North Tamworth has gone back-to-back to start the Group 4 women’s league tag season, with a hard-fought win over Kootingal this morning. The Bears dominated the first half, while the Roosters staged a late comeback… but it was too little, too late. Picture by Zac Lowe.Each and every time the North Tamworth Bears and Kootingal-Moonbi women clash the Roosters have come out victorious numerous times (such as the semi-finals over the last two years) Their first encounter of 2025 was no different Norths have quickly established themselves as the team to beat this year have quietly but efficiently gone undefeated in the first two rounds as well Both teams knew yesterday's game would be their greatest test yet it seemed as though North Tamworth might run away with the game "I thought we were playing really well in the first half I was happy with the side's effort," Bears co-coach Mitch Sheridan said "We spoke about our discipline at half time After a deadlocked first 15 minutes, new North Tamworth signee Sofie Casson opened the scoring at Jack Woolaston Oval and gave the Bears the upper hand Two more quick tries followed, including one to Carly Hatch on her return from a broken finger to give the hosts a 16-0 lead at half time The game looked in distinct danger of being blown open which is why stand-in Roosters coach Lad Jones was so proud of the fight his side showed in the latter 25 minutes View +10 PhotosPictures by Zac Lowe."It's an awesome effort from our girls," he said "Especially considering all we did in that first half was defend They only scored those three tries in the last 10 minutes [of the half]." Not only did Kootingal-Moonbi bounce back in the second half they looked a distinct threat of hauling in North Tamworth's lead as the Bears kept conceding penalties Sheridan did praise his side's defence in the face of the Roosters' onslaught and Kooty were throwing a lot at us," he said "I was pretty happy with our defence in that regard." the visitors couldn't find enough opportunities to score the upset but the 16-8 scoreline left Jones confident they would learn and come back better for the experience the next time the two sides meet "I have nothing but praise for them," he said Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy. Picture by Zac Lowe.Some part of Scott Kendell always knew where he would land this year All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueHe might just be 17 years old but the Tamworth product is already his own man Having spent 2024 with the Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters he wanted a change during his last year in the Group 4 under 18s competition So he signed with the North Tamworth Bears chief among them his family connections to the club have donned North Tamworth jerseys in the past And while Kendell knew deep down that a move to the Bears was on the cards he could never have predicted what came next It was not long after his arrival that coach Jermain Walford decided to make him a part of the team's leadership group - although he didn't get the news from Walford directly "I don't even think he told me, I think Seth Pearson [Bears co-captain] told me actually," Kendell said "But I was super-excited to be a part of it If there were questions as to why a newcomer to the side would be entrusted with a significant role he played a crucial role in defence and gained important metres every time he had his hands on the ball during North Tamworth's 28-0 win over the Aberdeen Tigers but when I got out there all the nerves went and I just did the job," Kendell said View +10 PhotosPictures by Zac Lowe."I was happy with how I played Given that the Tigers had claimed a narrow trial victory over the Werris Creek Magpies North Tamworth knew that they were no walkovers That is why Pearson was so pleased with their performance particularly coming off the back of a disappointing first-round showing against the Dungowan Cowboys "We just didn't do what was working for us and panicked [against Dungowan]," he said we did a lot of ball work and structure to redeem ourselves we were a bit flat and waiting to get into it The maturity Kendell shows on the field is also a trait he has exhibited in his personal life having decided last year that school was not for him and instead begun a carpentry apprenticeship at Greentree House Builder He is so far "loving" the change in direction and this year with the Bears will be a fitting last hurrah as he eyes the world beyond Tamworth in 2026 "I would love to move up to the Gold Coast with my brother," Kendell said Picture by Zac Lowe.It's not every day a childhood dream comes to fruition 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 areaContinueBut it did for Ethan Pallot it happened on the eve of his 24th birthday The Tamworth-raised lad spent much of his childhood in the crowd at Jack Woolaston Oval watching with awe as the North Tamworth Bears compiled more than one historic run of premierships "[Playing first grade] has always been a goal of mine," Pallot said "I always watched them play when I was a junior." Pallot worked his way up to captaining the club's reserve grade side last year Due to injuries suffered throughout the season he was then called up towards the end of the year to replenish their first grade stocks He wanted to start a game, rather than come off the bench. So he made it his mission to let coach Paul Boyce know he was ready "I'd come off playing a full game of reggies and I'd say to Boycey 'I need to show you what I'm made of fresh'," Pallot said More determined than ever after his brief taste of top level local footy last year the steel fixer decided to crack down in 2025 and committed himself to a gruelling preseason He had in the past struggled with his fitness with a propensity to "let off the foot and get on the piss" He came charging out of the game with some monstrous runs during North Tamworth's 36-12 opening round victory over the Dungowan Cowboys and quickly impressed Boyce but Pallot knows this was only the first step on his journey to earning a regular spot in the side "There's a lot of boys fighting for a spot," he said "I guess today was about putting the foot down and having a go When asked what getting these opportunities in first grade meant to him the emotion of the moment was clearly written all over Pallot's face it's the first time I've thrown that on in first grade," he said "It's good to finally get a run and show them what I'm made of." Though he'll no doubt have pulled up sore on Sunday Pallot's birthday was no doubt all the sweeter for it Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. Love footy? We've got all the action covered. The latest news, results & expert analysis. Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! The NSWRL will make history in 2025 when it holds the first Regional Magic Round in Tamworth, which will feature nine games, 18 teams and 306 players over three days in May. The announcement was made today by NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden, Wests Tamworth Chief Communications Officer Paddy Donnelly and Group 4 Chair Lad Jones at Scully Park in West Tamworth, which will host the event in 2025. The festival of Rugby League will be held on 9-11 May, with a full round of the Group 4 competition and five matches of The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup on Saturday and Sunday. “The NSWRL is looking forward to hosting the 2025 NSWRL Regional Magic Round in Tamworth to acknowledge the wonderful contribution that Regional NSW has made to our great game for more than a century,” NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden said. “There will be a lot of work involved to successfully execute the three-day event and I thank Wests Tamworth for their support in making it happen. The Group 4 competition will be showcased around five games of the state’s premier competition, The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup. “There will be other activations and events for families to enjoy and I encourage everyone from the region to come along next year and show their support.” The NSWRL has held Magic Rounds in previous seasons at iconic Rugby League grounds including Henson Park and North Sydney Oval, but 2025 will be the first time the event is held in regional NSW. Group 4 teams Werris Creek Magpies and Gunnedah Bulldogs will kick-off proceedings on Friday night, with the other games to be played including Narrabri Blues v Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters, Moree Boars v Dungowan Cowboys and Boggabri Kangaroos v North Tamworth Bears. The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup matches include Manly Warringah Sea Eagles v Sydney Roosters, Newcastle Knights v North Sydney Bears, Newtown Jets v St George Illawarra Dragons, Parramatta Eels v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Penrith