That's all for this Wednesday's edition of BathurstAM.

Remember to take caution when driving or walking around town the next few days as all the V8 action gets underway, and enjoy the Pantech Parade today at 11:15am.

8:50AM

TECHNOLOGY is helping create big opportunities for some of the region’s smallest schools.

Students from Hill End Public School and Sofala Public School will join Glen Alice, Goolma, Mumbil and Stuart Town students in a debating competition next week called Small Talk.

Instead of travelling to argue the topics, the debaters will challenge one another using the schools’ Connected Classrooms video-conferencing facilities.

8:40AM

There has been a lot of global talk in recent months that has shone a negative light on Muslims, but here is one campaign aiming to inject a little positivity into the world. 

Australian women are snapping selfies while wearing hijabs in response to rising Islamaphobia. 

The Women in Solidarity with Hijabis Facebook page was established by lawyer Mariam Veiszadeh, who came to Australia as a refugee from Afghanistan, and women are quick to post their pro-Islam pics there. 

“Every time we share these images the response that we get from everybody is just amazing,” Veiszadeh told the ABC.

Take a look at some of their work below and read more about this positive campaign here.

8:30AM

THE Panorama Motorcycle Club will return to familiar surrounds for the first time in almost a decade this November when they stage the annual Long Track Masters meet.

Since 2007, the club have staged the event at the Blayney Showground because of the clash of venues with the Bathurst Harness Racing Club at the Bathurst Showground.

With pacing out of the picture now thanks to the harness  club’s new track near Mount Panorama, the bikes can return to what is something of a spiritual home.

“It’s a one-off meet, not part of a series or anything like that, back at the Showground for the first time since 2006 which is fantastic,” PMCC secretary Mark Fitzsimons explained.

Held on November 8, the Long Track Masters will include roughly 120 races at this stage, beginning with the practice and qualifying heats in the morning.

The finals will take place during the evening.

8:15AM

If you've spent some time in the CBD over the past couple of weeks you can't have missed all the Bathurst 1000 window displays.

It's all part of Bathurst Regional Council's annual Window Display Competition. 

Businesses simply decorate their windows with a V8 theme and post an image to the Council's Facebook page.

The businesses then go into the running to win some awesome prizes, including advertising packages with the Western Advocate.

The deadline has passed for submitting photos, but there is still time for the public to vote for the best display to win the People's Choice award.

The store with the most likes on their photo by 9am on Thursday will win - so get clicking!

8:10AM

THE long weekend saw a number of break and enters to businesses and residential properties around Bathurst.

In the first incident, thieves made off with a computer monitor, beauty products and cash after entering a business on Durham Street between 8pm last Thursday and 7.40am the next day.

And thieves also broke into a sports club on Boundary Road between 7am last Wednesday and 10am on Saturday, stealing a number of targets.

In other incidents, thieves broke into a shed in Ussher Crescent over the weekend and stole fishing gear and other property, while vandals spray-painted the walls of another shed in the area.

And thieves forced entry to a residence in Culnane Place to steal a television, surround sound system and a PlayStation. The theft took place while the family was away on Sunday and Monday.

Finally, a notebook computer was stolen from a property at The Lagoon after thieves forced the lock of a ground floor rear door.

The family was home at the time of the break-in.

8AM

Back to the V8's for a moment...

Don't forget after the Pantech Parade today there will be a drivers signing at Kings Parade where you can meet your favourite speed demons.

There are two sessions featuring a different set of drivers at each.

The first session is from 12:15pm to 1:15pm, where you can meet some of last year's Bathurst 1000 top placers. 

The second session also has some noteable drivers, and will be available from 1:30pm to 2:30pm.

7:50AM

LOCAL retail champion IGA has today announced that IGA Trinity Heights in Kelso is included in the first stage of its new national Price Match, which will see the price of hundreds of products across IGA and SUPA IGA stores in rural NSW matched to those of the major national supermarket chains in Australia.

In a direct response to customer feedback, IGA’s Price Match has been developed by studying customer shopping habits to identify the most popular everyday products.

In a bid to further encourage and promote the benefits of shopping local, prices of these products will be matched on a weekly basis, with stores involved also continuing to offer the promotions, wide brand ranges and friendly service that each store is known for.

Price Match will launch across selected areas from today and includes stores in Bathurst, Oberon and Orange.

7:45AM

While on the subject of the V8's, residents and visitors driving in and out of Bathurst today can expect congestion on the Great Western Highway as the trucks make their way to Bathurst.

7:40AM

Bathurst is about to get REALLY busy as the V8 Supercar trucks bring in the cars today during the Pantech Parade.

Council are well underway this morning preparing the town for the arrival of the massive convoy.

Several streets have been closed off for the parade, which starts at 11:!5am, so residents need to take caution when maneuvering around town.

7:30AM

This morning in the Central West..

A 33-year-old Liverpool man charged with having an explosive device in his vehicle was simply involved in a prank according to his solicitor and publicity surrounding the charging of his client was media “hype.”

THE residents of the sleepy village of Mumbil were mostly unaware there were two explosive devices sitting on the roadside near the railway line yesterday afternoon.

FORBES man Shane John Corner who killed an 84 year-old woman aboard a mobility scooter (gopher) whilst he was driving under the influence of drugs is in Wellington Gaol awaiting sentencing after being found guilty in Parkes District Court of dangerous driving occasioning death.

And in National News..

HILLSONG Church leader Brian Houston allegedly told his father's sexual abuse victim that he brought the crime upon himself by tempting his abuser.

The victim, given the pseudonym AHA, told the royal commission into child sexual abuse he was molested by Mr Houston's father, Frank Houston, for a number of years from the age of seven.

7:15AM

Here's what's making local news:

WORKERS at Simplot’s Bathurst and Kelso plants are planning a 24-hour strike for Friday, Simplot management confirmed yesterday.

The strike follows rolling work bans over the weekend and later this week at its Tasmanian operations in Devonport and Ulverstone.

A NEW program designed to save people from dying of a heart attack has assisted 35 people in western NSW in the first six months of its operation.

THE people of Bathurst will get to see the coppery moon of a total lunar eclipse tonight.

WHEN you look at the main contenders for this year’s Bathurst 1000, amongst the big name, big budget outfits is also a family owned one-car team.

While there is the expectation that heavy hitters such as Red Bull Racing, the Holden Racing Team and Ford Performance Racing will be near the front of the grid, it would certainly not surprise if the Tekno Autosports Holden was challenging as well.

7AM

It's Rachel here with you this morning for another edition of BathurstAM.

I'll be keeping you up to date with the latest news out of Bathurst and Central West.

We had a bit of rain yesterday, but you'll be glad to hear that those showers are clearing today and we can expect a top of 20 degrees. The UV Index is still up in that very high range, so keep your sunscreen and hats handy.

If you have any news you would like to be included this morning, please email me at rachel.ferrett@fairfaxmedia.com.au