9.00AM
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THAT's it for this morning's BathurstAM, but I'll leave you with our latest Feels Like Home property - 4A Delaware Crescent in Robin Hill.
Read more about this gorgeous family home and flick through the photos.
This well presented four bedroom home is perfect for a close knit family, but at the same time it is an entertainer’s dream.
Your journey begins at the bottom of a long driveway, shrouded by manicured shrubbery that gives you a warm, relaxed feeling.
The concept of the garden is kept simple with just a few trees and bright flowers that don’t overpower the beauty of the house itself.
As you walk up the driveway your eyes are immediately drawn to the stained glass embedded in the wooden front door – a refreshing change from the ultra modern doors that have recently come into vogue.
Inside the house, the simplicity of outdoors continues. Full story.
8.55AM
LOVE your pet as much as Christmas? Don't miss this!
There's something of a commotion going on at the Stewart Street Vet Hospital and resident cat Buttons doesn't seem impressed.
While Buttons is used to ruling the roost at the local practice, he's now got some opposition from a portly gentleman making regular appearances as part of the annual Santa Paws Photography sessions.
It's the brainchild of vet Kate Ireland who is also a dab hand with the camera.
She has even set up a special studio at the practice where residents can get a Christmas snap of their much-loved pets.
Kate said she came up with the idea because people love their pets and often remarked how good it would be to have some quality images of them. Full story.
8.50AM
IT was an afternoon of pomp and ceremony as Charles Sturt University formally installed its third chancellor yesterday.
Dr Michele Allan was installed in her new role by NSW Governor David Hurley at the Bathurst campus.
Close to 200 people attended and were welcomed to country by Aunty Gloria Rogers. Once Dr Allan received her robes, she was presented with the message stick by the Wiradjuri Council of Elders.
Dr Allan said she was excited to take up the mantle of chancellor because she has a passion for rural and agricultural communities, and CSU has an agricultural and rural focus.
She said her experience in these areas will add a new dimension to the role of the university in the community and forge links with graziers and meat producers. Full story.
8.45AM
ALREADY planning your New Year's Eve celebration?
Why not head along to Adventure Playground for Bathurst Council's NYE Party in the Park.
Bring your picnic or chose from a great array of food vendors on the night while you listen to the live local entertainment.
There will be plenty of activities for the kids with rides, jumping castles, free face painting and the new addition of the Big Air School.
The Big Air School is an exciting group of action sport athletes who will be performing massive BMX and scooter stunts while DJ Dropbear pumps the beats from the Rave Cave.
They will also be offering free workshops where kids can learn new tricks and win prizes.
Bikes, scooters and helmets will be provided. Bring the whole family and let's start the 2015 celebrations with a bang with the fireworks display starting at 9pm.
8.40AM
ARE you a regular advertiser with the Western Advocate?
Our office will be close for some time over Christmas to refresh, revive and be back bigger and better than ever in 2015. Check out the ad below for when we'll be closed.
But, don't fear the news team will be here right across the holiday period, except Christmas Day.
8.35AM
LOVE real estate? Don't miss picking up a copy of today's Advocate with your weekly full-gloss Domain lift out.
It sure looks like you'll be busy house-hunting tomorrow if this weeks guide is anything to go by.
8.30AM
TOO busy to answer the phone?
Don't miss today's editorial - written yesterday after Calare MP John Cobb was apparently too busy to speak with the local media - at least, that's what his office would have us believe.
The Western Advocate called Mr Cobb's Canberra office before 10am and left a message asking him to return our call, and then emailed his Orange office requesting an interview and detailing the issue we wanted to discuss.
We received only a written response that failed to answer our question, along with the explanation that parliament was sitting and Mr Cobb would not have five minutes to spare to pick up the phone.
So, you can only imagine our surprise when we heard Mr Cobb's distinctive tones coming through the airwaves' only local radio on Thursday - attempting to answer the very same questions we had put to his office in writing that morning. Continue reading here.
8.25AM
HAVE you started your Christmas shopping yet?
