon be distributed by private foreign companies in a new designated humanitarian zone in the southern Gaza area of Rafah to which civilians would be moved after security checks New aid plans will be discussed at Sunday's security cabinet meeting Aid has been a contested issue within the Israeli leadership and defence establishment for months The military has pushed back against calls by some politicians who want Israel to seize Gaza for good and have Israeli soldiers hand out aid has stuck to the position of his predecessor and the former defence minister He told ministers last month that Israeli troops would not distribute aid and that he would not allow starvation in Gaza including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich who had hoped for a more aggressive approach Israel launched its campaign in Gaza in retaliation for the Hamas attack on October 7 and saw 251 taken hostage into Gaza in the deadliest day for Israel in its history The campaign has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians according to local health authorities and devastated the Gaza Strip leaving its 2.3 million population dependent on aid supplies that have been dwindling rapidly since the blockade It’s just over a week until the Federal Election on May 3 and pre-poll voting got underway this week The AEC is reminding all voters who cannot make it to a polling place on election day to check the opening dates and times of early voting centres Early voting centres are not open today or Sunday the Edward River Council region’s early voting centre will be open Monday to Thursday from 8.30am to 5.30pm and next Friday from 8.30am to 6pm the Town Hall will be open from 8am to 6pm Other election day polling places are Deniliquin Edward School the Deniliquin Army Cadet Unit Hall (formerly Deniliquin Scout Hall) and Blighty Public School • are outside the electorate where you are enrolled to vote • are unable to leave your workplace to vote infirm or due to give birth shortly (or caring for someone who is) • are a person with disability (or caring for someone who is) • are a patient in hospital and can't vote at the hospital • have religious beliefs that prevent you from attending a polling place • are in prison serving a sentence of less than three years or otherwise detained • have a reasonable fear for your safety or wellbeing The Australian Electroal Commission recommends anyone wishing to place a postal vote should register by today “While the legislated deadline for postal vote applications is next Wednesday,’ April 30 anyone who leaves it until the final week risks their postal vote pack not arriving in time,’ the AEC said “Voters who do not receive their postal vote pack by Friday make arrangements to vote in-person on election day “Voters who fail to cast a vote will be contacted by the AEC and asked to explain why they did not vote.” go to https://www.aec.gov.au/election/pva.htm Nine candidates will contest the seat of Farrer in this election Incumbent Liberal Member for Farrer Sussan Ley has drawn top placing on the ballot David O’Reilly (Gerard Rennick People First Party) The Deniliquin Triathlon & Canoe Club marked the end of another great season with a presentation night at McLean Beach on April 1 and supporters to recognise the achievements of the past year the club had a large number of participants - from first timers to well-seasoned campaigners A number of club members also put their skills to the test competing in Echuca and Albury as part of the Victorian Regional Series Locals also competed in the Melbourne-based 2XU Triathlon Series Junior members led the way with a number of podium finishes showcasing their dedication and hard work in a range of challenging events Awards were presented in various categories celebrating outstanding performances and dedication: • Most Consistent Junior Boy – Jake Woolston • Junior Representative Award – Max Woolston and Elka Connelly • Best First Year Junior Male – Braxton Lilford • Best First Year Junior Female – Miley Lilford • Most Improved Junior Male – Huxley Lilford • Most Improved Junior Female – Eden Lilford • Most Improved Senior Male – Ron McKenzie • Most Improved Senior Female – Maggie Camilleri • Vince Duffy Perpetual Trophy – Bailey White • Volunteering Award – Jorja and Maddy Woolston Guests enjoyed a relaxed evening with food while sharing stories and celebrating the season’s accomplishments The night provided a great opportunity for members to catch up and look back on another successful season The Deniliquin Triathlon Club is looking forward to another year of progress The 2025/26 season will start later this year in November For more information on how to join the club About 200 sheep were killed or euthanised following a truck rollover at the north Deniliquin roundabout on Tuesday blocking traffic at the main entrance to the town for about five hours The incident prompted some locals to question whether safety improvements are needed at the roundabout but stakeholders have suggested the incidents are not frequent enough for the road condition to be considered a major concern Murray River Police District Chief Inspector Michael Fuller said the rollover prompted a multi-agency response with partial road closure from the time the call came in at 3.52pm until about 9pm He confirmed the truck was carrying 650 sheep and was entering the roundabout from Davidson St to turn right on Finley Rd The 43 year-old male driver did suffer minor injuries during the rollover “As the vehicle turned right on the roundabout the heavy vehicle stock transport vehicle and trailers rolled over blocking part of the roadway and resulting in a number of sheep coming out onto the roadway and nature strip The rest remained in the rolled over transport vehicle,” Chief Insp Fuller said “Emergency services responded with the driver being taken to hospital for assessment “He is believed to have sustained only minor injuries as a result of the road crash “The driver was issued an infringement notice for negligent driving.” Attending from police were officers attached to Rural Crime and Highway Other agencies involved included Deniliquin Rescue Squad - VRA Rescue NSW Thanks have also been expressed to members of the community who assisted Nutrien and transport operator Brad McCallum and his staff member about 200 sheep died,” Chief Insp Fuller said “This included those who were euthanised in accordance with injured livestock animal response protocols with the expertise of Local Land Services specialist staff and disposal in accordance with established protocols “The remaining live sheep were removed from the vehicle and taken to yards to be managed by their owner “A heavy vehicle recovery operation to remove the heavy vehicle continued until about 9pm when the heavy vehicle and trailers were removed “Traffic management around the road crash was put in place until the roadway was fully opened with minimal disruptions to the road network.” Edward River Council said the road was officially reopened about 10pm Chief Insp Fuller said it was a “significant” operation “Police want to commend the response to the road crash and livestock management by emergency services and agencies and in particular commend a number of local rural industry workers and community members with experience with livestock “In the initial response as the multi-agency operation was established there was a great community effort to free uninjured livestock from the rolled over livestock transport vehicle and contain them off the roadway “The initial actions and support from the rural industry experienced community members likely helped the number of livestock safely removed alive from the vehicle as the multi-agency response operation stood up.” Elders Deniliquin branch manager John Fitzpatrick and his staff were among those to provide assistance He said while they did not see the truck roll they jumped to attention at their nearby Albert St offices as soon as they realised while a couple of us were actually just heading outside That’s when we heard that a truck had rolled over.” When the Elders’ staff arrived at the scene they assessed the situation and sought help from others nearby with livestock experience to start tending to the sheep “A few staff helped lock them in the fenced area near the storage sheds and a few of us helped wrangle the rest of them We also called Geoff McCallum and Marc Braybon from Nutrien.” “We tried to get the rest of the sheep out of there from the bottom deck of the truck “We worked out what we had to do and proceeded with that - we just did what needed to be done.” Mr Fitzpatrick said truck rollovers are not a common occurrence at the North Deniliquin roundabout for the amount of transport traffic that goes through that section of road “The amount of livestock trucks that go through there each day “It’s a once in a blue moon sort of thing.” The rollover occurred on what was a sheep market day in Deniliquin but Mr Fitzpatrick confirmed the sheep being transported were not sold at Deniliquin Also witnessing the aftermath of the rollover was Hay Rd resident Val Meadowcroft She was in her front yard when the rollover occurred “I was walking down my driveway to collect my mail “Everyone involved with the clean-up has done a brilliant job “Some of them seemed to work late into the night but you wouldn’t even know that there’d been any sheep there at all.” In the first two years participating in the Do It For Dolly Day fundraisers Nutrien Deniliquin has raised more than $15,000 for the anti-bullying charity Dolly’s Dream Nutrien invites Deniliquin and district to help reach a total contribution