Clarence Valley’s leading community and independent newspaper – connecting news to our community. With an 8-day programme that listed almost 1,300 performances, Grafton’s 71st Annual Dance Eisteddfod was another busy event. Running from 12 to 19 April, all styles of dancing were included, from classical ballet, to contemporary, lyrical, jazz, tap, hip hop, Irish soft shoe, and song and dance. Carefully watching every performance was this year’s visiting Adjudicator, Ms Jane Pearson, from Brisbane. Jane has wide experience as a dancer, a dance teacher, a choreographer, an adjudicator, and as a former dance mum. “I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Grafton, watching such wonderfully talented young performers dancing in a variety of styles.” she said. Despite occasional showers, the opening weekend was crowded, colourful and glittering as troupes from 13 dance studios from the Clarence Valley, mid North Coast and Northern NSW areas performed on stage. The Grafton Rotary Club held a BBQ stall for breakfast and lunch on Sunday, doing a very brisk trade with tasty sausage sandwiches and bacon and egg rolls. The remaining time was focussed on almost 200 soloists, most of were competing in several sections. Some popular sections had up to 25 entrants. Many routines were well practiced, while others called for improvised dances to music heard just a minute before taking to the stage. The Overall Excellence Scholarship for Seniors (12 years and over) of $500 was won by Hayley Phillipps-Lewis (a student at Virtuosity Ballet Coaching). The winner of the $250 Overall Excellence Scholarship for Juniors (11 years and under) was Ema Isubikalu (a student at Clarence River Dance Academy). Long term sponsor, Grafton Toyota, again awarded a generous $500 scholarship for the Most Promising Ballet Student (aged 12 years & over). This year’s winner was Chloe Leman (a student at Harbour Performing Arts Centre). The trophy for the Most Outstanding Group was awarded to the Clarence River Dance Academy. 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) There’s just one week to go before Byron Bay’s annual Coastal Charity Walk gets underway with locals encouraged to sign up to support the cause Grafton father and son duo – Mark and Cooper Stephenson are taking part after their family needed the lifesaving chopper last year This is probably not the page you’re looking for the Grafton Waste Transfer Station in Kirchner Street will no longer accept green waste due to the land being required for the upgrade of the North Grafton Sewerage Treatment Plant which is being developed to accommodate the growing community's needs Alternative options are available with residents advised to take green waste direct to the Grafton Regional Landfill’s organics facility at 704 Armidale Road Elland or place it in the green organics bin for collection Clarence Valley Council’s Director Environment and Planning Adam Cameron said while it will be a change there are other options out there for the community to utilise “Residents who receives a residential bin collection service can place their green waste in their green FoGo bin “If you find that you’re regularly overfilling your green bin you may also benefit from ordering an extra green bin from our waste contractor with the cost added to your rates to be paid off during the Financial Year rather than paying the dumping fee every time you take green waste to the landfill “A compost bin also is a great way to dispose of green waste while providing extra nutrients for your garden While it may be a little tricky to dispose of larger pieces such as tree branches and palm fronds this way lawn clippings and leaves make great compost additions.” The land currently used to process green waste in Duke Street is needed for the expansion of the neighbouring North Grafton Sewerage Treatment plant the Grafton Waste Transfer Station will no longer accept green waste mixed recyclables and e-waste will still be received There are a number of options to reduce and reuse the amount of household green waste : The Organics Recycling Facility (ORF) at the Grafton Regional Landfill,704 Armidale Road is another option for green waste disposal particularly for garden pruning and items too large for the weekly green bin Branches up to 150mm in diameter will be accepted The cost for processing green waste at the ORF is $140/tonne Should the green organics bin not meet all the FOGO (food organics garden organics) needs residents may purchase an additional green FOGO bin Customer service:02 6643 0200 Media enquiries:0427 894 745  We acknowledge the Bundjalung, Gumbaynggirr and Yaegl people as the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live and work. We honour the First Nations peoples culture and connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. Play Duration: 3 minutes 18 seconds3m 18sPresented by Floodwaters from ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred head downstream with more than 20 emergency warnings in northern New South Wales.Residents along the Clarence River are being told to shelter now. The SES says more than 20,000 people have been told to evacuate. Featured: Scott McLennan, SES deputy zone commanderRay Smith, Grafton mayorMiriam Bradbury, Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Trevor Wingfield, resident The GorgeGreg Wilson, Megan resident A major flood warning was issued for the Clarence River at Grafton.