Panthers v Western Suburbs Magpies. The three-day event will also include a Sportsman’s Lunch to be attended by True Blues and the local community, and other activations including Rugby League clinics, school visits and the Changing Rooms Mental Fitness community program. Wests Tamworth Chief Communications Officer Paddy Donnelly said the 2025 Regional Magic Round was a great result for the area. “The Wests Entertainment Group is proud to partner with NSWRL and Group 4 to bring their Regional Magic Round to Tamworth,” Donnelly said. “This event highlights the Group’s commitment to delivering the best live experiences for our community and marks an exciting opportunity to strengthen our relationship with NSWRL, while showcasing the region’s love for Rugby League.” Group 4 Chair Lad Jones said he expected the event to be well supported by local communities. “It is really great news for the region; it will attract a lot of people and bring great exposure for Rugby League within the area,” Jones said. “Having Group 4 first grade included as well is nothing but great news; it will bring great exposure to our competition and enable Group 4 to be front and centre to showcase the great player talent in our area. “Wests are a massive supporter of Group 4 Rugby League and Rugby League in the wider region and have been for a lot of years. “It is exciting for them and NSWRL to bring such a massive event to Tamworth and to allow our competition to share the weekend at a premier Rugby League venue in Scully Park.” Todd knows Tamworth will rally for Magic Round The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Highlights | Round Nine - Roosters v Bulldogs Team List Tuesday | Junior Reps Grand Finals, Jersey Flegg Round Nine They’ve been the standout side in Group 4 Rugby League for the past decade- but North Tamworth admits it let standards drop in 2024. But the sides push for a return to the finals has started- players returned to training last night for a pre-Christmas hit out. and is determined to amend the mistakes the North Tamworth Bears made in 2024 Picture by Zac Lowe.A record-setting run came to an underwhelming close earlier this year it can't have been easy for Paul Boyce to oversee the end of a historic period for the side and determined to see the Bears back to the kind of success they had enjoyed for so long "I think it'd be pretty weak and a bit of a cop-out for me to jump ship as soon as we miss finals," Boyce said "I want to have an opportunity to help get through this period I think it's the first time we've missed finals for something like 22 years "That certainly doesn't sit well with me." Instead of licking his wounds after North Tamworth's round 18 defeat Boyce wasted no time in reapplying for a fourth year in the first grade coaching role with the club he was grateful to the committee for accepting his application and giving him the chance to prove he is still the right man for the job Known for their clinical and professionally-minded approach to the game the Bears stayed true to form post-season and did a breakdown of where they went wrong after going six and one in the first round of 2024 In Boyce's eyes, their mid-year horror run with injuries was not to blame the Bears could either finish second or fifth we didn't aim up," Boyce said of their last two games complacency was the biggest factor in North Tamworth's form slump "We did a review of the season and identified a few issues that we can certainly rectify in 2025," Boyce said "Ultimately I thought we probably got a little bit complacent We probably overachieved in the first half of the season which probably got us a little bit complacent in the back end of the season and we got caught out a bit." And while it is easy to fixate on their first grade travails Boyce said 2024 was still a season to celebrate for North Tamworth The club's league tag side won a premiership With many bright prospects for the future and a culture he adores Boyce cannot see a time when he will not be involved with the Bears "When you find a club that you really love and care about it's very easy to put that time and effort in," he said but I'm certainly going to be at this club for a long time And I'll do what I can to ensure its success." All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueBut it did for Ethan Pallot where the Bears will be tested like never before.After their historic run of eight consecutive premierships ended last season the North Tamworth Bears have left no stone unturned as they prepare to rebound in 2025 in the latest move the club has made to ready itself for the upcoming season the Bears will hold a preseason camp at Lake Keepit but fundamentally geared towards team-building "A lot of clubs from other areas do a preseason trip away," he said "Rather than going away and getting on the piss they still get to know each other but it's going to be about .. and we're doing some educational stuff in regards to understanding other roles in rugby league." It was based off a similar camp he ran while coaching the Gunnedah Bulldogs whom he credited with proving its validity "If it hadn't been successful with Gunnedah I wouldn't be trying it again," Schmiedel said "What I got out of the guys from that experience and the weeks after it was more than I was expecting to achieve." North Tamworth's edition of the camp will feature mainly first grade players with a few under 18s to be included as well The league tag players will also participate in some of Saturday's activities the players will complete an obstacle course all after handing over their phones upon arrival Schmiedel expects it to be "pretty gruelling" but the point is to teach the players to rely on each other The involvement of officials and referees in the educational portion of the weekend was by invitation and something he believes more clubs should take advantage of It is important not only to know the rules of the game "The referees have said several times they're happy to go out to club training sessions you've only got to ask them," Schmiedel said "If all of the clubs are on the same page as the referees we're all working in the same direction and the game flows better." With the event expected to be challenging both mentally and physically Schmiedel has been pleased by the positive response from the players he said the squad has bought in to the premise and embraced the need for growth "I'm actually surprised at the keenness and eagerness from the players," Schmiedel said We talked about letting our core standards slip last year so this is a way of setting and maintaining the standards Picture by Zac Lowe.After winning the opening game of the season Paul Boyce would surely have preferred to celebrate the performances of his players and their impressive grit All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueInstead when speaking to the Leader in the minutes following the North Tamworth Bears' 36-12 victory over the Dungowan Cowboys he discussed potential disciplinary sentences While the result was pleasing, Boyce was disappointed by his side's inability to remain calm Tempers flared on multiple occasions which saw Brayden Jerrard sin-binned for throwing the ball at an opposition player (and what would have been his first try of the game disallowed) and both Brodie Saunders and Misaele Vakacegu sent off for their involvement in scuffles Dungowan captain Trent Taylor was also sin-binned after the same incident for which Saunders was penalised After the melee at the end of the reserve grade game between the Cowboys and Moree Boars in round one the judiciary handed out heavy sanctions to the players involved and he's got to be better for that," he said there's an opportunity for an early guilty plea." The heated moments overshadowed what was an otherwise very positive performance from North Tamworth A determined Cowboys outfit leapt out to an early 6-4 lead at the Dungowan Recreation Ground the Bears showed the kind of discipline and heart in defence that they have lacked for some time View +11 PhotosPictures by Zac Lowe."It was just an attitude," Boyce said and they couldn't get up for any moment in a game "We haven't been that physical in defence for a number of years Despite the fiery moments in the first half North Tamworth slowly found their way into the game and scored soon after to extend the lead further Though the ground soon became muddy and the ball slippery when rain hit They cleaned their discipline up by-and-large until Vakacegu's send-off in the last minute of the game given how many players were out with injury Boyce was proud of how his side pulled together and Lynken Dickson had a bit of an incident on Easter Monday that put him out of action The fourth-year coach also extended his thoughts to Livinai Tucackau who left the field towards the end of the first half