of at least $30,000 after three years Nutrien’s first Do It For Dolly Day barbecue breakfast raised $4000 and last year the community rallied to see more than $11,000 raised Nutrien real estate agent Jake Freshwater says he’d love to improve on that number again All you have to do to support them is to buy a bacon and egg roll breakfast from outside Nutrien on Davidson St Dolly’s Dream merchandise will also be on sale drop in and see the team to make a donation Mr Freshwater said using last year’s breakfast output as a guide the Nutrien team expect to have a busy morning on the barbecue “Last year we cooked up 25kg of bacon and more than 500 eggs “We originally only planned to be cooking for an hour but the people kept coming so we kept going for two.” Dolly’s Dream was created by Kate and Tick Everett following the shattering loss of their 14 year-old daughter They want to change the culture of bullying by addressing the impact of bullying through education and direct support to young people and families • Anyone requiring crisis support can contact Accessline on 1800 800 944 BeyondBlue on 1300 224 636 or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 Resources are also available at www.denimentalhealth.org.au Degrading the landscape of the plains north of Deniliquin comes with considerable environmental costs The REZ development has not declared any meaningful constraints of the impact on the several endangered species whose core habitat is in this area is an easy target for the development of REZ compared to the more highly populated districts where there is considerable resistance Is this the situation where endangered species become expendable Racegoers from far and wide came to the Deniliquin Racing Club dressed for the occasion and in good spirits for the Deniliquin Anzac Race Meet as well as many from Deniliquin and surrounds spending the Anzac Day long weekend in the region All five races were completed before any rain came in with punters enjoying the racing atmosphere before Two-up after the last local race Deniliquin Racing Club president Magnus Aitken was appreciative of everyone’s support in making it a great day and particularly the Deniliquin RSL Club which retutned as a major sponsor this year Coming into a big clash against the Mulwala Lions the Deniliquin Rams fourths knew it was going to be a battle The Rams were looking for consistency to play a four quarter effort The first half saw both teams applying heaps of pressure The Rams were spreading from the contest using hands linking up from half back and hitting crucial kicks in the middle of the ground This resulted in Deni consistently controlling possession adding to the scoreboard whilst maintaining the pressure with tackles Final score: Deniliquin Rams 12.6 (78) def Mulwala 4.6 (30) The Deni Rams under-10s kicked off their season in style with a fantastic team performance against the Echuca Bombers on Sunday morning in Moama Coach Jack Eastman was full of praise for his side and very pleased with their ability to play as a team and share the ball around Standout efforts were seen all over the ground but special mentions and awards went to Bailey Cabral The Rams are looking forward to building on this strong start as the season progresses The under-12s kicked off their season on Sunday against Echuca Murray Bombers for round one of the Goulburn Murray Junior League slotting three straight goals in the first quarter and taking a commanding 20-0 lead at the first break The young Rams finally settled in the second quarter A brilliant goal by the new full forward Will Crossley put the Rams on the scoreboard and plenty of pressure by a solid backline limited the Bombers to only one goal in the term The Bombers added another 17 points in the third to the Rams’ one The highlight of the match was the Rams’ never-give-up attitude in the final quarter Led by Will Thomas in the ruck and Nate Fitzpatrick dominating the mid-field with Ollie Dellwo having a standout final quarter The boys can be incredibly proud of their fightback and strong finish to the game Final score: Echuca Murray Bombers 6.7 (43) def Rams 5.5 (35) The Deniliquin Rams will make the long trip across to Shepparton this weekend to take on Rumbalara the Deni Rams senior football side will have quickly turned their attention to their next game In what looks like a real chance to erase that loss the Rams will be hoping to topple Rumbalara dismantling Barooga away from home in round one by more than 50 points in round one and then Nathalia by a 29 point margin in round two But they suffered losses at the hands of Finley and Mulwala in the last two rounds While Deni and Rumba have not had any common opponents yet their strengths can possibly be predicted on other games so far this season Tongala and Barooga tussled it out in round two the Blues getting away with a strong victory by 48 points which would put Deni at the top of the heap of these sides as coach Gary Parsons has previously said this season “You just don’t know where you’re at or how good you are until you have played everyone,” he said The Rams have a win:loss result of 2:2 in the first four rounds of the Murray League but it doesn’t always paint the whole picture the Rams were valiant in their game against Mulwala The Rams coaches gave two footballers their senior debuts the week prior against Finley and blooding youth will be an important component to the Ram's ongoing success They play hard and can really take it up to other sides Deni are aware of this and will have to turn up on the day The Deniliquin Rams senior football side will clash with Rumbalara at the Rumbalara Recreation Reserve Singaporeans are voting in a general election that is seen as the first key test of support for Prime Minister Lawrence Wong His People's Action Party is widely expected to comfortably extend its 66-year dominance in the city-state But the election on Saturday is being closely watched on whether the opposition can make further gains as people express unhappiness over tight government control and a high cost of living a US-trained economist who is also finance minister has appealed for a resounding mandate to steer trade-reliant Singapore through economic turbulence following US President Donald Trump's tariff hikes The government has lowered its trade forecast and warned of a possible recession "This election is couched as a test of the support for the leadership of PM Lawrence Wong but it also will reflect how politics in Singapore are changing namely an embrace of alternative voices and a younger generation seeing the PAP" under a younger leader Southeast Asia political expert Bridget Welsh said who stepped down a year ago after two decades at the helm Lee remained in the Cabinet as a senior minister But his retirement as premier ended a family dynasty started by his father who built the former colonial backwater into one of the world's richest nations during 31 years in office Voters trickled in to schools and other designated polling stations to cast their ballots amid a brief downpour The PAP has secured five of the 97 parliamentary seats because they were unopposed with the outcome to be known in the early hours of Sunday The PAP is seen as a beacon of stability and prosperity but Singapore's reputation for tight government control and the rising cost of living in one of the world's most expensive cities also has led to growing unhappiness overcrowding and restrictions on free speech have loosened the PAP's grip on power The PAP's share of the popular vote slipped to a near-record low of 61 per cent in 2020 elections Although it kept 83 out of 93 parliamentary sets the opposition gained grounds with a record 10 seats The opposition says giving it a stronger presence in Parliament will allow a more balanced political system and greater accountability often hamstrung by a lack of resources and fragmented support Critics said gerrymandering also gives the PAP an advantage is fielding only 26 seats with smaller parties contesting others Rochester Mural Festival is back on track for 2026 The former festival committee announced in January they would be stepping away after this year’s edition a group of community members expressed interest in joining a new committee to keep the event running These meetings were an opportunity for the previous committee to explain their roles and the process of planning and running the festival with attendees thanking them for their contributions to the community over the past 10 years “It was a room full of excited and passionate people,” she said “The previous committee have been very helpful and supportive.” Interested future committee members also stepped forward to be involved with a new secretary and treasurer selected on Tuesday The running of the festival will now operate as a subcommittee of Rochester Business Network able to use the group’s existing insurances and structures Kate Lee will take on the secretary position Further places in the committee will be filled in the coming weeks “We’ve made it quite clear that we can’t do this on our own Mrs Lee said that the second meeting was a good show of support from members of the community who are willing to keep the festival running “I think we’ve got the commitment now,” she said there is a lot of roles for people to come in you don’t have to be there from the very start The jobs required to put the festival together will be split into groups advertising and marketing; looking after the artists; coordinating volunteers and preparing the mural site A leader for each of these task groups will form the committee attending meetings and