AS Bathurst residents head off to work for the start of the new week and feel like letting out the token groan, spare a thought for the residents of San Francisco and northern California's Napa Valley.

They were jolted awake at 3.20am, local time, by an earthquake that measured 6.0 in magnitude.

The quake has left almost 100 people injured, caused some 50 gas main breaks and 30 water main leaks and left roughly 42,000 homes without power.

The quake is significant, as both the largest to hit northern California since 1989, and a major seismic event in a tranche of American geography which is, by all accounts, long overdue for "The Big One".

That's it for BathurstAM for Monday, August 25.

8.50AM

BATHURST has endured a few chilly mornings this month, but the good news is the mercury is not expected to drop below zero this week.

We may get a bit of rain early in the week, but it is shaping up to be a nice weekend.

Much better than the minus 5 we had on August 6 which rates as the coldest temperature we've had this year.

8.45AM

MAKING lunch plans for the week?

The Central West’s first Vietnamese restaurant has opened in Bathurst.

Manager of Anam Vietnamese Restaurant, Eric Quan said eating Vietnamese food will be a whole new experience for many Bathurst people.

Until now they have had to travel to Sydney to enjoy Vietnamese food. He said the owners of the restaurant, Kacey Le Tran and Augustine Le, have created a Vietnamese atmosphere with the restaurant’s decor, right down to the rickshaw at the front door, which was imported from Vietnam.

8.40AM

TELSTRA is reminding customers to be wary of scammers who attempt to obtain their personal information via telephone.

In the past 12 months, the number of comments from customers to Telstra about telephone scams has increased four-fold.

In most cases, customers are called at home and told they need to pay for technical support to fix a problem that doesn't exist on their home computer.

The caller falsely claims they are from Telstra and asks for remote access to the computer.

Reports of telephone scams can be made to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission via the SCAMwatch website at www.scamwatch.gov.au; or customers can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au.

8.35AM

AN Australian Army commando who lost both his legs in Afghanistan is set to share his inspirational story with Bathurst residents.

Damien Thomlinson's life was changed forever in April 2009.

While on night patrol in the Helmand provice of south Afghanistan, his unit drove over an improvised Taliban bomb. Mr Thomlinson suffered horrendous injuries in the explosion - both his legs were amputated, and the damage to his body was so severe it was a miracle he wasn't killed.

Bruce O'Neill from the Bathurst RSL Club sub-branch said they were honoured to be able to bring Mr Thomlinson to town for a special dinner at the club on Friday, November 7.

Tickets for the dinner - which are $55 for sub-branch members or $65 for non-members - are on sale from the front reception at the Bathurst RSL Club.

8.30AM

BATHURST'S Ashwood Park hosted the Central West Rugby Union's elimination semi-finals on Sunday and Western Advocate photographer Chris Seabrook was there to capture the action.

Why not check out his Sports Out West gallery?

8.25AM

TREKKERS from the Bathurst region are gearing up for an annual event in which their tractors will take centre stage.

More than 27 participants are making final engineering checks on their tractors in preparation for the 2014 Camp Quality Tractor Trek.

The event, running from September 18 to 20, will travel through towns and villages across the Central West.

Camp Quality Tractor Trek director Graeme Eggleston said they have a large number of new tractors this year and participants are coming from many parts of the state.

"The drivers and organisers have been fundraising for a number of months and our goal to be self-sufficient in the region to support children with cancer and their families is achievable," Mr Eggleston said.

8.20AM

ARE you a family involved with Saint Stanislaus' College and do you like curry? Well this week the school is staging an event you will just love.

The P&F Curry Night is on Wednesday evening and all current Stannies families are invited to come along.

It will be held in the PAC from 6.15pm. Families are asked to bring with them a cooked curry/casserole in a take-away foil container to share Rice, bread, eating utensils and dishes as well as tea/coffee will be provided.

Constable Belinda Bostock, the Police Schools Liaison Officer, will be speaking on the issues of Social Media.