Don't miss the chance to score big by shopping with stores who are participating in the 2014 Festive Frenzy.
There are dozens of shops all across Bathurst taking part, for the full list pick up a copy of today's Advocate and flick to page 12.
Hundreds of dollars in prizes have already been handed out to lucky shoppers.
8.20AM
BATHURST PCYC will hold an open day this Sunday with the whole community invited to come along and check out what this vibrant and welcoming club is all about.
They have a very strong community base along with activities for young and old, including gymnastics, kindergym, boxing, boxing for fitness, dancing and Zumba.
Are you a regular PCYC user? If not, now is your chance to find out all there is to know about this great community centre.
Bathurst PCYC will open the doors for the annual Open Day on Sunday, December 14 from 11am-1pm.
The day will include activities and performances plus a barbecue provided by Rotary.
For more information, call 6331 2191 or email bathurst@ pcycnsw.org.au.
8.15AM
DID you know today is International Volunteers Day!
There are so many wonderful volunteers, across so many organisations, in Bathurst that give up their time to help others.
Why not take a peek at page 10 and 11 of today's Advocate to check out some of the city's amazing volunteers.
Do you know a local volunteer that is doing an amazing job? Why not let us know on our Facebook page.
8.10AM
THE Macquarie Lions Bathurst Flea Markets on tomorrow will have something a bit creepy and very crawly for sale.
Rex Gilroy's Dangerous Spiders book will be among the goodies on sale at the markets, and he will also bring along his jars of spiders.
Mr Gilroy started this publication to raise awareness of our local eight-legged friends.
This book would make a great Christmas present for all those bug lovers out there.
The markets are on from 8am to 1pm.
8.05AM
A MAN caught drink-driving after being pulled over for a random breath test has been disqualified from driving for six months, and fined $450.
Cody Blake Douglass, 22, of Keppel Street in Bathurst, appeared before magistrate Michael Allen in Bathurst Local Court recently.
Police facts revealed how on July 25 this year, Police pulled Douglass over for a random breath test on William Street.
The roadside breath test returned a positive result and Douglass was arrested and taken to Bathurst Police Station for the purpose of a breath analysis, which returned a reading of 0.115.
The court also heard that Douglass attended the Traffic Offenders program.
Mr Allen convicted Douglass, disqualifying him from driving for six months, with Section 225 (3) of the Roads and Transport Act to apply.
8.00AM
IT looks like Bathurst missed the worst of yesterday's storm. Western Advocate reader Sharyn Dunbar sent in this photo of hail in Oberon yesterday afternoon. Ouch! Did you get much rain or hail at your place?
Despite a top of 29 degrees predicted today, Weatherzone say another thunderstorm is on the way for Bathurst.
Submit your weather photos to acoomans@fairfaxmedia.com.au.
7.55AM
■ SPIDERS GALORE: The Macquarie Lions Bathurst Flea Markets will be held tomorrow from 8am-1pm at Berry Park. Things may get a little creepy and crawly, as Rex Gilroy will be there with his dangerous spiders book for sale, as well as a few eight-legged friends.
■ HIT THE TRAIL: Get out and explore Bathurst's rich artistic culture on the Bathurst Arts Trail. Pamphlets and maps are available at Bathurst Visitor Centre.
■ ARTISTIC: Join in the Embroiderers Guild at 89 Rankin Street tomorrow from 10am until the afternoon. Call Lorraine Fry on 6332 1699.
■ YOU CAN RING MY BELL: Enjoy a bell tower tour at All Saints' Cathedral on Church Street tomorrow at 9am until noon and 2pm or by appointment. Tickets are $5 per person or by donation.
■ FRESH OFF THE FARM: Oberon Farmers' Markets will be held at the delightful grounds of St Barnabas' Church tomorrow. Lots of fresh home grown and homemade goodies for sale. Call 6329 8210.
■ IT'S FISHY: The Fish River Festival will be held at the O'Connell Hotel from 11am-5pm on Sunday. Come along, bring a chair or a blanket and join us on the green to enjoy the summer sun, good music and a local tipple.