working with the other leaders There has been a show of support from groups like the Lions where members want to contribute as volunteers Mrs Lee and Mrs Kyne are looking forward to the 2026 edition of the event “Future artists will be thrilled with the suggestions to date.” Key information about the 2026 Rochester Mural Festival with seats at the table to contribute to the varied roles “We’re still looking for interest,” Mrs Lee said “Anyone interested can definitely reach out especially if you’re new to town or if you’ve got new connections.” Those interested in joining the Rochester Mural Festival committee are encouraged to reach out to secretary Kate Lee on 0429 569 820 or by contacting Rochester Business Network via admin@rochesterbusinessnetwork.com.au Australia's Marc Leishman has made a hole-in-one while carding a round of one-under par for a share of 18th place in the first round of the LIV Golf tournament in South Korea Leishman and Ripper CG teammate Lucas Herbert were the leading Australians at six shots off the pace after day one at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea on Friday Taylor Gooch of Smash GC and Crushers GC's Bryson DeChambeau shared the lead after shooting seven-under 65s on Friday and Cleeks Golf Club's Richard Bland were a stroke further back in a share of third place ahead of a four-way group two shots adrift at four-under taking a birdie three at the fourth before sinking his tee shot on the 172-yard fifth and making a birdie two at the eighth to be four under But a bogey five at nine and a double-bogey at the par-four 11th helped consign him to his moderate round It was Leishman's fourth career hole-in-one in competition Herbert turned at two-under after a blemish-free front nine before bogey fives at the 10th and 16th offset his sole inward birdie at the long 15th Cameron Smith was the next best Australian after a one-over 73 left him in a tie for 32nd place Leishman's ace was matched by that of Stinger GC's Dean Burmester who needed just one shot on the 205-yard 13th en route to the 68 that left him tied for fifth American Gooch said he hoped his superb round would reignite some of his best form from two years ago "Hopefully this round kind of kick-starts a good rest of the season and we can kind of channel some of that 2023 season again," he said Many of the district’s NSW Rural Fire Service firefighters are virtually on ‘strike’ due to a dispute with management The Volunteer Fire Fighters Association said they are refusing to attend fire calls in protest at the way some have allegedly been treated by local senior management The dispute has reportedly been ongoing for about two years It resulted in there being no NSW RFS assistance for the Deniliquin NSW Fire + Rescue Brigade when it was called to attend a house fire in Deniliquin on Friday morning that “any suggestion that members did not attend due to an issue with management is incorrect” Volunteer Fire Fighters Association president Jon Russell told the Pastoral Times that the Deniliquin Hill Plain and Wandook brigades all received requests Mr Russell said it was telling that there was “no interest shown” via RFS ACTIV activation system “The notification of a house fire came through at 7.28am and from the Deniliquin brigade 11 responded and said ‘no’ and at Wandook there were only two responses and they both said no.” And Mr Russell said this is not the only time firefighters have withdrawn their services a 000 call to an MVA (motor vehicle accident) on the Cobb Highway/Exchange Rd “On March 25 a 000 call to a structure/house alight at 294 Wakool Rd Deniliquin – Fire + Rescue New South Wales attended with only one RFS member in a small tanker arriving at the end of extinguishment “On March 27 a 000 call to a car fire near Conargo Public School Our records show no-one from the Conargo RFS brigade attended “On April 4 a 000 call at 7.28am to house alight at 74 Macauley St Hill Plain and Wandook RFS Brigades - FRNSW crews attended and extinguished the house.” Speaking only to the incident in Macauley St on Friday morning an RFS spokesperson said the lack of attendance was simply a matter of unavailability “RFS was requested by FRNSW to assist with a fire on Macauley St as the incident was within their jurisdiction,” the spokesperson said so additional brigades from further afield were contacted to respond “FRNSW later confirmed they had the incident under control and no further assistance was needed “We want to assure the community that our members remain committed to responding to incidents wherever possible and continue to work closely with our partner emergency services to ensure public safety.” Mr Russell said the reported dispute stems from the alleged manner in which volunteers have been treated the suspension of a senior volunteer who raised concerns about the treatment and an incident where a firefighter was reported to police for alleged theft which resulted in charges being withdrawn in court but the firefighter removed from volunteer contact lists He said many are refusing to return to work until two senior staff in the region are removed “The volunteers of the Mid Murray have made it clear that until there are management changes the future for the Mid Murray is deeply concerning as the volunteers will not return “The issues of the RFS Mid Murray Zone have been brewing for a few years now but after volunteers contacted our association mid-January we attended a meeting at Mathoura on February 9 to hear their concerns “Members expressed their anger at how they are being treated and volunteers have withdrawn their services until it is resolved “We have met and spoken with many incredible Mid Murray local people who are so inspirational they have resigned along with family members because of the actions of salaried staff of the RFS.” Mr Russell said firefighters and the association have made NSW Member for Murray Helen Dalton aware of the situation Mr Russell has also secured a meeting between the association and the Minister for Emergency Services Deniliquin Fire + Rescue NSW Captain Martin Smith said the fire on Friday morning caused significant damage to the Macauley St home “Upon arrival there was a large amount of black smoke and flames from the bedroom at the front of the residence,” he said “The bedroom had extensive fire damage and the rest of the residence had minor fire damage and extensive smoke damage.” Capt Smith said there were early fears someone might have been inside the home He said firefighters entered with breathing apparatus for a search and rescue effort Firefighters later spoke with the occupant of the home who also confirmed he was the last person to leave the house before the fire The Deni brigade responded with two fire trucks and seven firefighters with Finley’s FRNSW brigade providing five firefighters and another pumper NSW Ambulance Paramedics were on standby throughout the firefighting effort from the Poictiers St intersection toward Harfleur St Murray River Police District Chief Inspector Michael Fuller said the fire is “not being treated as suspicious” It was beautiful temperate conditions at the 2025 Anzac Day Races at the Deniliquin Racing Club with punters and spectators in a good mood at the start of the Long Weekend Keen racegoers were kept happy with any inclement weather holding off until the end of the day The sun was out for the majority of the day with some cooling cloud cover overhead making for a great a day at the races in Deniliquin with good numbers of visitors and locals ready to get involved in the action trackside This included a good number of entrants for the always popular Fashions on the Field The event saw more than half a dozen entrants in the junior fashions on the field featuring an under-17s girls and the under-17s boys categories The day also featured the lady and gentlemen of the day categories Judges originally from Deniliquin included Jane Herbst and Vicki Kane with Vicki a former model that lived and worked in Paris MC Kylie Beehag did well organising the entrants with Lynda Danckert playing an important role holding the Fashions on the Fields making the trip from Melbourne with her family staying at McLean’s Beach Caravan Park while the runner-up was Kereana Tait from Mathoura The under-17s boys competition featured two finalists from Deniliquin with the suited Toby Rae declared the winner while the runner-up was Henry Pearce with his outfit and hat The prizes for the under-17s were a $100 voucher at Deni Showcase Jewellers for the girls’ winner a $150 Deni Clothing Co voucher for the boys’ winner and $50 vouchers at Barber n Threadz for each of the runners-up Lady of the Day in the Fashions on the Fields was won by Simone Penglase from Tullakool in a red and black dress well suited to the Anzac Day theme with the runner-up Alicia Williams from Barham in a light blue dress with a dazzling headpiece The Lady of the Day won a $300 voucher at Deniliquin Showcase Jewellers Both received a bouquet from Deniliquin Florists among their prizes The Gentleman of the Day was won by Warren Cochrane from Leeton in a pink outlined suit with a walking cane that also doubles as a marine telescope Newly returned local Kevin Greaves was runner-up returning to Deniliquin three weeks ago The Gentleman of the Day won $350 at Deni Clothing Co and a pack of beer while the runner-up received $150 to spend at Deni Clothing Co • More photos from race day in Friday’s edition Open: Prior inspections are strictly by appointment and automotive memorabilia will go under the hammer in Deniliquin on Saturday features a mix of Australian vehicles spanning several decades