(ABC News: Liam Patrick) TranscriptSabra Lane: The State Emergency Service says more than 20,000 people have been told to leave their homes in northern New South Wales. Residents downstream of the Clarence River are preparing for flooding as the weather system moves inland. There are more than 20 emergency warnings in place across the region. Kimberley Price reports. Kimberley Price: It's an anxious time for people in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. After the deluge brought by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, floodwaters are rising and those living along the Clarence River are being told to shelter now. Superintendent Scott McLennan is a Deputy Zone Commander at the SES. Scott McLennan: Everyone in the Clarence Valley seems to be heeding the warnings, so particularly for the islands in the lower Clarence, so whether it be Harwood, Chatsworth, Warregah, Goodwood Island. Kimberley Price: The SES says 1800 people in New South Wales are isolated by floodwaters and over 20,000 people are subject to an emergency order and have been told to evacuate. And Scott McLennan says the Clarence River waters are now threatening Grafton. Scott McLennan: We still have significant issues along the Clarence River, so Cairns Island west of Grafton does remain isolated. Brushgrove Island and the village of Brushgrove, we asked them to evacuate before 9pm last night. Kimberley Price: Floodwaters on the banks of the Clarence River are a serious concern as rain continues to fall. Ray Smith is the Mayor of Grafton. Ray Smith: Well last night it topped the 5.4 metre which triggers the major flood warning and obviously that entails further flooding downriver, Almara, Maclean, Yamba. We believe the road into Yamba will probably be cut sometime this morning if it's not already and flooding in River Street, Maclean is also an issue for us. The levee here in Grafton is 8 metres so there's no need for anyone to panic at this stage. Kimberley Price: The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting more heavy rain is on the way for the northern rivers. Miriam Bradbury is a Senior Meteorologist at the Bureau. Miriam Bradbury: We've also got a broader severe weather warning for that heavy to locally intense rainfall continuing still in parts of the northern rivers, the northern tablelands and the northwest slopes and plains all captured in that warning. We still could see those six hourly rainfall totals of 80 to 120 millimetres. Kimberley Price: In the community of Megan, north east of Dorrigo in northern New South Wales, residents are grieving local 61 year old Tom Cook who was swept away by floodwaters. He was last seen clinging to a tree after his ute was swept from Wild Cattle Creek Bridge at Megan on Friday afternoon. His neighbour and friend Greg Wilson says he watched on helplessly. Greg Wilson: At that stage SES was called, the local police were there, ambulance and we actually managed to be able to talk to Tom for roughly half an hour or better but unfortunately there was absolutely nothing we could do. Kimberley Price: Over 250 schools in northern New South Wales remain closed today but no flood damage has been reported. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will visit flood affected communities in Queensland and New South Wales today. Sabra Lane: Kimberley Price and Alison Xiao with that report. Download the ABC listen app to hear more of your favourite podcasts The NSW Government is funding this $240 million project which involves building an additional 525 metre bridge 70 metres downstream from the existing road and rail bridge The project also includes upgrading parts of the road network in Grafton and South Grafton to connect the new bridge to the existing road network The new bridge will consist of two lanes but has been designed to be increased to four lanes when traffic levels require it The new Grafton bridge opened to traffic on Thursday 12 December Find out more about the new traffic arrangements. (PDF, 1.16 MB) Read our frequently asked questions. (PDF, 302.01 KB) Thousands of people turned out to walk across the bridge on Sunday 8 December The project reached a major milestone in August with the placement of the final bridge segment With the last of the 176 pre-cast segments in place there is now a 525-metre continuous span from the southern bank to the northern bank of the Clarence River See how the bridge will look once complete and check out other digital information about the project The new $240 million Grafton bridge recently open to traffic, with a number of new traffic changes in place (PDF, 1.16 MB) Key building activities planned between January and March 2020 include: To safely carry out these activities traffic management including stop/slow traffic control road shoulder closures and reduced speed limits may be required View the new video about the work to minimise the impact on flooding Some documents on this page may not comply with accessibility requirements (WCAG) If you are having trouble accessing information in these documents, please contact us Work to improve the roundabout at the intersection of Dobie and Villiers streets from Monday 16 September 2019 Design and construction of additional crossing of the Clarence River at Grafton Rail history celebrated at Grafton Bridge site Installation of final segment for span three (March 2019) Panoramic view of the concrete pour for pier 6 (February 2019) For further information about this project Email: grafton.regional.office@transport.nsw.gov.au Transport for NSW recognise and celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal peoples