■ TIME FOR CAROLS: Bathurst Cathedral Parish Christmas Carols will be held at the Cathedral school grounds at 4-6pm on Sunday. Barbecue dinner and desserts will be sold to raise money for the Cathedral Restoration Fund.
7.50AM
IF you've never visited Bathurst's sustainable lifestyle house, this tomorrow might be the perfect opportunity.
The house is located at 17 McGirr Street and will be open from 9am to noon.
Jump online to Bathurst Council's website to find out more
7.45AM
THE Sydney father who started a global social media phenomenon with his simple tribute to Phillip Hughes - #putoutyourbats - was overcome with emotion at his home on Thursday as the outpouring of good will was quantified in numbers.
Fairfax Media had asked a social media strategist to crunch those numbers, and upon hearing them, Paul Taylor, an IT worker and former grade cricketer, said: "I'm just Joe Blow from the suburbs. Before this, I had 14 followers on Twitter. I had only ever written 22 tweets."
7.40AM
CALARE MP John Cobb has failed to deliver on a pre-election commitment to bring closed circuit television cameras to the Bathurst CBD, Bathurst Regional Council has heard.
Reports of a sexual assault in the centre of Bathurst last week have again sparked calls from the community to have CCTV cameras installed in the central business district.
A 20-year-old woman was attacked about 11.30pm last Friday as she walked to her car, parked near the intersection of William and Keppel streets.
The attacker, described as a 40-year-old man of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, dragged the woman a short distance before sexually assaulting her.
But while most supporters of CCTV are looking to council to fund and co-ordinate the roll out, Councillor Jess Jennings used Wednesday night's policy committee meeting to reveal Mr Cobb's pre-election promise last year.
Do you think Bathurst needs CCTV? Take part in our poll below.
► THE Abbott government has diverted $100 million in drought loan assistance to farmers in NSW and Queensland as a widening drought threatens to stoke demand for further aid.
Eligible businesses will be able to apply for as much as $1 million over 10 years at a concessional loan rate set initially at 3.21 per cent.
"Large parts of Queensland and some parts of New South Wales are experiencing the worst dry conditions on record, with rainfall at historical lows in many areas," Barnaby Joyce, the Minister for Agriculture, said.
► AFTER a year of finely judged inactivity, the Reserve Bank is stirring.
The bank's board met for the last time this year on Tuesday and concluded as usual that "the most prudent course is likely to be a period of stability in interest rates".
But after the national accounts it's no longer so sure.
It isn't just that economic growth is weak; it's that it's been weak for two quarters in a row.
► JULIE Bishop has denied she "went bananas" at Tony Abbott after the Prime Minister ordered the Foreign Minister be chaperoned by Trade Minister Andrew Robb to a climate summit next week.
The Foreign Minister was set to solely lead Australia's international negotiations at a UN conference in Peru on Monday which is being held in the lead up to new climate change treaty.
But on Sunday Fairfax Media reported that Mr Abbott had asked Mr Robb to accompany Ms Bishop to Lima amid fears she might go "too green" and over commit Australia to new targets.
► SWIMMING: THEY'VE journeyed around the Central West and into the Blue Mountains, but this Sunday the Bathurst City Amateur Swim Club finally get their chance to host a meeting.
The Bathurst meeting is the final of the five legs in the Mountains and Plains Swimming calendar, and the final chance this year for junior swimmers to see how far they have come.
The concluding round promises to be one of the biggest, with a total of 183 swimmers, including 46 from Bathurst, entered into the carnival.
► CRICKET: JOSH Toole is one step away from taking home the NSW Country Championships title as he and his Western team take on Newcastle on Sunday in Orange.
The Bathurst player steps onto Wade Park to take on the defending champions after Western enjoyed an unbeaten run at Griffith last weekend.
It's a turnaround for Western who failed to take a win from the same competition last season.
► GOLF: BATHURST professional golfers Nathan King and Peter O'Malley took on the opening round of the NSW PGA Championship with different experiences to share at the end of 18 holes.