Highlights include a 1968 XT Falcon 500 Sedan and a 1951 Morris Minor ready for club registration The sale also includes several unique vehicles such as a 1939 Dodge Hearse and a 1990 Ford LTD NA Fairlane Sedan converted into an eight-seater limousine a 2013 Harley Davidson Softail 110th Anniversary model is up for grabs the auction features an extensive array of spare parts Collectors will find a treasure trove of automotive memorabilia and payment is required on the day via Eftpos or cheque unless prior arrangements have been made Elders Deniliquin agents described the auction as “a rarely available opportunity to acquire antique vehicles collectables and memorabilia accumulated over many decades.” Prior inspections are strictly by appointment interested parties can contact Elders Deniliquin Matt Horne on 0409 355 733 or Alex O’Brien on 0437 795 563 or the vendor A vehicle has slammed into a group of pedestrians in the southwestern German city of Stuttgart killing one person and injuring several others but Stuttgart police said on X there was "currently no evidence of an attack or a deliberate act" and that all the information so far indicates it was a "tragic traffic accident" The incident happened on Friday at an above-ground subway stop in downtown Stuttgart "Five people were slightly injured and three seriously injured in the accident a 46-year-old woman has since succumbed to her injuries in the hospital," police said hours after the accident and the area was cordoned off as emergency responders police and forensic specialists examined the scene and subway service through the area was suspended Photos from the scene showed plastic gloves blankets and bags scattered on the ground near the SUV The winter vaccine campaign has begun ahead of the peak respiratory virus season and locals are being encouraged to speak to medical professionals about their options NSW Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park has received advice to suggest higher than usual influenza activity season this year the NSW Government has increased the investment and reach of the flu vaccination It has also announced an investment of $16.6 million to ensure all newborns in NSW can be protected from serious illness from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) But health records indicate that winter vaccination rates have been declining the influenza vaccine rate for children aged six months to five years old has declined from 28.3 per cent in 2023 to 25 per cent in 2024 and for over 65s it was down from 62 per cent in 2023 to 60 per cent in 2024 People can access flu vaccinations through their pharmacist or local GP Infinity Pharmacy pharmacist Josh Custodio encourages everyone to take advantage “The flu vaccinations will be free for those over 65 “For those others in the age range of 18 to 64 “We urge people to get in quick to get ahead of it The influenza vaccine is free under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) for: • Children aged six months to less than five years; • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged six months and older • Those with serious health conditions such as diabetes the Deniliquin Rams faced a competitive Mulwala side in a hard-fought contest it opened the door for others to step up and make their mark The Rams matched Mulwala for most of the day particularly through the leadership of Gus Durnan and Todd Gallagher who battled tirelessly across four quarters It wasn’t until the final term that Mulwala capitalised on a few crucial Rams mistakes to edge ahead there were plenty of positives for Deniliquin with several junior players impressing under pressure and showing the future of the club is in safe hands Their ability to adapt and compete at senior level with strong guidance from the experienced heads around them The Rams will take plenty from the performance as they continue to build Final score: Deniliquin Rams 6.7 (43) def by Mulwala 12.15 (87) coming up against Mulwala brought up the disappointment of their one-point loss against them in the grand final last year Coach Colin Thompson was hoping for rain to get a few of the farmer boys away from their harvesting so thankfully we were able to play with a full squad and with the inclusion of thirds players Jack Sander and Ryder Perrin but the game got away from us in the third quarter We could only add two goals to their six-goal quarter To their credit they stuck at it in the fourth quarter adding four goals to Mulwala’s two - they didn’t give up and kept grinding away who has never played AFL (but you wouldn’t pick it) continues to improve and was deservingly awarded best on ground who gives us some handy height and slotted in beautifully having a great game and in our best players for the day Final score: Deniliquin Rams 10.0 (60) def by Mulwala 14.9 (93) Brodie Elphick 3 Brodie Park 2 Brett Macdonald 2 the boys put in the hard work at training but unfortunately went down to a bigger Mulwala side They showed plenty of fight and character and despite the result Deni impressed with solid ball movement and a clear intent to play fast We looked to move the ball quickly through the corridor showing glimpses of the style we wish to play highlighting their resilience and commitment to their brand of footy Final score: Deniliquin Rams 2.5 (17) def by Mulwala 7.12 (54) Russia's overnight drone attack on Kyiv has injured at least 11 people and set several residential buildings throughout the city on fire Falling debris from destroyed drones sparked fires at residential buildings in Kyiv's Obolonskyi and Sviatoshynskyi districts Ukraine's emergency service said on the Telegram messaging app that 76 firefighters were involved in putting out the overnight fires in Kyiv which also included a small blaze in Kyiv's central Shevchenkivskyi district It posted photos of firefighters battling large blazes at night at what seemed like a residential building The emergency service also said that several cars across the city caught fire from falling drone debris Reuters' witnesses heard several explosions in what sounded like air defence systems in operation There was no immediate information on the full scale of the attack its surrounding region and the eastern half of Ukraine were under air-raid alerts for about an hour There was no immediate comment from Moscow about the attack amid uncertainty over whether both sides would stop war activities during Moscow's commemorations of the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies in World War Two this week Last week Russia declared a three-day ceasefire from Thursday to Saturday to which Kyiv responded with a proposal to stop war activities for 30 days Both Russia and Ukraine deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia started more than three years ago with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine was preparing for foreign policy meetings to try and negotiate a ceasefire "We are ready to move toward a ceasefire even starting today if Russia is ready to take reciprocal steps: complete silence a lasting ceasefire of at least 30 days," he said on X "That's a fair timeframe to prepare the next steps Russia must stop the war—halt its assaults and shelling." A ship bound for Gaza carrying humanitarian aid and activists has been bombed by drones in international waters off Malta The Israeli foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment on the allegation by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition The Maltese government said the vessel and its crew were secured in the early hours of Friday morning after a nearby tug assisted with firefighting operations Turkey's foreign ministry said Turkish nationals were on board at the time of the incident and it was working with Maltese authorities to transfer them to a safe location "We condemn in the strongest terms this attack on a civilian ship," it said noting there were "allegations that the ship was targeted by Israeli drones" "All necessary efforts will be made to reveal the details of the attack as soon as possible and to bring the perpetrators to justice," it said A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas broke down in March and Israel sent troops back into Gaza and resumed airstrikes The footage showed lights in the sky in front of the ship and the sound of explosions could be heard "Israeli ambassadors must be summoned and answer to violations of international law including the ongoing blockade (of Gaza) and the bombing of our civilian vessel in international waters," it said The Maltese government said maritime authorities had received a mayday call shortly after midnight local time from a vessel outside of territorial waters with 12 crew members and four civilians on board It said a nearby tug headed to the scene and launched firefighting operations and a Maltese patrol vessel was dispatched adding that crew had refused to board the tug said the attack took place as the ship was preparing for activists to board from another vessel A transfer at sea had been planned rather than the ship going to harbour The coalition said it had been organising a non-violent action under a media blackout in order to avoid any potential sabotage The Gaza war started after Hamas-led fighters killed 1200 people and took 251 hostages to Gaza in the October 7 Israel's offensive on the enclave killed more than 52,000 Israel has completely cut off all supplies to the 2.3 million residents of the enclave and food stockpiled during a ceasefire at the start of the year has all but run out Israel accuses the Hamas militants who have run Gaza of exploiting aid - which Hamas