and their ongoing cultures and care of Country We pay respect to traditional custodians and Elders past and present Contact us      Opening hours       Prices          Facilities  Learn to Swim / Squads Registration Please read these detailed instructions and then follow the link provided If there are no available lessons on your preferred day please email kia.green@clarence.nsw.gov.au to be included on the waitlist Additional classes will be added as the community registers their interest please make sure you add your child’s name Also if you require a private or adult lesson please register and send an email Please note if a wrong level is assessed it is easier to move a child up a level than down Our teacher will advise if a child is in the wrong level and amendments will be made this may result in a change of time and/or teacher A confirmation email will be sent to you once your booking is approved and finalised Call: 02 6642 0900 Email us: info@clarenceregionalaquaticcentre.com.au Location: Cnr Oliver and Turf St, Grafton 2460 Gumbaynggirr and Yaegl people as the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live and work We honour the First Nations peoples culture and connection to land Clarence Valley’s leading community and independent newspaper – connecting news to our community The third national Social Impact in the Regions conference will be held in Grafton on September 3-5 this year Kerry Grace and Ready Communities co-founder Dr Chad Renando have been working in the Grafton community since January this year via the Ready Grafton program to ensure the local community is ready for and really benefits through the big event which expects to attract 300 people to Grafton and surrounds “It’s important to us that the conference generates revenue in the local community supporting local hospitality and retail businesses creative industries practitioners and growers so it is based in the Grafton CBD and the delegates spend at least three days in the local community Our estimate is the event will be worth around $350k to the local economy.” “It’s not only the businesses who deliver services that will benefit this is an opportunity to put a spotlight on Grafton with speakers representing philanthropy government and influential non-government organisations attending There is also a pre-conference event where we will showcase a range of local businesses and not for profits creating a social impact in the Grafton community.” “Clarence Valley Council is proud to welcome Social Impact in the Regions 2025 to the Clarence Valley The strength of our regions is based on the collaborative effort of the people who live within them to create social change Council will always be supportive of opportunities to develop skills to create positive impact.” Now it’s over to the community to get involved There are numerous opportunities from hosting a billet to attending workshops and masterclasses via special local tickets helping to make the main street vibrant and volunteering for the event Join us on April 28 at the Grafton Cathedral to learn more about Ready Grafton, Social Impact in the Regions and hear from local social enterprises and start-up businesses. Registration appreciated: www.socialimpactintheregions.com.au (click SIITR25 Launch in the top menu) The beautiful music made famous by Grammy award winning artists will be brought to life on stage at the Saraton Theatre in Grafton next month when the incredible vocal and instrumental collaboration of Melissa Buchholz and Meg Kiddle return to the Clarence Valley with their upcoming concert Queens of Song: And the Grammy Goes to… Celebrating the universally acclaimed lyrics by noted artists including The Carpenters told the Clarence Valley Independent they are looking forward to returning to their hometown and performing once again at the iconic venue Joining them on the stage will be special guests Julee-anne Bell who wowed Australia with her stunning vocal ability on a previous season of reality singing competition The Voice in 2021 Clarence Valley back-up singers Simone Smith and Melissa Christie who are all former and current students of Ms Buchholz After delighting crowds with Queens of Song last year Ms Buchholz and Ms Kiddle are excited to continue their partnership on the stage in 2025 “We’re really proud of what we have put together,” said Ms Buchholz who commenced her musical career at St Cecilia’s now known as the Clarence Valley Conservatorium “And to have the opportunity to come back to Grafton and perform at the Saraton Theatre “We’re both looking forward to welcoming a large audience once again and there will be something for everyone to enjoy.” Ms Buchholz and Ms Kiddle will also perform a medley as a tribute to esteemed American singer Maureen McGovern who rose to fame for her work on soundtracks for films including The Towering Inferno and The Poseidon Adventure “To be able to come back to Grafton with Melissa and perform in front of our friends and family words can’t describe how much I’m looking forward to it,” said Ms Kiddle “We want people in the audience to say ‘oh and evoke all those wonderful memories when this music was first released and that’s what Queens of Song is all about Queens of Song: And the Grammy Goes to… will be performed at the Saraton Theatre in Grafton on Sunday Tickets are still available and can be purchased online at www.saraton.com Error: no decision tree source folder detected Some of Grafton’s best-known businesses all have one thing in common they proudly call the