when his infant son had a medical episode and needed to be taken to hospital who has quickly become the newest member of the Bears' family Picture supplied.While growing up in Werris Creek All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueShe can't imagine a day where she doesn't compete in some way even the rigours of pregnancy didn't stop her from keeping active I was able to play touch and oztag until about 25 weeks and even when I stopped playing sport I was still on the treadmill and doing as much as I could without pushing myself too far the harder it was going to be to get back into things." That wholehearted love of sport is a trait she fully intends to pass that trait down to the seven-month-old and her partner Hayden Cox welcomed Beckham in September last year the 31-year-old said one of the aspects she found the most difficult to handle was not being able to take to the field with the North Tamworth Bears "League tag can be a little more rough [than touch or oztag] so it wasn't worth the risk," Barnett said because it's harder sitting on the sideline than not being there at all." Her final game for the Bears before her break was their 2023 grand final win over the Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters View +20 PhotosPictures by Zac Lowe.Upon her return last Saturday, during their 12-4 victory over the Dungowan Cowgirls, she proved that she had barely lost a step during her absence and was named the joint Players' Player for the Bears alongside new teammate Sofie Casson "I was a little bit sore afterwards," Barnett said "I think I went pretty decent considering I have been off for over 12 months But obviously I still feel like I have a bit of fitness to work on." It was an important victory from the perspective of co-coach Mitch Sheridan who praised the side for prevailing in a "tough" encounter "It was footy from start to finish," he said "Our best period of the game was the last 10 minutes who has rejoined the side after a period of fairly extensive change Many of her former teammates have left (including one of her close friends But she has managed to fold back into the side without issue And she is particularly grateful that Beckham has been so readily welcomed and cared for by her teammates which makes committing to the season as a new mother multitudes easier "He's my little person that comes with me everywhere now," Barnett said and it's kind of like he's all of ours which is really nice The girls grab him if he needs a hug or if I'm busy and he comes to all the training sessions and games and just watches from the pram." her first game back as a mum didn't feel too different to Barnett She loves having her newest and littlest supporter there on the sidelines particularly now as he is starting to develop an awareness of the world around him And while his future is wide open at this point one thing is certain: Beckham will be a Penrith Panthers supporter "The decision was made before he was born," Barnett said the North Tamworth Bears women have been the best league tag side in Group 4 over the last two years Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueWhat makes their back-to-back premierships in 2023 and 2024 (under Steph Halpin and Damian Kenniff as respective coaches) even more impressive is that they were achieved in spite of significant turnover in leadership and players The wheel of change will continue to turn in 2025 as the Bears confirmed to the Leader at Thursday's preseason training that Mitch Sheridan will coach their league taggers next year While Sheridan will hold the title, he will effectively split the role with Leica Le Brocq and Kim Resch "I wanted to step up and take on more of a role with first grade but come a committee meeting we were talking about a ladies league tag coach "I'd been speaking with Bree [Poetschka, 2024 Bears captain and Sheridan's partner] about it at home, discussing things and what it might look like. And Mick Schmiedel actually said 'Well why don't you be the coach and the girls can run the training?'" The plan at this stage is for Le Brocq and Resch to oversee training sessions (allowing Sheridan to focus on his first grade preparation) while he will then take the reins on game day It is the 25-year-old's first time coaching - although he assisted Kenniff towards the end of 2024 - but the experience of his co-coaches gives him confidence Leica Le Brocq (left) and Kim Resch bring years of experience and formidable game IQs to the new-look coaching arrangement Pictures by Zac Lowe."It's not daunting going into the role because you know you've got someone to lean on or talk to if you need help," Sheridan said "[Coaching is] something I've thought about a lot throughout my career Sheridan could hardly have more qualified partners The pair are consistently considered among Group 4's best every season in which they take to the field they played critical roles as North Tamworth successfully defended their title Their input will also allow Sheridan to balance coaching with his leadership duties in first grade he was effectively Josh Schmiedel's co-captain And while the veteran forward's playing future is not yet confirmed it is generally accepted that Sheridan will once again be a key figure in the the Bears' first grade leadership next year But as preparations for what the league tag team hopes will be a third-straight premiership get underway one question remains: how will Sheridan and Poetschka manage their new dynamic of coach and captain "I think it'll be fine," Sheridan answered with a wry smile "We pretty much did it last year when she was the captain Obviously we talked about [league tag] at home a fair bit it'll be no different to last year and we got through that all right." Picture by Zac Lowe.When Damian Kenniff agreed to coach a new-look North Tamworth Bears league tag side late last year Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueSo when they completed a 22-0 grand final victory over the Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters earlier today the first-year coach looked a little awed at what they had achieved but I've learned a lot about Norths this year The first half on a warm September day at Moree's Boughton Oval was a battle between the Bears' offence and the Roosters' defence Norths received repeated line drop-outs from Kootingal-Moonbi but were initially unable to make the most of their opportunities It would have been easy for a team to panic and press too hard at this point but the reigning premiers' vast experience kept them calm "I said to them 'Just out-complete the other teams'," Kenniff said When you're playing in a grand final and you have so much ball you can think 'Have we missed our chance?' View +12 PhotosPictures by Zac Lowe."We had the run of the ground so [their composure] is a credit to them." Some late breakthroughs earned the Bears a 10-0 lead at the break The second half began with a battle for control but the Roosters faded late - perhaps due to the heat - and Norths scored quickly back-to-back to seal the game and their second consecutive premiership "I'm speechless," Bears captain Bree Poetschka said but it was such a tough effort by the girls and I'm so proud of them." to their one-sided victory and rebound from a semi-final loss to the same side Though some players came into the game with injuries and it was potentially the warmest game day of the year Norths allowed no negativity to seep into their thoughts and we worked really hard for each other," Poetschka said and there were so many little one-percenters that got us to the tries 3-bathroom home on Oliver Street provides sweeping views over spectacular bush land and is the first residential property in North Tamworth to be sold for $1.5 million Picture supplied by Southwell PropertyA $1.5 million property sale has prices climbing to new heights in North Tamworth shining a spotlight on the fast-growing suburb The luxurious residence with 4-car accommodation and a pool is the third house in as many years to hit the $1.5 million mark Median house prices in the suburb have grown by 12.5 per cent in the last year The sale by Southwell Property represents growing interest in the fast-expanding northern part of town, which is slated for a state-of-the-art medical hub "I am very proud of the success of this sale and humbled by the result," Southwell Property co-director Stuart Southwell said after closing the sale "Our dedicated team works hard and we are committed to delivering exceptional results for our clients." The new owners are no strangers to country living having come from a regional town less than two hours away View +15 PhotosPictures supplied by Southwell PropertyMoore Creek and East Tamworth typically have the highest housing price points in our region the former being Tamworth's fastest-growing suburb But North Tamworth