denies - and says it must keep all supplies out to prevent the fighters from getting it Another coalition ship on a similar mission to Gaza in 2010 was stopped and boarded by Israeli troops Other ships have similarly been stopped and boarded Hamas issued a statement about the incident off Malta accusing Israel of "piracy" and "state terrorism" Four people have been charged with drug and weapon offences following an ongoing investigation into the supply of drugs in the Southern Riverina Officers attached to Murray River Police District established Strike Force Bodallin last month to investigate the supply and distribution of prohibited drugs Police allege a number of people have been involved in the supply of prohibited drugs – believed to be methylamphetamine – in the Tocumwal Simultaneous search warrants were executed at four properties yesterday morning with the assistance from State Crime Command’s Raptor Squad The younger woman was charged with 78 drug and weapon related offences and “knowingly/recklessly direct criminal group assist crime” The three others were all charged with “participate criminal group” The older woman faces five charges relating to drugs the younger man was charged with 20 drug and weapon related offences and the older man has three drug related charges The two women are due to face Deniliquin court on May 13 and the 43 year-old man is to appear at Finley court on May 27 A court date for the younger man has not been made available at this time The Murrumbidgee Zone has received a significant boost to frontline emergency care with an additional 25 paramedics starting work This workforce expansion is part of the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to deliver 500 additional paramedics to regional and rural areas ensuring these communities continue to receive timely and high-quality emergency medical care These additional paramedics will providing emergency and mobile health care across the Murrumbidgee Zone as part of NSW Ambulance’s highly mobile workforce 10 additional paramedics will be based out Albury Ambulance Station and 15 additional paramedics will be based out of Deniliquin This workforce boost comes as part of the Strategic Workforce and Infrastructure Team (SWIFT) Program which is delivering 2,500 additional NSW Ambulance staff including 500 paramedics to rural and regional areas The new starters in the Murrumbidgee Zone form part of an additional 125 paramedics set to begin working across regional NSW within the next few months These 125 paramedics are the second group to join NSW Ambulance as part of the regional 500 with 125 paramedics starting work in regional NSW last year rural and remote NSW we’d deliver them 500 new paramedics and I am really proud that the second cohort is about to hit the road and take up new roles in the bush “These highly skilled paramedics will help drive better health outcomes for patients and their families ensuring regional communities receive the same high-quality care as metropolitan areas “We are committed to investing in our frontline healthcare workforce to support our paramedics and provide better emergency services to the people of NSW.” Quotes attributable to Government Spokesperson for Albury “The Minns Labor Government is committed to ensuring rural and regional communities have access to high-quality healthcare by increasing our frontline workforce “Another 10 paramedics in Albury is a major boost to local ambulance services and a clear commitment from the Minns Government to regional communities.” “Deniliquin and surrounding districts in the Murray electorate are in desperate need of highly skilled first responders These 15 new recruits is a great start to addressing frontline essential workers staffing and recruitment shortfalls in the bush “Rural and remote regions deserve the same quality of medical care as our urban cousins It’s reassuring to see the government committing to ensure better health outcomes for us in the bush “Paramedics play a critical role in rural and remote communities Any boost to health care services in the bush is always welcomed so I’m pleased to see an increase in paramedic numbers in the area.” Quotes attributable to NSW Ambulance Chief Executive “This boost to our workforce in Albury and Deniliquin will help our clinicians deliver better health outcomes for patients while also providing more support to our existing NSW Ambulance staff in regional NSW “As demand for our services continues to grow we remain committed to providing excellence in care to our patients now and into the future the Deniliquin Business Chamber’s stall in the Deniliquin CBD on Saturday morning was a huge hit Chamber members were there to greet locals and visitors alike They have produced a range of new children’s shirts brandishing chamber’s bunny logo and the slogan ‘Made in Deni’ - a play on the old town motto ‘Do it in Deni’ everyday wear or a fun photo op — these tees are comfy with the iconic Do it in Deni tees back in stock and ready to wear loud and proud The new tops are available at Peppin Heritage Centre edith elsie and Deniliquin Riverside Caravan Park The Deniliquin Rodeo on Easter Saturday attracted a “massive crowd” for a full evening of thrills and spills The Australia Pro Rodeo Circuit event had something for everyone - competing cowboys and cowgirls handing out Easter chocolate to all those who surrounded the rodeo arena on Racecourse Rd Other fun activities included the dance contest - with about 50 kids invited into the rodeo arena to take part - and the mullet competition It’s not just rodeo fans who were full of praise for the event Murray River Police District Chief Inspector Michael Fuller said he was impressed with how it was run by the local committee “Deniliquin Police commend the organisers and event patrons for a great event,” Chief Insp Fuller said “There were no incidents reported to police.” With APRA competitors moving on to Finley for another event on Easter Sunday full results from Deniliquin’s event were not available at the time of going to print yesterday We’ll have photos and details in our Friday edition It was an extremely busy weekend for Deniliquin’s Fire + Rescue NSW firefighters Their long weekend started early on Good Friday when they were called to the shop fire in Napier St and continued when they visited local caravan parks on their traditional Good Friday donation run The fireys got a bit of a rest on Saturday and Sunday but they were called to action again about 2.30am Easter Monday The automatic fire alarm at the Deniliquin Court House had sounded Deputy Capt Les Booth said the most likely cause was an alarm panel malfunction It’s another short week for most people this week Our paper will still hit the shelves as normal on Friday but our PT offices will be closed for the day If you don’t want to wait to get to the shops to read the local news you can always subscribe by going to www.denipt.com.au Investigations are underway following a suspicious fire in Deniliquin this morning emergency services were called to a store on Napier Street NSW Fire and Rescue officers extinguished the blaze a short time later; however A crime scene has been established and an investigation by officers from Murray River Police District into the circumstances of the fire are underway Any witnesses or anyone with information is urged to contact local police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au Information is managed on a confidential basis The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages If you see our Deniliquin Fire + Recue NSW firefighters out in force today They will be in the community rattling tins for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal The brigade has long volunteered to visit Deniliquin’s caravan parks to raise more for the national fundraiser contributing to a national tally of $23,368,724 - a record for the Good Friday Appeal The money raised goes toward the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne the purchase of the latest technologies and creating a space for families and patients during such a difficult time Brigade Deputy Captain Les Booth has been a volunteer ‘door knocker’ since he was in high school and now continues in his role as a firefighter he personally learned the value of supporting the Royal Children’s Hospital “Both of my daughters have been cared for by the Royal Children’s Hospital staff - funnily enough “Emme had to be in the hospital for six days “And that’s why we (the Deniliquin firefighters) do this every year - it’s all about the kids “I’ve been volunteering ever since I was in Deniliquin Scouts.” Deniliquin’s brigade Captain Martin Smith said raising money is an important part of the day but the firefighters also provide a little bit of extra entertainment for families visiting Deniliquin by attending the caravan parks It’s also an opportunity to educate people on the role of firefighters “There will be displays and activities,” he said can come along and see and test some of the specialised gear.” The brigade members will be accepting cash and card donations Community members are also invited to donate online to the Deniliquin Good Friday Appeal fundraising page at fundraise.goodfridayappeal.com.au/fundraisers/Deniliquin More than $2000 will be donated to the Good Friday Appeal by Deniliquin’s firefighters Members of the Deniliquin Fire + Rescue NSW brigade visited three Deniliquin caravan parks on Good Friday to accept donations Deputy Captain Les Booth said people were quite generous and the families enjoyed the chance to learn more about the role of firefighters in the community and the