Brewhouse Village their working home which has a mix of commercial and industrial companies is already home to 74 local and national tenants with over 240 people on site each day Since 2019 the local Firth family have set out to bring the complex into the 21st century investing heavily in maintenance such as new electrical wiring and in turn introducing more than 20 new tenants Ample parking onsite and a 300-metre road frontage provides plenty of exposure while the history of the site is a draw card to those visiting The newest tenants include Choices Flooring Jeremy and Lindy McRae bring over 30 years of building industry experience to the Clarence Valley to advise on all aspects of new flooring Longer-term tenants include All Town Fencing The Brewhouse Café has become a regular for people looking for great coffee and food in an interesting and historic setting It supports Northern Rivers’ coffee roaster as an exclusive stockist and supplier and purchases locally where possible the most modern and innovative in the Clarence Valley provides brand-new soft touch or touchless technology which is much quieter than those already in operation and dries your car before exiting It thoroughly cleans vehicles while minimising the electricity and chemicals used and recycles 85% of the water used eliminating the amount of waste back into council’s sewerage system Containers Now offers a range of shipping container products for storage transport or even accommodation pods for the back yard for sale or lease The new vision for the Brewhouse Village is to create a world-class food retail and commercial precinct with range of creative Grafton and experience for yourself the range of businesses in the oldest brewery in the northern rivers The decision by Clarence Valley Councillors to support the officer’s recommendation to seek expressions of interest to dispose of the South Grafton Pool and Boyd Nattress Complex by way of sale with a report to come back to Council on the response to the expression of interest at the Ordinary Meeting of Council at the Maclean Council Chambers on March 20 has been described by many locals as extremely sad and disappointing the complex includes a 25m indoor pool with six lanes its future was the topic of several community conversations amidst speculation circulated via social media regarding its viability and ongoing maintenance costs it has also been revealed that notice has been received by Council’s Contract Manager to conclude the contract for the management and operation of the premises on April 11 this year During the Ordinary Meeting of Council last week councillors considered four options for the facility which included disposal by sale or Expression of Interest long term lease rezoning and sale of land for commercial purposes Describing the officer’s recommendation as one he had been “mulling over for some time” Deputy Mayor Greg Clancy identified the hydrotherapy pool in particular as being “the area of contention” the local community would be without a hydrotherapy pool “I was hoping that we (Council) might be able to come to some conclusion about maintaining the hydrotherapy pool but the reality is the cost of bringing the facility up to scratch and the ongoing maintenance and management costs are just far too great adding it was always part of the plan to close the facility once the new Clarence Regional Aquatic Centre was opened The Deputy Mayor went on to explain that in supporting the officer’s recommendation Council are “seeing if there is anyone out there interested in buying the property” to continue its operations in its current format with the hydrotherapy pool adding it will ultimately come back to Council “I think at this stage this is the only thing we can do,” he concluded before revealing he was reluctantly supporting the motion “I would like to have seen a better outcome “Hopefully there may be other things happening in the area that will accommodate people who require a hydrotherapy pool.” Deputy Mayor Clancy went on to say from his understanding the temperature of the indoor pools at the Clarence Regional Aquatic Centre will accommodate some people at the lower end of the spectrum of requiring heat but unfortunately not those who require the full hydrotherapy temperature who was seated in the public gallery during the Ordinary Meeting of Council last week told the Clarence Valley Independent he viewed the decision as a massive failure of Council and lamented the lack of effort demonstrated by the local government body in keeping the facility better maintained allowing it to continue to operate and provide what he describes as a valuable community service who attends the South Grafton Pool and Boyd Nattress Complex five days per week sometimes twice a day to use the 25m pool and gymnasium said the hydrotherapy pool is quite popular particularly with the elderly and Clarence Valley residents with mobility issues Following the recent decision announced by Council Mr Edwards said those who rely on the hydrotherapy pool now have nowhere to go “There isn’t a hydrotherapy pool at the Clarence Regional Aquatic Centre particularly older citizens and people with limited options,” he explained “This is a slap in the face to the local community As she acknowledged the great work exemplified by the management team at the South Grafton Pool and Boyd Nattress Complex throughout the past 40 years Cr Allison Whaites said Council had received a request from the South Grafton RSL Sub-Branch to have the wrought iron gates with the words ‘War Memorial Baths’ at the entrance to the facility relocated to Lane Boulevard Park where the cenotaph is located and where memorial services are held in South Grafton The officer’s recommendation also supported their relocation in consultation with the South Grafton RSL-Sub-Branch This article appeared in Clarence Valley Independent, 26 March 2025 Sign up for updates from Australian Rural & Regional News Manage your subscription We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info For all the news from the Clarence Valley Independent, go to https://clarencevalleynews.com.au/ The Clarence Valley Community is just weeks away from being able to enjoy brand new pools at Grafton’s regional aquatic centre Stage one and two of the project are set for a soft opening early next month Motorists are advised of changed traffic conditions from this week in Grafton to carry out essential maintenance work on the old Grafton Bridge on Bent Street The bridge will be closed to all vehicular and pedestrian traffic from Monday 6 January 2025 while we remove existing asphalt lift out the deck and install new deck panels From 6 to 19 January work will be carried out from 6am to 6pm and from 19 January we will be working from 6pm to 6am for five nights The work requires the full closure of the old Grafton Bridge for three weeks between Bent Street just north of the turnaround bay and between Riverside Drive and Clarence Street Pedestrian walkways and cycle paths will also be closed pedestrians and cyclists will be detoured over the new Grafton Bridge via Shirley Adams Way Access to properties within the closed sections of work will be permitted under the direction of traffic control Motorists should allow up to 15 minutes extra travel time are advised to drive to the conditions and follow the directions of signs and traffic control Transport for NSW thanks motorists for their patience during this time For the latest traffic updates download the Live Traffic NSW app A critical incident investigation remains ongoing following a shooting which took place in the Clarence Valley last week officers attached to the Coffs/Clarence Police District attended a scene in the vicinity of JJ Lawrence Field and McKittrick Park after responding to reports of a concern for welfare police located and attempted to engage with a man for a period of time before he allegedly approached them and threatened two officers with a knife resulting in the police discharging their firearms Officers immediately rendered first aid until NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived The man was airlifted to the Gold Coast University Hospital in a serious but stable condition The attending officers did not sustain any injuries during the incident A crime scene was established and remained in place for several hours throughout the day while a forensic team conducted further investigations including taking aerial footage using a drone to attain additional evidence While addressing the media following the incident Assistant Commissioner David Waddell Northern Region Commander revealed the man was local and aged in his early 30s A critical incident team from Richmond Police District is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident The investigation is also subject to an independent review No further updates were available to the Clarence Valley Independent at the time of publication Zachary Marriage second as Brendon Davids clinches final podium spot Tristan Saunders (Team Brennan p/b TP32) won the Squadron Grafton to Inverell Classic, claiming the fifth round of racing in the ProVelo Super League ahead of Zachary Marriage (Butterfields Ziptrak) Brendon Davids (Team Brennan p/b TP32) joined his teammate Saunders on the podium taking third in the 228km race with 3,382m of climbing and a history of more than 60 years where a stagiaire contract with Jayco-AlUla is up for grabs for the under 23 victor concludes at Queensland's four-stage Q Tour from March 21-23 Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. the festival celebrates its 90th anniversary What began as a small act of civic pride among locals is now regarded as the country’s longest-running and most beautiful floral festival capturing the romance of regional living and celebrating a unique tree like no other Experience the most beautiful floral festival in Grafton The first of Grafton’s iconic jacaranda trees were planted in the 1880s as part of a town beautification project They’ve since become a much-celebrated tourist attraction with many of the 1700 heavily scented jacarandas reaching well over 100 years old the festival is celebrating with a dynamic lineup of performances Food is front and centre, so expect a showcase of the best Clarence Valley produce, as well as the CHS Training Blossom Wine & Dine Long Lunch, which takes place outdoors under the purple canopy. There’s also the country-style Whiddon Jacaranda Afternoon Tea as well as a variety of food trucks located in and around festival hubs Traditionally, the Clarence River marks the boundary between the Bundjalung and Gumbaynggirr people. Along with the Yaegl people, the three Traditional Custodians of the Clarence Valley will come together for a day of shared culture, performance, music and dance as part of the River Dreaming program The Women of Song music event also features First Nations Choral Group performances Stay overnight and you’ll get a chance to see the jacaranda trees illuminated in See Park some of the city’s best jacaranda canopies are lit up at night