is a close second for population growth projected for a 40 per cent increase in residents by 2041 "North Tamworth is becoming a new up-and-coming kind of suburb in a sense because it's close to town," Southwell Property co-director Brooke Southwell said "Things are on the rise and it's an area with a mix of properties with unique heritage features but also some new modern homes like this one." Mr Southwell is currently Tamworth's leading real estate agent in terms of average sale price and fewest days on the market for residential sales His company, Southwell property, has grown explosively since its start less than two years ago, recently adding property management to its portfolio and now planning a move of its own into a bigger office space Originally from Austin, TX. "I wasn't born in Tamworth but I got here as soon as I could!" Jonathan covers a little bit of everything, but his main priorities are Tamworth Regional Council, Business, and Property. Send story tips to Jonathan via jonathan.hawes@austcommunitymedia.com.au and tell the public why it should be made a priority Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe condition of Tamworth's roads are a major issue for first-time council candidate Brendon North The local businessman didn't need to travel past the end of his driveway on Burgman's Lane to illustrate his point in a photo taken by the Leader "In July I travelled extensively through Vietnam and at no stage did I see a road that was anything close to as bad as what is outside my driveway," he said Mr North is concerned with many issues across the district including the need for strategic future planning But first and foremost he says the district's roads "are a mess" "Maintaining and fixing roads has been hard with the wet weather in the last few years that has resulted in a lot of damage," he said we need to be pushing harder [for road funding] because what we're getting is just negligible "We've just had the special rate variation and two-thirds of that is devoted to roads but when I see the numbers it's still pretty insignificant given I know what's happening to the road outside my driveway." Brendan North says the start of Burgman's Lane is so bad "this is a tragedy waiting to happen" Picture by Peter Hardin As somebody whose business has relied heavily on water Mr North is also "passionate" about water security and the long term future for Tamworth "We've been let down with Dungowan Dam - I think there were too many eggs placed into one basket," he said "I'm not on the inside so I'm not seeing it all but I think we could do a lot more with water security "Tamworth needs major structural additions there has to be better solutions than that." He wants to see council create "a 30-year plan for 50 years worth of water" "We need to be thinking about multiple dams - we need another big dam Mr North remains "very critical" of the council especially communication with "small parties" "I'm not talking across the broader spectrum but rather the lack of communication with individuals or groups in areas such as the residents along Burgman's Lane or residents in smaller communities like Barraba," he said He also wants to see more diversity on council "We have a lot of people running from a very similar background," he said "A lot of people have commented to me they are pleased I'm running because I bring a business mindset - I think differently from most of the other candidates." Mr North describes himself as "totally independent" "I'm a family man - a wife and two children living on the southern side of Tamworth and enjoying country life," he said Mr North completed a Bachelor of Rural Science degree "I started off growing hydroponic lettuce and herbs then diversified into wholesale fruit and vegetables - we supplied Coles and Woolworths and exported into South East Asia," he said "I like to think I was a dynamic farmer in as much as I pushed as hard as I could to grow a business "I was always hungry about growing a business." That hunger worked - the family bought out their competition to re-brand into Paradise Farm Market and today the gourmet grocer has doubled in business size Mr North has never run for council and had no interest until now the town and region have been very good to me and I now have the time to devote to it," he said so I don't need to devote so much time to the business I used to need - I can now give that time back to the community." I have no political affiliations - I sit right in the middle of the political spectrum." Mr North has two loves: his family and his footy I get away to Sydney quite often for a bit of business stuff and always tie trips to see my sons who live there," he said 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 North Tamworth has set the standard in the local cricket competition, but president Chris Paterson says there’s plenty of sides nipping at their heels. All clubs will be in action at Gunnedah on Saturday for T-20 matches. who is also one of his biggest inspirations and toughest critics Picture supplied.There's a lot of pressure sitting on Ben Browning's shoulders Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueBut he wouldn't have it any other way The Oxley High School student is just weeks away from making his North Tamworth Bears under 18s debut it is no surprise: his father is Ben Browning senior Some might think that being the son of a premiership-winning North Tamworth Bears reserve grade captain-coach means he's had it easy but Browning actually "didn't really like it" when playing under his father in the 15s and 16s "Before the season started he said 'I'm going to be harder on you than any of the other boys'," he said He ended up winning Players' Player that year and though his father was "a bit of a critic" Browning appreciates that he is always pushed to improve "He'll tell you what you've done right and if I do something that didn't work he'll talk about why it didn't work and how I could improve on it," he said I really appreciate what he does and how he's coached us." Being consistently challenged by his father contributed to the young man's innate desire to overcome adversity I probably wouldn't be where I am now," he said Browning performs at his best when he feels he has a point to prove or an obstacle to topple he will face one of his biggest tests yet as a member of the Bears' under 18s leadership group "It didn't really feel real [when he got the news at the Bears' season launch]." He captained from the under 14s through to the under 16s And as one of the younger members of the squad being tasked with leadership already is "a bit nerve-wracking" he already feels some pressure to measure up to the lofty standards set by his father But he doesn't mind his father's high standards or those who expect big things from the family name So much so that he can't foresee a day when he isn't playing for them playing local footy with my mates," he said Don’t miss any of the important stories from around the region. Subscribe to our email list. Sign up to get daily news updates so you don't miss a thing. Thanks! You have been added to our mailing list. An independent news site based in New England, NSW, Australia All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueInvestigators suspect a vacuum battery left on charge could have sparked the fire that ripped through a garage and also prompted the evacuation of an aged care facility in North Tamworth on Wednesday morning The fire started in the garage of a unit block on Piper Street Fire and Rescue crews arrived on scene at about 10:30am and conducted a search and rescue of the dwelling and ambulance responded to a Triple Zero call regarding a fire at a unit block on Piper Street around 10:30am on Wednesday Picture by Gareth GardnerThe Leader spoke with a neighbour on the scene who made the emergency call She said she was in her home just before 10:30am when she heard a young girl outside screaming for help "I thought someone was attacking her so I called Triple Zero then I came outside and saw smoke everywhere," neighbour Siwi Shahi said said they were very concerned because the unit block is next to the Smith Court Tamworth Masonic Retirement Village They also couldn't get information from the young girl calling for help because she was "in hysterics" Firefighters believe the fire had been going for "quite a while" before the initial call "You can tell by how the roof caved in," Fire and Rescue NSW Zone Commander "The fire's developed and gone through the ceiling and it's taken out the rafters and all that .. so the weight of the concrete roof tiles has caused it to cave in and that's probably when people saw the smoke." View +19 PhotosPictures by Gareth Gardner and Peter HardinEARLIER Firefighters and police remain at the scene of a unit fire in North Tamworth The residents of an aged care facility