9AM:
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That's it for today's edition of BathurstAM. Thanks for joining me. I will be back tomorrow, so email and news through to me at jacinta.carroll@fairfaxmedia.com.au
In the mean time don't forget to have a look at our gallery from yesterday's snow falls across the region. Here is the story that appeared in today's paper.
Have a great day.
8.40AM:
Over the past 18 months the Central West Short Play Festival has expanded to Dubbo and Mudgee and now has partners in the Forbes, Parkes and Lachlan regions.
Next month the festival will present "Bathurst Shorts" 10 new short plays written, directed and performed by local theatre makers at the Bathurst Memorial and Entertainment Centre, on November 20 and 21. Tickets are on sale now by calling BMEC on 63336161.
8.30AM:
CHARLES Sturt University in Bathurst will host the next conference for the Sustainable Economic Growth for Regional Australia (SEGRA) organisation.
The conference will be held in October next year.
The announcement was made at the SEGRA 2014 conference dinner in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.
"Charles Sturt University has a strong commitment to meeting the needs and aspirations of our rural and regional communities," CSU vice-chancellor Professor Andrew Vann said.
8.15AM:
Don't miss the Holy Trinity Spring Fair on this Saturday.
It starts at 9am in the Parish and Community Hall, Gilmour Street, Kelso.
There will be something for everyone including homemade cakes, garden plants, second and books, white elephant stall, bargains for blokes, arts and crafts, jewellery, chocolate wheel, and much more.
There is also plenty of parking available.
More information is available by phoning The Reverend Tim Fogo on 63324606.
8AM:
Police are appealing for information following an armed robbery of a service station in Lithgow last night.
About 8.55pm (Wednesday 15 October 2014), a man entered the service station on Main Street Lithgow before producing a knife from the sleeve of his jumper.
He climbed onto the front counter and demanded the cash draw from the attendant.
The man removed a keyboard from the counter before fleeing. He was last seen running south on Main Street with the keyboard in his possession.
The attendant was not harmed during the incident.
Police from Chifley Local Area Command attended the service station and established a crime scene.
Detectives would now like to speak to a man who may be able to assist with inquiries.
The man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, 180cm tall, with a thin build. He was wearing a black cap with gold trim, black gloves, a black hooded jumper, blue jeans, and dark coloured sneakers with fluorescent yellow laces and white soles.
Police are urging anyone with information in relation to this incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/ Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence
7.45AM:
The opening of Bathurst's new pacing track on Sunday will no doubt draw the crowds, especially as last year's The X-Factor winner Dami Im will be performing live. The new facility will be opened at at around 1pm, just after the first of eight races.
7.30AM:
AND a snapshot of what's making news around the Central West.
ENTRIES are down but quality is up for this year’s Orange Wine Show says chief steward Lucy Maddox.
Judging the 260 wines, made from Orange-grown grapes, started on Tuesday and will finish today for the result to be announced at the wine show dinner to be held at Ross Hill Vineyard tomorrow night.
Ms Maddox said the judges had finished tasting Orange’s sparkling variety and could see there was some potential in the region.
“They liked the riesling and the rose varieties,” she said.
This year’s brew is judged by industry consultant Gary Baldwin, South Australian wine maker from McLaren Vale Emma Bekkers and chief judge and master of wine Toni Paterson.
AND in Dubbo.... Dubbo MP Troy Grant was remaining tight-lipped about his political future as reports suggested he could succeed Andrew Stoner as leader of the National Party and the deputy Premier of NSW this morning.
Mr Stoner announced yesterday that he would retirement from parliament at the upcoming election and made the decision to step down as party leader immediately, which has triggered a leadership ballot.
It is understood Mr Grant, who is the Minister for Hospitality, Gaming and Racing and Minister for the Arts, will contest the leadership against Education Minister Adrian Piccoli with some predicting that Mr Grant was the favourite.
AND in Lithgow.....COMMUNITY leaders lined up to pay well earned tributes to health insurer Westfund at the official opening of the fund’s new national headquarters in Railway Parade.
Westfund has been utilising the one time Lithgow Co-op premises for its administration staff for some years.
But the heritage building — dating back to the 1920s and which in a former life housed the Co-op’s office staff and haberdashery department — was in need of internal upgrading to meet modern workplace expectations.
And after an investment of $1.5 million on a refit it is top class accommodation for Westfund’s ever increasing staff.
7.15AM
Here is a quick look at what is making headlines in Bathurst today.
THE biggest road infrastructure project in Bathurst’s history kicked into overdrive yesterday.
When the work ends at the end of 2015, the highway will have four lanes, from near Lee Street at Kelso to Ashworth Drive near the Gold Panner Motor Inn.
As well as rebuilding and widening the road, the upgrade will involve building a central concrete median.
It comes in the wake of party leader Andrew Stoner’s announcement that he will retire from politics at the 2015 state election.
Mr Stoner said he will remain a minister until polling day, but as of today he will no longer be the deputy premier or Nationals leader.
Mr Toole confirmed late yesterday afternoon that he would not be putting his hand up for Mr Stoner’s job of leader.
He said he has a wife and three young children and wants to be part of their growing up.
“I may consider it in the future when my children are older, but not now,” Mr Toole said.
AND in national headlines
The heads of Australia's biggest superannuation lobby groups showed a rare common ground to warn that people are so perplexed by constant changes to the rules governing super that they are afraid to retire.
The Financial Services Council and Industry Super Australia on Wednesday revealed their research showed the same trend: that people found it so difficult to assess their superannuation requirements they were staying in the workforce.
At the same time, the author of the sweeping 2010 review of the $1.9 trillion retirement savings industry, Jeremy Cooper, made a similar entreaty for change.
He called on Financial System Inquiry chair David Murray to push the federal government for more transparency about its plans for policy areas - such as pensions, taxation and health - that will affect the level and type of retirement savings individuals need.
7AM
Hi, and welcome to today's edition of BathurstAM.
Today will be frosty then sunny with a top of 18 degrees. There will also be a small chance of rain.
If you have any news tips please email them through to me at jacinta.carroll@fairfaxmedia.com.au