kids loved getting inside and taking a look,” Dep Capt Booth said “We were out there to try and raise some money to put to a good cause and we’re pleased that we were able to raise $2343.60 for the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.” Dept Capt Booth said joining firefighters this year were two community members - Own Hanson and Debbie Gazsara Support for the Good Friday Appeal helps the Royal Children’s Hospital deliver the best possible care to patients and their families It helps fund research and equipment and technology and also helps to provide improved patient and family centred care The funding is also used to ensure Royal Children’s Hospital staff have access to the latest education and training the national 2025 Good Friday Appeal tally is $23,822,792 The Easter cheer from local firefighters did not stop there Two firefighters also made themselves available on Easter Sunday to escort the Easter Bunny through BIG4 Deniliquin Holiday Park The Easter Bunny and the firefighters were there at the request of holiday park owners Frank and Lynda White Instead of using the modern day fire trucks the families there got to see on Friday the Easter Bunny rode in style in an ‘old school’ fire truck Police have said there have been no reports of injury related to this morning’s shop fire in Deniliquin emergency services were called to a store on Napier St NSW Fire + Rescue officers extinguished the blaze a short time later; however A crime scene has been established and an investigation by officers from Murray River Police District into the circumstances of the “suspicious” fire are underway Any witnesses or anyone with information is urged to contact local police on 5881 9299 or CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information reported to CrimeStoppers is managed on a confidential basis. The Deniliquin Art Out Artisan and Vintage Market was teeming with interested community members and visitors on Easter Saturday morning. Well-organised by Edward River Council, more than 20 stallholders were set up in the Deniliquin Waring Gardens with lots of beautiful market goods on display. Connected to the Deni CBD, in a very accessible location, the market was full of customers in the hospitable sunshine. People were free to venture through the market, with plenty of buzz along Cressy St also, with anticipation building for the Deni Rodeo and many things to do around town on the Easter weekend. 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) Deniliquin Rotarians were on hand on Saturday morning to witness a momentous occasion in the Deniliquin Island Sanctuary they assisted a local excavator operator to lift the time capsule buried by the club and its members in 2000 While Rotary would have loved to have made it a public event safety concerns prevented them from doing so But the capsule will remain closed until the official opening in the Deniliquin Waring Gardens this Sunday nestled among the bushland of the Island Sanctuary several of the Rotarians in attendance included those who were involved in its burial in 2000 Some even returned to Deni especially for the event Rotary Club of Denilqiuin president Iain Goodway expressed satisfaction with the smooth lifting operation and shared his enthusiasm for the upcoming public opening “It was fantastic to have some returning Rotary members “It was obviously a bit disheartening with not having as many there as we may have liked but that was an OHS issue that we couldn’t risk but there will be a fantastic opportunity to be able to get down to the opening on the 26th.” The opening of the time capsule will be held in the Deniliquin Waring Gardens this Sunday It will be held at the conclusion of the Edward River Council Australia Day ceremony at the Town Hall and locals and visitors will have two opportunities to play Two-up in Deniliquin today The Deniliquin RSL Sub-branch will run Two-up at today’s Anzac Day Races and will then continue the game at the Deniliquin RSL Club tonight It’s a game that is both chaotic and disciplined at the same time and Deniliquin RSL Sub-branch member Neville Austin describes it as the only gambling activity that can never be cheated Mr Austin said traditionally played with two pennies flipped off a custom paddle the game has been streamlined since the introduction of three coins if you didn’t get an outright result - two heads or two tails - you would have to spin again,” he said The ‘ringer’ (game supervisor) calls for a ‘spinner’ who will place a bet with the ‘boxer’ (game owner) side bets may be made with others around the Two-up ring The ringer will then call “come in spinner" and the spinner will walk into the centre of the ring and toss the coins upwards A portion of bets made in the middle of the ring will be donated to the Deniliquin Legacy branch the first recorded game of Two-up - an Australian invention - was played in 1854 It became military tradition from 1901 onwards it can only be played outside formal licensed betting venues on certain days - Anzac Day being one This well-cared-for property represents excellent value for money in a quiet location in popular south-east Deniliquin there is little to no maintenance required thanks to features such as easy-to-clean external cladding The simple internal layout works well – good-sized lounge with ‘as-new’ wood heater and tiled hearth opening to a dining space with split system AC which leads to the spacious all-electric kitchen with ‘as-new’ stove and ample storage Opening off the hallway - which has ducted evaporative air conditioning - are the three bedrooms and the updated bathroom with separate bath and mirrored wall cabinet At the rear of the home is a handy second living area with polished floorboards Rounding out the property’s attractions is a tandem carport / undercover entertaining area and back porch with storeroom an estimated rent return of $400 per week and nothing to spend on the way in the door The first stage of work to deliver improvements to the traffic network through Deniliquin’s busy commercial precinct will start this month with construction of a new larger water main on Hardinge Street Latter stages will include the provision of a median strip to improve safety The Hardinge Street Road Construction Project is jointly funded by the NSW Government and Edward River Council The project will deliver the reconstruction of a 936m section of Hardinge Street (Cobb Highway) between Ochtertyre and Harfleur streets Edward River Council is delivering the first phase of the project to start on a new larger water main on the supermarket side of the street between Ochtertyre and Wood Sts with machinery and work crews moving on site to prepare for construction of the new larger water main The rest of the project work will start later this year and will include: • adding a new concrete median strip and turning lanes to improve road safety • introducing pedestrian crossings for safer foot traffic • installing an upgraded stormwater drainage system • adding landscaping with greenery to improve the street’s appearance at the conclusion of the project Independent Member for Murray Helen Dalton said such infrastructure investments in towns like Deniliquin are “critical for the growth of rural communities” “It’s great to see local and state government bodies working together for the benefit of all residents,” she said “My hope is that with these improvements the economy of Deni will be stimulated and confidence in the retail precinct will continue more efficient way for traffic to pass through the town and for people to access their homes and businesses.” Edward River Council Mayor Ashley Hall agreed the planned upgrades would “make such a difference to this important part of town” “Fixing up this section of Hardinge St is not just about fixing the obvious problems with drainage and potholes but it has been an opportunity to redesign the road to make it safer for everyone,” he said “This area is the busiest in Deniliquin with trucks and caravans travelling through and very few places for pedestrians and cyclists “It was crucial that we looked at designing the road.” Residents and business owners are encouraged to attend an information session or get in touch with council to learn more about the project and the changes it will bring Draft plans are available to view in council’s Customer Service Centre and at Edward River Library with information sessions at various times throughout the project The first drop-in session will be held at the library from 4pm to 6pm on Wednesday Residents can also view the draft plans and all the project information on council’s website at www.haveyoursay.edwardriver.nsw.gov.au/hardinge-street-road-reconstruction-project The Deniliquin Easter Art Show opening on Thursday night was packed full of people keen for a first glimpse at the amazing artwork entered with spectators keen to observe the beautiful art made locally and from further afield This year’s winners and highly commended artists were announced and art lovers got the first chance to purchase the art on display The event was presented by the Rotary Club of Deniliquin and Edward River Art Society Permission has been granted for four projects to connect to the South West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) All four are located in the Edward River Council footprint EnergyCo has granted access rights to wind solar and large-scale battery projects with a combined generation capacity of 3.56 gigawatts That’s enough to power more than 1.6 million homes a year The projects are Origin Energy’s Yanco Delta wind farm Someva’s Pottinger Energy Park and