next door to the unit block in Piper Street have also been evacuated as a safety precaution Firefighters at ethe scene of the unit fire in Piper Street on Wednesday morning Picture by Jonathan HawesAt least three appliances police and Ambulance paramedics have been deployed to the scene Firefighters also forced their way into the adjacent unit to make sure nobody was inside and injured Firefighters think the blaze had been going for a while before the call came in due to the extensive damage in the garage The garage of the unit was completely gutted by fire Picture by Jonathan HawesFire and Rescue NSW New England North West Zone Commander told Jonathan Hawes the weight of the concrete roof tiles collapsed the garage roof "and that's when people probably saw the smoke" "Everyone's been evacuated safely; fire crews are just going in now to check the extent of the fire through the roof void," Superintendent Cooper said "I wasn't born in Tamworth but I got here as soon as I could!" Jonathan covers a little bit of everything but his main priorities are Tamworth Regional Council Send story tips to Jonathan via jonathan.hawes@austcommunitymedia.com.au Fiona FergusonEditor Northern Daily LeaderI work for the Northern Daily Leader across the Peel Valley. We cover local news, community stories and rural issues that impact the New England, North West and Northern Tablelands regions. I work for the Northern Daily Leader across the Peel Valley. We cover local news, community stories and rural issues that impact the New England, North West and Northern Tablelands regions. Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueInstead A fierce battle has seen Tamworth trump Gunnedah in first grade cricket. The homeside digging deep as competition reaches the half-way point. Picture supplied.Adam Murphy doesn't have time to waste Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAt only 32 he knows there are likely only a handful of years left in his career upon coming to the conclusion that he felt "a bit stale" at the Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters the Tamworth resident decided to make a change and signed up with the North Tamworth Bears "I mainly wanted something different," Murphy said and there's a couple of lads at Norths that I'd like to have a season with." Originally a product of Moree and then Coonamble, Murphy said the opportunity to play with his good mate and fellow Moree lad, Ethan Collins While he is excited to reunite with his friend and settle in to a new culture with the Bears Murphy spent three productive years with the Roosters Murphy retained that sense of rivalry with Norths for many years after the club folded He admitted with a chuckle that there was "just a bit" of guilt about signing up but it was overridden by his desire for a new challenge Despite his strong performances at prop for Kootingal-Moonbi's first grade side in recent years Murphy does not expect to simply walk in to the Bears' lineup Over the course of the off-season, North Tamworth has signed a spate of new players (several of whom have come across from the Roosters) meaning there will be plenty of competition for places in the side Liam Hatch and Adam Murphy are ex-Roosters who have joined the Bears for this season.After the snapping last year of Norths' record eight-straight premierships Boyce said the side was "in a much stronger position" than last season And a large reason for that was an influx of ex-Roosters into their squad (see below Norths' full list of player losses and gains) In January 2025, the Leader revealed that Thistle had been named Roosters captain following a leadership vacuum created by a wave of player departures but they all decided to rock up to our training sessions," Boyce said of Thistle and co "We've sort of reaped the benefits of that I suppose those guys have brought in a breath of fresh air." He continued: "With the additions of Liam Hatch "Adam Murphy's come across as well; he's been really good at training He's come in and he did a job for us on the weekend against Inverell as well." North Tamworth beat Inverell 34-18 in a trial at Jack Woolaston Oval on Sunday Paul Boyce is overseeing another Bears campaign File picture by Zac LoweBoyce said the end of Norths' golden reign had made them attractive to players from rival clubs it's actually quite hard to recruit for the side," he said it's now a place where players actually wanna come and help us get back on top." Ahead of Norths' away trial against Aberdeen on Saturday Boyce said the Bears were their own worst enemy last year Hatch in action against the Boars at Kootingal last season File picture by Gareth Gardner"We probably overachieved in the first half last year," he said And that's where we had that really poor second half [of the season]." But with the influx "new blood" and the retention of senior Bears like James Cooper and Mitch Sheridan I’m passionate about writing stories that resonate with people. And I’m genuinely interested in the people I interview; I want to know about them and present their stories in a meaningful way. Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueBut he couldn't resist the call to action when North Tamworth were low on numbers and in need of numbers to bolster their stocks in their must-win match against the Dungowan Cowboys Jarvis' return at the Dungowan Showground on Saturday ended calamitously he was hit by a thunderous tackle and went down he was hit in the chest and fell backwards but it only took seconds before he was screaming in pain and gesturing towards his ankle It was later confirmed that he had actually broken his leg and will need surgery to realign the joint "You never want to see an injury like that," Bears coach Paul Boyce said "He's been such a great player for our club The Bears managed to soldier on without Jarvis It was all the more impressive as North Tamworth's lineup has been decimated by injury in recent weeks They have lost the likes of captain Josh Schmiedel and fullback Lynken Dickson just to name a few So against a Dungowan outfit that has begun to find some momentum Boyce knew his side would not have an easy time snapping the two-match losing skid on which they found themselves The Cowboys scored twice in the first 10 minutes of the game before the Bears responded in kind to level the scores Norths ran out to a 40-20 lead with 10 minutes remaining Tom Woolaston's nose was badly broken in the second tackle of the game never felt like they were out of the contest Three late tries had them within two points with a minute to go who had starred for Dungowan on the day courtesy of a superb kicking display tried to chip the ball to himself but overcooked it The cowbell rang to signal the end of a hugely competitive outing "I think it's a pretty character-building win there," he said "We're down on troops, we've got a lot of injuries at the moment. We debuted a 17-year-old at fullback today, Oscar Turner Tom Woolaston shattered his nose in the second tackle of the game while Ethan Collins also came off late in the second half with what looked to be a calf complaint While the thought of potentially losing another two starting players is not ideal Boyce had full faith in the club's depth of roster "I've said it all year that the club's got plenty of depth "We've got the bye next week which is perfect timing for us I'm not sure if it's going to get all our blokes back on the field and we've got a 'next man up' motto which we showed today." AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) perfectly complemented by a strong and supportive team Picture by Zac Lowe.In September last year Poetschka was unsure if she wanted to carry the weight of leadership again in 2025 but I often have work commitments and I thought there were also other people that were more suited to the role when I was," she said Poetschka decided that she was open to taking on the captaincy once more What helped get her over the line was the suggestion of a co-captaincy in the hopes it will ease the burden on her shoulders "[Knox is] so deserving of the role," Poetschka said "She's been at the club for the same amount of years as I have and she's a great person on and off the field Poetschka got the news from Bears league tag coach (and her partner) While there was plenty of gentle ribbing about their relationship on the night (particularly from emcee James Cooper) Poetschka believes they have struck the right balance between life and footy "I know what it would feel like if I was in his shoes and you've got a smartarse missus," she said with a laugh "I try to avoid that and give him some respect Dhalara Knox has been one of the Group 4 league tag standouts in recent years and will take on the co-captaincy alongside Poetschka in 2025 Picture by Zac Lowe."We just try to give each other second opinions [at home] .. and I