juxtaposing the vibrant purple against the night sky and reflecting on the park’s water features the festival kicks off with the Children’s Party There’s also a free community breakfast held in Market Square One of the best ways to experience the festival is on a bus tour which will take you to all the hotspots around town and South Grafton hop-off bus service around the hubs and events Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Jacaranda trees as they are illuminated at night While the jacarandas take all the attention, Grafton is also home to one of Australia’s most important regional art prizes: the Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award (JADA). Shown at the Grafton Regional Gallery the competition attracts some of Australia’s premier artists and entries are exhibited during the festival a historic building fitted out with memorabilia from life in the Clarence Valley Discover more about Grafton through its art It’s also worth stopping by Grafton’s iconic “bendy” bridge built with a bend on either approach for vehicles to accommodate the rail line Part of the heritage walking trail and best experienced on foot the purple flowers reflect brilliantly on the Clarence River below when the winds are still then dot the river in flecks of mauve when a breeze appears Catch a wave in Yamba. (Image: Destination NSW) Shaney Hudson is an award-winning freelance writer based in Sydney, Australia. After five years living in Europe, she now loves jumping in the car to explore Australia with her young family. Most of all she loves to go where the wild things are. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Yes, we saw them once in Grafton when we were driving round Australia in the 70’s. Quite spectacular. More recently, having lived in Perth for 14 years during the eighties and nineties, I was always thrilled to see the avenues of Jacarandas in the older suburbs, such as Applecross. Relax in style at Byron Bay’s abundant array of accommodations, where beach bungalows and boutique hideaways capture the laid-back luxury of this co... Australian Traveller Media acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Country on which we live and work, and pays respect to Elders past, present and emerging. Get the latest travel news, reviews, offers and more, direct to your inbox. © Australian Traveller Media 2025. All rights reserved. Please note that this is an automated translation and it will not be perfect All articles have been written in English and if anything appears to not make sense Two breakaway victories in the final one-day race of this year's PSL Australia's inaugural ProVelo Super League (PSL) continued this past weekend with the second and final one-day race in the series: the Grafton to Inverell This staple of the Australian domestic calendar was the fifth round of this year's PSL and leaves just one round in the first-running of the series the women's race saw an early break of six riders get up the road but with Praties – the league's best team – having two riders up front and with their series leader Sophie Marr back in the bunch the break was always a good chance of surviving Sure enough, the five leaders made it all the way to Inverell where Gina Ricardo (Praties) took a sprint victory ahead of Rachael Wales (Butterfields Ziptrack), with Rhylee Akeroyd (Meridian Blue-99 Bikes) completing the podium. The main field was led in by sixth-placed Lauren Bates (Meridian Blue-99 Bikes) a little over two minutes after Ricardo crossed the line Ignore the thumbnail: highlights for the women's race start at 2:04 in this video And see below for the overall individual leaderboard with one round remaining in the series Note that the top-ranked U23 rider (rider with an asterisk next to their name) after the final round of the PSL will receive a one-year contract with the Liv AlUla Jayco Continental team At this stage it will be a Praties rider who will take the contract but who will it be: Sophie Marr or Talia Appleton The 64th edition of the men's race spanned the full 228 km from Grafton to Inverell and also came down to a small group headlined by Brendon Davids (Brennan) and Connor Leahy (Ccache-Bodywrap) but were eventually caught after the Gibraltar Range climb A lead group of five eventually formed in the back half of the race three of them from Team Brennan – including Davids and Tristan Saunders – plus Zac Marriage (Butterfields Ziptrack) Tristan Saunders outkicked Marriage to take the win with Davids third after a long day out front And here's the delicately poised individual leaderboard with just one round remaining in the inaugural PSL Marriage's second-place finish puts him within striking distance of the Jayco AlUla stagiaire contract later this year if he can overcome Jack Ward in the final round Ward skipped the Grafton to Inverell in favour of Australia's MTB Nationals where he won the elite XCC title and was second in the XCO The inaugural PSL concludes this coming weekend with the first-ever Q Tour, a three-day, four-stage race in and around Brisbane, featuring a criterium, a time trial, and two road races. A milestone for early childhood care in Grafton today, with the opening of the Clarence Community Preschool. It’s the first new preschool in the area in 30 years, but educators say more needs to be done to meet demand. After more than 70 years in the business, Grafton pharmacist Denis Green has officially retired, at the age of 89. While his career stared in Sydney in the 50s, he’s now become an iconic figure in the region – known for cheeky nature and sense of humour. It’s taken almost four years, but an affordable housing development in South Grafton is just weeks away from competition. Once finished, the Bimble Avenue development will home around 24 families. 