After splitting his birdies and bogeys evenly, King ended his round at the Riverside Oaks Golf Resort on an even 71 par, while O'Malley didn't fare as well with a two over 73.
In his first round of golf this year for the Australian PGA Tour, King looked composed.
► PACING: THE change in status from Group 1 to Group 3 and drop in prize money might mean the superstars of Australian harness racing will be absent from tomorrow night's annual Treuer Memorial, but Bathurst trainer-driver Ashlee Siejka will still be battling the odds.
Siejka has two runners in the Bankstown Harness Racing Club's classic, Lochinver and Atom Of Courage, but both have been handed a blow by the barrier draw.
Only six runners go off the front row at Bankstown and Siejka's chances are not among them. Lochinver has drawn barrier eight, while Atom Of Courage will go from the widest 10 gate.
► BATHURST-born and bred Catholic priest Patrick O'Regan has been announced as the new Bishop for Sale in Victoria.
Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Paul Gallagher made the announcement this evening, following the formal appointment by Pope Francis.The new Bishop O'Regan is currently the vicar general of the Diocese of Bathurst, Dean of the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. John and episcopal vicar for clergy in the diocese.
Bishop O'Regan said he felt a blend of surprise, excitement, numbness, humility and sadness on his appointment.
► THE tender to build the Bathurst Bicycle Park clubhouse has been awarded, with the building set to solidify the city as the place to hold large-scale events, according to councillor Greg Westman.
Nick Harvey Constructions was awarded the $461,801 contract, with work to start today.
Councillor Westman said the clubhouse will play host to all cycle disciplines to use the park.
► COUNCILLOR Monica Morse has been backed by local residents in her campaign for more seating on the way into town.
Several weeks ago Cr Morse raised the issue at a council meeting, calling for there to be a report on the issue.
It is her argument that elderly people who still walk to and from town are unable to make the journey without taking a break every so often.
7.10AM
POLICE have charged a man with the murders of two people who were found at Cobar overnight.
About 8.30pm on Wednesday, December 3, police and emergency services were called to a home in Cobar after reports of a shooting.
On arrival at the house officers from Darling River Local Area Command found the bodies of a 71-year-old man and a 69-year-old woman.
A man, aged 46, known to the couple, was arrested nearby and taken to Cobar Police Station.
The man was later charged with murder x 2, discharge prohibited firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm x 2 and other firearms offences.
He has been refused bail to appear at Bourke Local Court today.
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, Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence.
7AM
HAPPY Friday Bathurst and welcome to your last BathurstAM for the working week. You've got reporter Nadine Morton here with you for the next two hours of rolling coverage.
Today will be another hot one with a top of 29 degrees predicted for our lovely city, but once again rain is on the horizon with a possible thunderstorm on the horizon.
Got something you want included in today's BathurstAM? Why not email it through to me at nadine.morton@fairfaxmedia.com.au.
TODAY: Get excited Bond fans, the series' 24th installment now has a name and some very early details.
James Bond will take on a sinister organisation with links to his past in the next installment of the blockbuster spy series, which star director Sam Mendes said on Thursday would be called Spectre.
Mendes unveiled a new cast and souped-up car - an Aston Martin DB 10 - but few other details about the 24th film in the series, that will see Daniel Craig return for his fourth outing as the dapper, martini-drinking agent.
Austrian actor Christoph Waltz would play a leading role, Mendes added, without going into more details. Most commentators assumed the sadistic villain of Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds would play the baddie.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA: BETWEEN Monday, December 1 and 3.30pm yesterday, there have been 39 warrants executed across all Regional and Metropolitan police districts.
Forty five people have been charged with 119 offences.
The offences include possession of methyl amphetamine with intent, but the majority were for simple possession (legal term) of drugs. More here.
QUEENSLAND: AN adult shop has been given the green light to continue operating from its Bloomfield Street address, despite Redland City Council claiming in October the store breached state laws. More here.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA: Big-name musical acts were lapped up by locals and visitors at two separate music festivals held on the Fleurieu at the weekend.