think being alongside Damo [Kenniff] last year and learning off him will help it appeared as though Poetschka took naturally and easily to the role of captain in 2024 While she is the first to remind people that she had a wide array of experienced teammates to lean on it was also a period of steep growth for her personally she is not the same person who first accepted the job last year "I'm a lot more confident," Poetschka said "I've had a year of communicating with the girls and I'm a little more comfortable with it according to stand-in coach Mick Schmiedel Picture by Zac Lowe.Mick Schmiedel was mostly happy with what he saw on Saturday All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueBut there were still many questions to be answered by the North Tamworth Bears and some standards that needed to be raised In their first grade side's opening trial hit-out of the year against the Inverell Hawks the Bears earned a 34-18 victory at Jack Woolaston Oval there is more to that scorecard than meets the eye Norths initially got away to a rip-snorting start running roughshod over the Hawks in the opening portion of the game "What we worked on at training, we took into that first 20 minutes," Schmiedel, who stood in as coach for Paul Boyce on the day "We kind of got away from what we wanted to do .. I think we could have scored them against both sides they scored two tries from dummy-half which is just not good enough." who made last year's Group 19 first grade grand final were never just going to accept the Bears' fast start without resistance They fought their way back into the contest (at one point that was almost literal when tempers flared on-field) and put together strong passages of play which dumped the pressure back on the hosts View +12 PhotosPictures by Zac Lowe.As the game went on the Bears started making errors and allowed Inverell back into the contest and an increasingly poor completion rate stifled what looked early like it might be a big win but gave Schmiedel a good idea of where Boyce could focus on improving the side our discipline in the last 20 was pretty ordinary," he said "We need to be better than that if we want to go deep in this comp .. we were making interchanges at the 10 minute mark So it's hard for them when you're going for 10 minutes then making a change they're probably starting to get into a groove then you're coming off "But that's not an excuse for poor discipline That could be an excuse for your structure in defence or attack but it's certainly not for your discipline." Schmiedel was "75 per cent" happy with what he saw from the trial and the remaining 25 per cent that didn't please him was their defence And more important than the scoreboard is the feedback it will give Schmiedel and Boyce to help shape the first grade side as the season opener approaches but Boycey will have a look at that video and he'll make his decisions," Schmiedel "I'll give him my thoughts and he'll make his decision Picture by Zac Lowe.On Thursday night at Jack Woolaston Oval Seth Pearson embraced Jermain Walford in a bear hug In 2024, Pearson was a member of North Tamworth's leadership group, but Chayse-John Shepherd and Jackson Moore were the two official captains Although Shepherd and Moore recently announced their moves to the Werris Creek Magpies and Dungowan Cowboys respectively Pearson had no inkling that the captaincy was headed his way But he feels as though it is vindication for the work he put in over the last 12 months and that the boys respect and listen to what I have to say." Shouldering the leadership of the side is the latest in a series of maturing steps forward Pearson has made lately The former Peel High student also left school to begin a carpentry apprenticeship in October Pearson played a multifaceted role for the Bears in 2024 but was effective wherever he found himself Picture by Zac Lowe.But the work has been more than a pathway into adult life for Pearson helped push him to recover from a shoulder separation he suffered late in the season and they push me to limits I didn't know I had incurred during North Tamworth's round 18 victory over Werris Creek It forced him to the sidelines for their semi-final clash against the Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters where he joined a spate of already-injured Bears including Shepherd I felt terrible that I couldn't be on the field with them," Pearson said I went down the week before and we had a battle [in the semi] and I couldn't be there with them But that heartbreak only fuelled the fire inside the tall As he now carries the weight of leadership he is more determined than ever to lead the Bears to glory in his final year of 18s and they'd do the exact same for me," Pearson said The stables at AELEC are full once again, with the State Indoor Showjumping Championships launching today. Riders in Australia’s World Cup Series are among those competing, with one young local hot on their hooves. All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAt age 37 the Bears great may prolong his lauded rugby league career - the thought of winning another premiership Josh Schmiedel is photographed at Paradise Park in Tamworth on Friday Picture by Gareth GardnerSchmiedel was an 18-year-old five-eighth when North Tamworth snapped a 25-year premiership drought by edging West Lions in the 2005 grand final He had the potential that would result in him becoming a two-time NSW Country representative he can't help but think what might have been had he left his hometown of Tamworth when the Knights were eyeing him But that was then ... this is now. And the "now" is special: he has four children - three of his own and a step-daughter - and he will soon marry his long-term partner Kelsey Masters As a new Group 4 season approaches, the Vickery coal mine employee is nursing his battered body as he contemplates extending his career Last year's cessation of Norths' golden reign would The opposite of that would be the chance to play in front of some of his teammates from that 2005 premiership-winning side when the club stages its annual Old Boys Day at Jack Woolaston Oval this year No one else from that outfit - including Brad McManus Peter Driscoll and Aaron Mitchell - were still top-graders "So I really wanna be playing on Old Boys Day when the blokes are all on the hill and I'm still going," the second-rower said "But I've just gotta look at the long run at the moment and it's starting to affect my knee and my ankle Schmiedel in action during a final round loss to the Magpies at Werris Creek on August 17 File picture by Gareth Gardner "[But] I think it's more about last year how we finished," he said of why he might play on adding: "But give it a bit of time - I'm in no rush that he was no certainty to lace up again - before his mind switched to yesteryear and the lasting bitter taste of lost opportunity In 2007, after he scored four tries in Norths' grand final defeat of Coonabarabran the previous year "But it was through communicating with the Knights as well," he said "So I was gonna go down there and play with West Newcastle [Western Suburbs] and then develop through that way I didn't end up going [to Newcastle] for another three Picture supplied Schmiedel ended up playing seven seasons with the Macquarie Scorpions and toured Samoa and Fiji with NSW Country before winning the 2017 Group 21 premiership with Aberdeen and then returning home to become a key part of the Bears' eight straight premierships "I probably could of tried to push a bit further to try and go somewhere a little bit earlier I sort of got stuck here with what I was doing - obviously a bit young and a little bit immature "I was sort of doing the partying stage and just playing footy with the old blokes." got a lot of memories that I obviously hold dearly." The couple will wed at the end of February "My life is very content with Kels," Schmiedel said "We are on a great path with our relationship and as a family you look to your family to bring you back on what matters." Picture by Gareth Gardner.As the 2024 season drew to a close Rumsby knew in his heart that he would not take to the field in 2025 "I just wasn't all that keen for it," Rumsby said He struggled to explain exactly why his motivation to play had dipped is the string of nasty injuries he's overcome in the last two years to his back "I've had some injuries which made me question whether I wanted to [come back] again," Rumsby said not being able to work made me think twice about it." Rumsby (who works as a barber at 2340 Barber Shop) and his partner But right around the time the pair had decided to remain in Tamworth for six to 12 more months an opportunity dropped into his lap as if to prove they had made the right decision Rumsby had for some time held a desire to get involved in coaching. By chance, he ran into North Tamworth Bears