BayWA’s Bullawah Wind Farm This follows a competitive access rights tender process by AEMO Services Limited The grant of access rights provides more certainty to communities in the south west of NSW about the renewable energy projects that will be developed in the region over coming years The access fees paid by these projects will fund community benefits programs that will deliver legacy benefits informed by community priorities Deniliquin Taxis will cease to operate from March 1 this year In an open letter to Deniliquin RSL Club members (see page 3 of today’s edition) the club said the decision was “not made lightly” Deniliquin RSL Club chairman Bob Crampton told the Pastoral Times that maintaining the service was simply not sustainable The decision comes just two months after Mr Crampton confirmed the service was operating at a loss and had been subject to an external review This was revealed after a reduction in operating hours with taxis not available on weekends and evenings since before Christmas Despite being a fiscally responsible move for the Deniliquin RSL Club the decision to close the taxi business will leave the community without some important services Deniliquin Taxis is not the only passenger service available to the community but it is believed to be the only publicly available service that can take authorised taxi services like Cabcharge cards fares for Department of Veterans Affairs clients and accounts of care providers Other wheelchair accessible services in the community are available to registered clients of those providers only Concerns about the loss of these services are already being raised with NSW Member for Murray Helen Dalton’s Deniliquin staff “We do realise our decision will leave the community without a service but there are other towns without taxis and so there must be some kind of arrangement for those specific users,” Mr Crampton said “We have already had some discussions with members of the public who require the wheelchair service in particular and we believe they have already approached Helen Dalton’s office also.” Mr Crampton said in recognition of the importance of the taxi service to the community the club agreed to first reduce services as a cost saving measure But he said the club’s board and management could no longer justify the cost of the service “It’s simply finance,” he replied when quizzed on both the decision “Our costs have not been able to be reduced to a number we thought our membership would be comfortable with “We have a responsibility to handle the club’s finances for our members and we did not feel this was an acceptable loss Mr Crampton said he was not in a position to reveal the exact losses to the club in this article but said they would be included in the audited financial reports presented to the club’s next annual general meeting “If it had only been a few hundred dollars me might have considered keeping the service,“ he said Anyone interested in purchasing the taxi business can contact the Deniliquin RSL Club on 5881 4455 The Deniliquin Film Society is back after a hiatus with monthly film showings starting from tonight The group has put together a fun and thought-provoking calendar of films that will be screened in the beautifully renovated Deniliquin Town Hall It starts with The Princess Bride tonight - a funny and heart-warming family favourite Some highlights for the society will be the screening of The Home Song Stories in June with attendance by the film’s producer Also to be shown will be the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Adam Eliot’s Oscar nominated Memoir of a Snail You can attend by becoming a member of the Deniliquin Film Society and then admission is free for the months your membership is current There is a discounted youth membership and children under-13 years can attend with an adult member The Deniliquin Film Society was established more than 30 years ago and is able to present films at the Deniliquin Town Hall in 2025 with the support of Edward River Council and South West Arts or contact Kate Butler on deniliquinfilmsociety@gmail.com The users of two of Deniliquin’s sporting and community spaces are being promised improved communication connectivity if the Liberal Government wins power this May Sussan Ley - who is Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Federal Member for Farrer - was in Deniliquin on Tuesday to announce the $50,000 commitment from the Dutton Liberal Government The funding would expand Wi-Fi connectivity at Memorial Park in Deniliquin and at the Deniliquin Racecourse A combination of satellite technology and 4G network capability will boost local network stability and overcome poor signal strength during major events days in Deniliquin Ms Ley said it follows concerns raised by the Deniliquin Show Society about the participation risks associated with unreliable mobile coverage at the riverside precinct “The Deniliquin Racing Club will also benefit from improved connectivity at the bi-annual meetings at the racecourse as well as at other key events throughout the year “Large crowds overwhelming local phone towers is not unique to Deniliquin but I am really impressed with the way the town has worked together to identify this challenge and propose a permanent fix to this problem.” Deniliquin Show Society treasurer Chantelle Shevels said the proposed system was successfully trialled during the 2023 show “A permanent network solution will support commercial operators relying on EFTPOS transactions allow ground staff to communicate and ensure visitors can use their phone throughout,” Mrs Shevels said Mrs Shevels said it’s not just the Deni Show Society who will benefit from the investment with Memorial Park used by multiple groups Other user groups include the Deniliquin Rovers Football & Netball Club Deniliquin Netball Association and Deniliquin Collector’s Club with the grounds also used for school events and the annual Edward Kolety Fishing Challenge Deniliquin Racing Club secretary Col Hood said improved Wi-Fi would also enhance EFTPOS services He said access to online betting and the ability to livestream local races would also be improved and that enhanced connectivity would also be beneficial to the emergency services who must attend race days and the rodeo Ms Ley said ensuring country communities have the essential services they need is part of the Liberal Government’s plan to “get Australia back on track” The idea of a neighbourhood watch style group is being floated on social media as property related crimes appear to soar again in the local area car theft or theft from a car had been reported every week since early November multiple incidences of each were reported in one week The incidents were not only being reported in Deniliquin There appeared to be a bit of reprieve until last week when car keys and a car were taken from a local caravan park locals have taken to social media to advise other residents of thefts prompting commentary on the level of crime from a number of residents not all the matters had been formally reported to police a push bike was stolen from a bike rack at a restaurant in Charlotte St and property was taken from a car parked in Wilkinson St Deniliquin between 2.30pm Saturday and 10.30am Sunday A number of fishing rods were taken from the front yard of a west Deniliquin home about 10pm on December 29 and between 5pm Friday and 8am Saturday a car parked in Maher St was entered but nothing has been reported stolen Deniliquin Police Chief Inspector Michael Fuller said while it is not yet clear whether there are any links between any of the incidents it is not uncommon for an offender or group of offenders to commit a number of crimes in an area He said police and the community must work together to try and stem the issue “Police continue to investigate instances of property crime in Deniliquin,” he said “This includes following up investigations and attempting to match forensic results and persons of interest “Police conduct patrols based upon intelligence around Deniliquin “Information to assist police in relation to locations of interest and persons of interest comes from police investigation and information from the community “The community can assist in a number of ways “It is important to report incidents of crime to police. This can be done either by calling Deniliquin Police Station (if not an urgent job where you would ring 000). You also have the option of reporting crime via the Police Assistance Line (131 444 or https://portal.police.nsw.gov.au/ ) “If you are a victim of a crime, other than in life threatening or time critical emergencies, you should contact the NSW Police Assistance Line (131 444) or report online through the NSWPF Community Portal (https://portal.police.nsw.gov.au/) “These reported crimes are then sent to Deniliquin Police to investigate it can be an easier process and allows you to upload images and other information via the NSWPF Community Portal.” Chief Insp Fuller said CrimeStoppers provides members of the public the ability to report information on criminals and or criminal activity anonymously to https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au or 1800 333 000 “It can often be the case that people in the community have information but are uncertain about going to a police station or being seen talking to police in the street “CrimeStoppers gives them the ability to get their information to the police which in many cases leads to arrests as an outcome “It is important that any crime that occurs is reported Chief Insp Fuller said securing properties cars and personal belongings can also help prevent you