Artists Xavier Rudd, The Waifs and The Beautiful Girls were among acts hosted as part of the Gorgeous Festival, while Jessica Mauboy, Sheppard and Thirsty Merc headlined the Handpicked Festival at Langhorne Creek.
ILLAWARRA: A handful of Illawarra taxi drivers are overcharging, falsely claiming government travel subsidies, verbally insulting women and assaulting passengers and other drivers, according to a whistleblower.
The whistleblower, who is a driver with Wollongong Radio Cabs but wished to remain anonymous, claimed this behaviour keeps happening because the co-operative doesn't hand out substantial punishments. MORE HERE.
WAGGA: SERIAL rapist and killer Ken Cannon could serve as little as two years more in jail for the knife point sexual assault of a teenager in Wagga 28 years ago.
That's because Cannon must be sentenced according to the laws at the time, which prescribed a maximum 10 years' jail for his offence. More here.
BUNBURY: BUNBURY police have continued their crackdown on drugs after seizing 39 hydroponic cannabis plants in a raid on a Carey Park property.
Police have charged two people following the seizure after locating the plants in a shed at the back of the house. MORE HERE.
TAMWORTH: A VICTORIAN truck driver has been found guilty of dangerous driving causing death after his truck slammed into a bus, killing the Inverell-based driver.
The emotional verdict, handed down by the 12-member jury in Armidale District Court late on Wednesday afternoon, saw tears flow from all sides of the courtroom as Michael Simpson was convicted of the 2012 crash. MORE HERE.
LAUNCESTON: THE state government is considering selling off more than half of the gas-fired Tamar Valley Power Station. State-owned energy generator Hydro Tasmania was forced to buy the seldom-used site from Aurora Energy last year, under directions from the former government.
Energy Minister Matthew Groom told a scrutiny hearing yesterday that Hydro was made to pay $360 million for the station, which he said was only worth $200 million. MORE HERE.
BALLARAT: A touching story out of Ballarat today about a man and his tree. The tree was cut down at the elderly man's former home, but he found som nuts, one had a seed - and he planted a new tree at his new house. MORE HERE.
- Meet Paul Taylor, the man behind #putoutyourbats. MORE HERE.
- Julie Bishop has denied she "went bananas" at Tony Abbott after the Prime Minister ordered the Foreign Minister be chaperoned by Trade Minister Andrew Robb to a climate summit next week. MORE HERE.
- After a year of finely judged inactivity, the Reserve Bank is stirring. The bank's board met for the last time this year on Tuesday and concluded as usual that "the most prudent course is likely to be a period of stability in interest rates". But after the national accounts it's no longer so sure. It isn't just that economic growth is weak; it's that it's been weak for two quarters in a row. MORE HERE
- New Indonesian President Joko Widodo appears to have dashed the hopes of human rights activists by endorsing the execution by firing squad of five prisoners on death row. All five are said to be drug convicts, but statements by Mr Joko's ministers this week suggest the two condemned Australians, Bali Nine drug convicts Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, are not among them. MORE HERE
- Three women have joined a growing chorus of accusers who claim the iconic American comedian Bill Cosby raped them. The three women held a press conference with their lawyer, high-profile US attorney Gloria Allred, in Los Angeles to air their claims, which relate to a series of alleged encounters in the 1970s and 1980s. MORE HERE.
- The Thai military's toppling of an elected government in May risks provoking violent conflict in the country that remains deeply polarised after a nine-year cycle of unrest, the International Crisis Group warns. MORE HERE.
Emma Thompson is one of the Newcastle Herald's 'Hunter Heroes' this month.
SUNDAY marked the beginning of Postnatal Depression Week, an initiative aiming to create greater community awareness of antenatal and postnatal depression and anxiety.
More than one in seven new mothers and one in 20 new fathers are diagnosed with postnatal depression (PND) every year in Australia, with more than 100,000 total cases recorded in 2013.
Health and fitness coach Emma Thompson became aware of the risk of developing PND after she experienced the debilitating effect of depression and anxiety in her 20s.