05:29Women's Race - Winning Moment - Liege-Bastogne-Liege 2025 04:50Men's Race - Winning Moment - Liege-Bastogne-Liege 2025 04:33Women's Race – Winning Moment – Fleche Wallonne 2025 05:14Men's Race – Winning Moment – Fleche Wallonne 2025 05:19Men's Race – Winning Moment - Amstel Gold 2025 07:30Women's Race – Winning Moment - Amstel Gold 2025 07:05World Cup hype brews as the MLS kicks off 06:22St Louis v Columbus - Highlights - MLS 2025 06:18Recommended for you24:30St Louis v Columbus – Mini Match – MLS 2025Football 24:34Men's Race - Mini Race - Tour of Flanders 2025Cycling 26:11Women's Race - Mini Race - Paris-Roubaix 2025Cycling 24:11Inter Miami v Toronto FC – Mini Match – MLS 2025Football 25:19Women's Race - Mini Race - Tour of Flanders 2025Cycling 25:59The Weekly Football Wrap - Episode 28 - April 7Football Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España.Get the latest with our sport podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.Watch on SBS SportSport News An 81-year old squash player from Grafton is getting ready to defend her Australian Masters Squash title Pam Moran has been playing the game for more than six decades and has no plans to retire from the sport anytime soon I read in the 29th January 2025 edition of the Independent that a $13,000,000 Community Precinct is to be built on River Street at Maclean It will be a great addition to the cultural hub of the town with the tiered auditorium to seat 288 as well as other facilities Grafton was also lucky to have a Community Centre built for us as our cultural hub The auditorium was large and catered for 300 guests as well as other facilities meeting rooms etc which made it a place to be revered and cherished by the whole community The various organisations who had started to embrace it were left “in the lurch” This seems to be a common practice by our elected representatives It would appear that we are not getting it back any time soon so an alternate community centre should be constructed The perfect site is the old Bunnings building on the corner of Pound & Duke streets with one of its attributes being ample parking This building has only been used for a period of time as the Construction Site Office for the second bridge Bunnings moved to their current location some 18 or 19 years ago $13,000,000 as set aside for the Maclean Community Precinct should be sourced to purchase this site and build a ‘Grafton Community Centre’ to replace our lost facility With the new councillors taking up the reins for the next four years it is a perfect time to stamp their mark on their period of community service Public feedback is invited for the proposed part-day public holidays in Grafton and Maclean for the 2025 - 2026 July Racing Carnival and Jacaranda Festival On 12 August 2024 the NSW Government's Executive Director of Industrial Relations wrote to the Clarence Valley Council General Manager inviting applications for half or part-day local public holidays The following part-day local public holidays have been proposed: Grafton City within the Clarence Valley Council area within the Clarence Valley local government area Submissions for these proposed dates are most welcome and should be forwarded to Council and will not be accepted after 4:30pm Wednesday All submissions will be included as part of a report to Council for determination in October   September 10, 2024       Bulletins PSA Regional organiser Mik Smart will be at the Grafton office on Thursday 12 September between 11:30am and 1:30pm Mik will be available to discuss any concerns members hold in relation to a range of issues currently impacting regional Transport/RMS worksites All RMS members in the Grafton area are invited to attend   September 10,2024       Bulletins Authorised by Stewart Little, General Secretary, Public Service Association of New South Wales, 160 Clarence Street Sydney NSW 2000. Copyrights © 2025 All Rights Reserved by Public Service Association of New South Wales For over 30 years they have been among the industry leaders throughout the Coffs Coast region and beyond. Renowned for their professionalism, commitment to excellence, and the highest standard of quality patient care, the experienced team at Brad Pearce Dental treat every patient like family with a compassionate and gentle approach. Recently, they welcomed two new staff members, Dr Harjot Nahal and Dr Nirjyot Gill, who are working two days per week at Brad Pearce Dental in Grafton. Last week, the Clarence Valley Independent had the pleasure of meeting both of them, and they shared with us their enthusiasm and dedication to their profession, and their excitement at working within our regional community. Motivated by her passion to provide the highest standard of care to her patients while fostering a welcoming and supportive environment, Dr Nirjyot Gill’s journey into dentistry has been strongly influenced by her own personal experiences which define her professional work ethic and engaging mannerisms. While she enjoys all aspects of dentistry, Dr Gill has a particular interest in working with anxious patients and strives to make their individual dental experience as positive and stress-free as possible, drawing on her caring and empathetic nature and comprehensive skills to help put them at ease. Hearing stories