head coach Paul Boyce at work early this year and "He came into the shop for a haircut," he said and he said if I was interested we could chat more about it "I met with him and Mick [Schmiedel] at Norths to see what it would look like and how it'd work he will float between the other senior sides and offer what assistance he can while he learns the ropes "It's very appealing having Mick and Boycey there and Damian Kenniff [the Bears' reserve grade coach] as well," he said "I like the thought of working with those three." Learning from one of the most experienced trios in Group 4 will only benefit Rumsby And as it's his first year coaching at any level "It's a new challenge for me," Rumsby said "Hopefully I can improve their footy experience As much as I'd like to benefit some players in how they play better I also want to make it an enjoyable experience as well." While he has no desire to pull on the boots this year Rumsby did not want to call it a retirement he will take this year off and reassess how he feels when the time comes to make a decision about 2026 Maybe next year comes and I'll want to play again but at the moment I'm quite content with this new role." We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy and the country’s best cowboys are lining up in Tamworth The Xtreme Bulls and Broncs will launch into AELEC on Saturday night with plenty of local cowboys hoping to hang on The Tamworth Kangaroos men hope a new coach will return them to the AFL North West men’s finals in 2025 But as they grow their roster for the new season the club is calling on more women to sign up Alyssa Davis has shouldered more responsibility within the North Tamworth Bears this year Alyssa Davis is still in the formative stage of her life Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueShe graduated from Oxley High last year and is in the midst of a gap year before starting what she expects will be a social work degree at Griffith University in 2025 she is playing just her third year of league tag with the North Tamworth Bears but we've got a really new team so I'm one of the most experienced having more responsibility and feeling like I can play a more pivotal role in the team." While she herself was taken aback by the speed with which she has taken on a key role among the Bears Davis' resume suggests she was more than ready for such a transition Her mother, Katrina was the convenor of the Tamworth Junior Oztag for more than two decades Davis has played the sport since she was "probably three or four" it was not a hugely daunting leap when she signed up with Norths at the suggestion of former Bears coach Mel Watson and Mel used to drive me from Oztag training to league tag training," she said Davis has grown in confidence - which has not gone unnoticed by current Norths coach After their round four win over the Dungowan Cowgirls during which Davis scored a try and was named Players' Player View +6 PhotosPictures by Zac Lowe."She makes breaks She's one of the ladies that will have more responsibility this year and take on more of a dominant role." Davis chipped in with another try on Saturday as the Bears ended Werris Creek's unbeaten start to the year with a 34-4 win It was a dominant performance from a team that has undergone massive changes since their 2023 premiership Werris Creek are a very good team and we needed to play well to win," Kenniff said it was probably our best performance this year." With a potential move to the Gold Coast for uni next year Davis is playing some of the best league tag of her life And during her remaining time with the team Perth-based fund manager Westbridge has made its maiden New South Wales investment – a neighbourhood shopping centre at North Tamworth Northgate Village at 1 Piper Street was divested by Region Group which bought it new nine years ago It paid Armada Funds Management $14.8 million The asset was listed for sale mid-last year Westbridge is outlaying $18.3m – the current book value (last June however assuming a 5.75 per cent capitalisation rate) Sam Hatcher and David Mahood were the agents The deal comes two months since Region, formerly SCA Property Group, acquired its first ACT shopping centre for $74m (story continues below) On 1.3 hectares also facing Peel and Marius streets Northgate Village contains 4125 square metres the weighted average lease expiry is just over seven years Westbridge will control assets worth a total c$960m “In addition to these strong income prospects and purchasing well below replacement cost we see the opportunity to add value to the centre which together with strong fundamentals for the neighbourhood retail sector offer potential for future capital growth,” Westbridge head of Capital Transactions Subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of this page A former property analyst and print journalist Marc is the publisher of realestatesource.com.au Forgot your password? You will receive mail with link to set new password Back to login Picture by Peter HardinThousands of dollars worth of damage was caused to a Tamworth McDonalds store after a man used a broom to smash an EFTPOS machine Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueJacob Marr entered the Peel Street North Tamworth McDonald's holding a broom head at about 11:40pm on February 17 The 24-year-old was given water before becoming "increasingly aggressive" when he was denied further free products who retreated into the kitchen due to fear for their safety and walk behind the front counter while continuing to yell at the staff Marr then used the broom head to hit three self-serve kiosks and an EFTPOS machine While leaving the store the 24-year-old smashed a glass panel Staff called police and Marr was arrested while walking along Peel Street Officers obtained CCTV footage from the store and charged the 24-year-old with damaging property Marr's Legal Aid defence solicitor Katherine Walker said he would be pleading guilty to the charge Police prosecutor Sergeant Rob Baillie handed up a claim for compensation totalling more than $6000 for the damage Magistrate Mark Whelan adjourned the matter until later in May for a sentence to be handed down Tess Kelly is a journalist at The Advocate. Story tips and goss can be sent to tess.kelly@austcommunitymedia.com.au Sign up to get daily news updates so you don't miss a thing An independent news site based in New England A man has been charged over the alleged murder of a two-year-old boy after he was found unconscious by emergency services A man has been charged with murder after a toddler died in NSW's north-eastern region last month Emergency services were called to an address in Hillvue Road South Tamworth - about 280km northwest of Newcastle - at around 3.45pm on Saturday a two-year-old boy was found unconscious at the scene The boy was treated by paramedics before he was taken to Tamworth Base Hospital An investigation began under Oxley Police District's Strike Force Agriel along with the State Crime Command's Homicide Squad to determine how the boy died Just short of two weeks after the incident a 23-year-old man was arrested at a home in Gunnedah roughly 75km west of the South Tamworth address There have been no details released by NSW Police over whether the man was known to the child "He was taken to Tamworth Police Station where he was charged with murder (domestic violence)," NSW Police said in a statement The Gunnedah man was refused bail overnight and appeared in Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday He was remanded in custody with his next court appearance scheduled for April 16 This is probably not the page you’re looking for A driver has died after a two-vehicle crash at Red Hill Police say that at around 4.20pm on Sunday emergency services responded to reports of a two-vehicle crash along Manilla/Barraba Road at Red Hill NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the 73-year-old female driver and 77-year-old male passenger at the scene “The woman was airlifted to Tamworth Hospital whilst the male was taken by road to the same hospital Both are in a serious but stable condition,” Police said “The driver of the other vehicle – a 32-year-old man – died prior to the arrival of emergency services.” Officers from Oxley Police District have commenced an investigation into the incident Police are urging anyone who may have information about the crash – or any available dashcam/mobile phone footage – to contact Tamworth Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 Information and Events for Seniors throughout Australia Contact us: newsdesk@australianseniorsnews.com.au Tamworth’s hard-working paramedics are now saving lives from their state-of-the-art new ambulance station on Piper Street Nationals Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson said the station is an outstanding new asset for our