becoming a victim Other measures that can assist is investing in and maintaining good lighting and security equipment and have a friend or neighbour check on your home and remove built up mail if you will be away for an extended periods You should also engrave your items of property with a licence number or similar identification number and keep records and photos of important items to assist police if they are stolen Chief Insp Fuller said if you see someone acting suspiciously you will never be criticised for calling 000 to get police to a location “If you have CCTV of people acting suspiciously around your property or have CCTV of an incident of property crime this should be reported and provided to police.” Three months of anticipation will come to an end for the Rotary Club of Deniliquin when members finally open the club’s 2025 time capsule envelope next week Planning for the club’s next entry to the 2050 time capsule will also continue The yet-to-be-opened envelope was retrieved from the time capsule buried in 2000 and opened on Australia Day this year The club agreed to delay exploring its contents until Rotarians of the day could be invited back to share in the excitement This will take place Monday night at the Coach House Hotel from 6pm “We’ve also invited Rotary clubs from around the district to be involved,” Deniliquin Rotary president Iain Goodway said Also anxiously waiting to explore a 2025 time capsule entry is Deniliquin Community Group member and Bendigo Bank employee Lisa Muirhead She said the excitement around the discoveries they may find is the precise reason DCG is supporting the 2050 time capsule project “There was a Muirhead family envelope in the 2025 capsule but we’re waiting until members of the family can be together to open it “Time capsules are such wonderful projects and the Deniliquin Community Group is only too happy to support the next one.” Funding provided by DCG has assisted in the printing of time capsule envelopes “Using the grant on promotion means more money raised from the sale of envelopes can be donated toward Rotary projects,’ Mr Goodway said “That’s more money going back into the community.” The new time capsule is scheduled to be buried on June 14 Moulamein will be left without a bank branch in the community with BankWAW announcing it is withdrawing from the Moulamein Business Centre The withdrawal of face-to-face banking services will be effective from June 26 this year BankWAW has operated a branch agency out of Murray River Council’s Moulamein Business Centre for many years but data shows declining use of the face-to-face service Its data shows declining transactions and increased online banking BankWAW is providing face-to-face customer support from the Moulamein Business Centre over the coming weeks Murray River Council Mayor John Harvie said council is also committed to working with BankWAW as they support Moulamein customers to transition to alternative banking arrangements “Council acknowledges this may present some challenges for the community,” he said “BankWAW will provide extensive support to customers until the end of June so I would encourage customers to make use of this support to help them find alternative banking services.” A customer support meeting was held by BankWAW last night and 38 were a business or club banking customers the face-to-face branch accepted 30 personal banking transactions and 26 business or club banking transactions The same information indicates that 74 per cent of their Moulamein customers are registered for online banking we have seen a change in the way people bank with us a decline in over-the-counter transactions and a significant reduction in the level of business connected to the agency,” the company said along with current regulatory and compliance requirements including our Australian Financial Services Licence means that it is no longer feasible for BankWAW to deliver banking services via an agency partnership in Moulamein.” For those who would prefer to bank in person Commonwealth and Bendigo Bank customers can use Bank@Post at the Moulamein Post Office A Deniliquin man has been charged with manslaughter following a crash in West Albury It was one of several new charges laid this week in relation to the February 21 incident The Deni man was served with a court attendance noticed for the new charges at Junee Correctional Facility where has been remanded in custody since late February following initial charges Emergency services were called to a two-car collision on Pemberton St Police allege a utility struck the other vehicle The 33 year-old male driver of the utility was taken to Albury Base Hospital for mandatory testing The 19 year-old female driver of the other car The woman and her baby were later transferred to a hospital in Melbourne Her 41 year-old male passenger was also taken to Albury Base Hospital for elbow injuries Murray River Police District officers conducted a further search of the utility and allegedly seized drugs officers were notified by the hospital the baby had died officers attended a Deniliquin unit where the 33 year-old man was arrested Police allegedly seized drugs from the unit He was taken to Deniliquin Police Station and charged with three counts of supply prohibited drug goods in personal custody suspected being stolen two counts of recklessly deal with proceeds of crime less than or equal to $5000 possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty and breach of bail He was refused bail and appeared before Albury Local Court on Thursday detectives attended a correctional centre in Junee on Tuesday and issued the man with a court attendance notice for manslaughter aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death-influence drug or drugs aggravated dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm-influence drug or drugs and drive vehicle under influence of drugs He remains in custody and will appear in Wagga Wagga Local Court on Monday Police are seeking information after a white Toyota Hilux was stolen from a commercial premises on Saleyards Rd The business yard was broken into between 6.30pm Wednesday and 6.30am yesterday Anyone with information is asked to contact Deniliquin Police on 5881 9299 or CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000 Reports to CrimeStoppers can remain anonymous a piece of fitness equipment was damaged at a business is End St a young person was spoken to by police and will now be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act The volunteer run Deniliquin Neighbourhood Watch is constantly recruiting for members Informal patrols have already been started by group volunteers Shifts will be arranged at random as the group comes together For more information or to register your interest in the Deniliquin Neighbourhood Watch group The provision of an early education centre is one of the future options being considered in master plans for Riverina Christian College in Deniliquin The plan is being drawn up while Melos Group awaits advice on whether an application to open the school from 2026 will be accepted While the initial focus of the school will be on secondary schooling Year 7 and 8 in the first year specifically plans for its future growth are being developed now and progress on establishing Riverina Christian College will be discussed at an information night in Deniliquin next week Melos Group’s application to open the school in west Deniliquin on the site of the former Deniliquin Christian School It is now being considered by the NSW Education Standards Authority it goes to the NSW Minister for Education for final approval Melos Group executive principal Phillip Nash said if all goes well NESA’s decision may be known by the end of May He said government approval usually takes longer and is usually confirmed by August or September Mr Nash said planning for the school to open will continue “We can’t take school registrations or hire staff until the minister signs off and we need to work forward so we can get started as soon as we have that it may look at projections for a Year 7 to 12 school with 250 students “The plan will also look at reconfiguring the school to the other side of the grounds “We have also asked the consultants to look at an early learning centre on site as a possibility for the future because we know there is a need for that in the community “Initially we will start with what we have on site and will look to improve from there based on interest “We have done a survey of the IT environment in the current buildings and will replace old servers but otherwise there is good IT infrastructure on site.” Mr Nash said for the purpose of the application Melos Group has estimated it may start with 25 students across Year 7 and 8 in its first year of operation But he said there has been enough interest from the community to suggest it could be higher And he said they’ve also been contacted by teachers seeking positions even before official EOIs for staff open in coming weeks Mr Nash said while the focus is on filling an identified gap in local secondary education options there is enough interest from parents of younger children to keep options for primary teaching on the table All options and future plans will be shared with interested community members at the information evening on Tuesday It will be held at the Deniliquin Baptist Church in Edwardes St from 7pm to 8.30pm said it’s also an opportunity for families to learn more about Melos Group and its approach to education Expressions of interest will also be taken on the night anyone seeking more information is encouraged to go to rcc.melos.education