of patients less fortunate experiences in the dental chair only fuelled her devotion to her profession and her desire to ensure everyone feels safe, comfortable, and well-cared for as soon as they walk through the doors of Brad Pearce Dental in Grafton, and her commitment to positive patient experiences has become the cornerstone of her practice philosophy. Dr Gill also enjoys working with children, and her gentle approach and playful interaction help alleviate any apprehensions young patients may have while focusing on making their visit enjoyable and educational. Born and raised in a regional farming community in Queensland, Dr Gill graduated from James Cook University in Cairns with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery in 2020, and recently moved to the Coffs Coast region with her husband Dr Harjot Nahal, who also works at Brad Pearce Dental. Describing Northern NSW as a lovely area where communities come together and everyone is more than willing to help each other out, Dr Gill said she loves coming to work and seeing her patients leave with smiles on their faces. “It’s very fulfilling when you know someone has had a good experience at the dentist and you watch them walk out happy and pain free,” she said. “You know a good outcome has been achieved.” Dr Gill said some of the more common cases she encounters are patients who present to her with cracks in their teeth and worn-down teeth which has been caused by stress related clenching and grinding. And while she is more than happy to recommend alternative treatments and preventatives such as night guards which offer additional comfort and protection, Dr Gill will also take the time to speak with her patients to help them identify, reduce, and alleviate, the underlying causes of their dental issues. Dr Gill works at Brad Pearce Dental in Grafton each Tuesday and Thursday and is always looking forward to meeting and working with new patients. Born and raised on a banana farm near Coffs Harbour, Dr Harjot Nahal feels extremely blessed to be living and working within his local community, with his connection to the region enhancing and strengthening the trust and rapport he has amongst his patients. After journeying to Far North Queensland and graduating from James Cook University with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery, Dr Nahal recently moved back to Northern NSW and joined the team at Brad Pearce Dental earlier this year, and works across their practices in Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Bellingen, and Woolgoolga. Driven by his commitment to provide excellent dental care, Dr Nahal also focuses on educating patients of all ages on the importance of good oral health practices in a comfortable and compassionate environment. While ensuring each patient feels respected, valued, and understood during their appointment, Dr Nahal’s zealous work ethic and dedication to his profession, along with his warm and engaging approach, makes him a valuable asset to Brad Pearce Dental. Describing his work as being incredibly rewarding, Dr Nahal also prioritises the overall wellbeing of his patients, ensuring every visit they make to the dentist is a calm and stress-free experience. “There is a very historical fear of dentists,” he explained. “Children can be very scared to go to the dentist, especially if they have had a traumatic experience, and it is so important that we are empathetic and understanding towards them, and all of our patients, and we listen to them and help them to feel safe. “To help patients relax once they sit in the dentist chair, I’ll give them a stress ball to squeeze to distract themselves, and I also encourage patients to bring in headphones so they can listen to their favourite music during their appointment. “It’s also important to have conversations with every patient about taking care of their teeth, and brushing their teeth twice a day.  “It’s all part of our empathy towards our patients, and we try and spread the message to encourage good habits to develop early. “I always tell my youngest patients that the more they clean their teeth, the longer they get to keep them.” While constantly striving to achieve the best results and outcomes for his patients to help them rediscover their confidence in their smiles, Dr Nahal enjoys working within all aspects of dentistry and is unwavering in his dedication to providing everyone who books an appointment at Brad Pearce Dental with a positive experience. Dr Nahal works at Brad Pearce Dental in Grafton on Tuesdays and Thursdays. His meticulous nature means he will always take the time to provide comprehensive treatment, and each procedure is done with dedicated care and precision. Photo 1: Dr Harjot Nahal. Image: Emma Pritchard A critical incident investigation is underway tonight, after a man was shot by police in a park in South Grafton this morning. Police allege he threatened two officers with a knife – and they had to use their guns to protect themselves. Watch 2m 1sThe NSW city of Grafton has built an entire carnival around Australia's oldest floral festival which is now celebrating its 90th anniversary.  The New South Wales Mr. Modified Series champion will be crowned on Saturday night when Grafton Speedway hosts the final round. Several Mid North Coast locals are in the mix… but they’ll need to survive a 50 lap feature with a pit stop. 37:41Men's Race - Mini Race - Paris-Roubaix 2025Cycling 24:30St Louis v Columbus – Mini Match – MLS 2025Football 1:45:16Episode 12 - Speedweek 2025Motorsport