paramedics who are now working in a modern “I particularly want to thank our local paramedics who campaigned hard for this new facility and provided important input into its design “Their hard work has delivered the facility our city needs and will continue to rely on for generations to come “The station is built for growth and has the capability to handle more staff and I’ll be pushing for those extra numbers.” began in 2022 and was completed in August 2023 The new station was officially opened by Mr Anderson NSW Ambulance Chief Executive Dr Dominic Morgan officials from all branches of emergency services The new station includes internal parking for up to 12 emergency ambulance vehicles external parking for ambulance relief and specialist vehicles Privacy Policy Pivotal moments often take their subjects by surprise Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueIt is rare that somebody knows exactly when they will learn a life lesson or undergo an eye-opening epiphany - as Liam Ball found out earlier this year The 21-year-old had long been earmarked to take over as the North Tamworth Bears hooker after an extended apprenticeship to former premiership-winning coach and captain, Scott Blanch it was confirmed that Ball would return to the number nine jersey he had briefly donned in 2022 And while Blanch has continued to provide insight and support to the Bears at training the proverbial 'passing of the torch' moment between the two occurred well away from the footy field "It was at his garage sale at the start of the year that he gave me some good advice," Ball said and we sat down and I probably learned more from him then than ever so that was the point where he really started to help me." Despite being the second-youngest member of the Bears' first grade side Ball did not feel much personal pressure when stepping into the void left by Blanch's retirement after their eighth-straight premiership last year Though there is more than a decade in age between them Ball said he and Blanch are "close mates" and that the former Manly Sea Eagles reserve-grader told him to make the role his own "We're two completely different players," he said "I was starting hooker in 2022 until I broke my thumb which is when Blanchy moved from five eighth to there and I've played a lot of hooker when he's been out because Blanchy had a huge impact on the whole team." Ball has put his own spin on the number nine jersey and used his skills to great effect in his new full-time role for North Tamworth in the first six rounds of the competition Ball's performances so far this year have impressed North Tamworth coach Paul Boyce "He takes a lot of pride in his performances and I think he's been doing really well," the third-year Bears coach said so he's got a lot of development in him and he's extremely coachable light-hearted presence in the changerooms is countered by the "attention to detail" he gives to his footy he bears some leadership responsibility as a key playmaker So when the Bears take on the Wee Waa Panthers in Wee Waa this Sunday Ball intends to use his voice to help them avoid the lapses in focus they have sometimes shown against lower-ranked teams "If I'm out there and yelling at my insides and outsides to get up Local high school students futures look a little clearer following today’s Regional Career Expo in Tamworth providing the ultimate guidance – as they prepare for life after the classroom Bowls players at North Tamworth Bowling Club will have a new surface to tend with thanks to $100,000 from the NSW Nationals in the state government’s Infrastructure Grants Program Nationals Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson welcomed the laying of the new synthetic surface which is low maintenance and provides a long-lasting surface that is proving more and more popular for clubs “The recent drought was very tough on our bowling clubs who struggled to keep their water-thirsty greens green in the face of level 5 water restrictions,” Mr Anderson said “Synthetic greens are proving to be more and more popular across the state as they require no watering and little maintenance for these clubs “Clubs have been telling me how difficult it is to find a qualified greenkeeper now so these synthetic greens solve a problem clubs are having across the board especially for our seniors who head to the bowlo for a roll and a social drink A bowling club is key to the identity of any community and I know the North Tamworth members are thrilled that their surface is now futureproofed “I thank the North Tamworth Bowling Club for their application to fund this project and look forward to having a roll on the weekend.” The Infrastructure Grants program is made possible by Clubgrants Category 3 a fund which re-invests profits from registered clubs’ gaming machines into community projects the NSW Government has funded more than 520 community projects worth more than $81 million under the Infrastructure Grants program the Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters women began to fear the worst Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThey had conceded two tries in the first five minutes of the major semi-final against the North Tamworth Bears and the run of play at Moree's Boughton Oval was exclusively in favour of the ladder leaders for much of the first half along with a serve from coach Jeff Faint at half time "Two of their girls scored and beat at least four of our players," Faint said "After we scored in that second half with about 10 to go Kootingal-Moonbi roared back into contention in the second half with another three tries and a penalty goal all of which catapulted them to a 26-18 victory View +20 PhotosPictures by Zac Lowe.And while he was pleased with their try-scorers it was former captain-coach Abby Schmiedel on whom Faint heaped his praise "Abby is just one of the elite players," he said "They way that she controlled that and set up our attack was just brilliant." Given that Schmiedel had not played against Norths this season since moving back to the Roosters she admitted that today's game brought up some mixed emotions there is "no better feeling than winning like that [from 14-0 down]" and expressed her pride in the team's ability to stay calm in the face of overwhelming pressure and our attitude and confidence going into the second half really boosted from that," Schmiedel said so that experience for the new girls coming through but the most important thing is we've got a really good friendship group." The victory now catapults the Roosters into the grand final was clearly hurt by the loss during a brief post-match chat to media "The first half was really good," Halpin said "Probably a little bit of complacence in the second half [hurt us] and they brought an extra set of intensity but the beauty of the position we're in is we get another chance." North Tamworth will play the winner of tomorrow's minor semi-final between Dungowan and Gunnedah in Kootingal for a place in the grand final Our journalists work hard to provide local This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: Picture by Zac Lowe.To kick off the new year the Leader decided to ask some weird and wacky questions to familiar faces around town reflects on 2023 and the best players he's ever worked with Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinuePlease note some responses have been edited and condensed for clarity Q: If you could describe your experience in 2023 as a fruit Since we went back-to-back [with a premiership win over the Moree Boars] I'd describe it as a double quarter-pounder What are you looking forward to the most about the 2024 Tamworth Country Music Festival The Country Music Festival's always pretty busy for us because Norths have a whole heap of campers and we have a couple of bands go down there as well training and having the caravans around you I think it's just a great vibe for the town Most of the locals will probably say they don't like it What's the biggest obstacle you have ever overcome I think most people have their own inner battles they've got to get over every single day I think it's just about getting out of your own head and pushing forward I'm part of a great footy club and I love Tamworth Who is the best player you've played with or coached and he went and played for England as well but I've got to say it: [Scott] Blanch is the best player I've been involved with I've certainly learned a lot from him and enjoyed coaching him What he sees and can do on a footy field is freakish He just makes the right play at the right time when the team needs it What's one inspirational quote which has always stuck with you and "Teams that achieve big things do the small things well" If you could have one thing in Tamworth named after you If I could get one thing named after me .. What vegetable do you aim to embody in 2024