Please RSVP either via www.stannies.com or hocsec@stannies.com

8.17AM

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a suspicious house fire in Lithgow.

About 11pm on Friday, emergency services were called to a home on Cook Street following reports of a fire.

Police from Chifley Local Area Command attended and evacuated the area, before Fire and Rescue NSW extinguished the blaze.

While the fire caused significant damage to the premises, the home was vacant at the time and there have been no reports of injury.

Detectives are investigating the cause of the fire and initial inquiries suggest it was deliberately lit. 

Anyone with information that may assist with the ongoing investigation is urged to come forward. 

Police are urging anyone with information about this incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page:https://www1.police.nsw.gov.au/. Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence

8.15AM

BATHURST Regional Art Gallery has published online the room sheets for their current exhibitions.

With wet weather predicted this week they might provide you with a good indoor activity.

8.10AM

FINALS of Central West winter sport competitions are well underway and it was a mixed weekend for Bathurst's senior teams. Two lost their battle for survival, tow fought off elimination, while another pair earned home grand finals. Here is a brief look at what happened.

HOCKEY: Souths coach Damien Carter was heatbroken on Saturday afternoon as his side exited the women’s Premier League Hockey title race after going down 3-0 to Parkes in penalties. In the end the difference was Parkes goalkeeper Amy Thornberry – a player Carter had identified as a major threat prior to the sudden death match.

Bathurst City booked their place in the grand final on the back of one of their strongest performances this season as they delivered when it mattered, beating previously undefeated Lithgow Panthers 2-0.

It will be the seventh grand final appearance for the Bathurst club in eight years.

There will be no back-to-back men’s Premier League Hockey grand final appearances for Souths as their 2014 campaign ended with a 4-1 defeat away to Parkes.

However, a Bathurst side will be present in the men's decider as St Pat's beat Lithgow Panthers 2-1 in a tense major semi-final at the Cooke Hockey Complex.

RUGBY LEAGUE: Bathurst Panthers' burgeoning 2014 Group 10 campaign will live on at least another week after the men in black knocked off Orange Hawks 30-22 at Wade Park on Saturday. Physical, fast and, crucially, firing at the right time of the year, John Fearnley's young Panthers outfit stormed home after trailing the hosts 16-0 after 24 minutes to claim a memorable elimination semi-final victory.

RUGBY UNION: Their defensive line was treated to a Forbes Platypi artillery barrage, but somehow the Bathurst Bulldogs emerged from the rubble alive after their Central West Rugby first grade elimination semi-final yesterday, scraping home 20-18 winners.

In front of a vocal Ashwood Park home crowd the Bulldogs spent little time on the ball in the second half, kept on the back foot for the final 30 minutes by a more determined Platypi side than they have faced earlier this season. Bulldogs survived a missed penalty kick that would have given Forbes a one-point lead and then held off one last determined Platypi phase of play to live on in the competition for one more week.

8.05AM

WITH term three almost done, it's time to start thinking about school holidays activities.

Bathurst Regional Art Gallery has five fabulous workshops on offer during the first week of the holidays to keep your kids entertained.

Apprentice Shutterbugs with Jo is our first workshop of the spring holidays.

Kicking off at 10.30am on Tuesday, September 23, this two-hour workshop is an introduction to digital photography, especially designed for participants aged eight to 17 years. It's BYO your own digital camera and don't forget to make sure the battery is charged.

The second workshop, Drawing Woodland Creatures with Fiona, will take place from 1.30pm-3.30pm on Wednesday, September 24.

Joyette will be taking the third workshop, A Brush with Hill End, on Thursday, September 25 from 1.30pm-3.30pm.

This is a sketching and painting workshop for eight to 17 year olds which draws inspiration from The Third Wave: Two Decades of the Hill End Artists in Residence Program exhibition currently on show at BRAG.

And, finally, the last two workshops are especially for the little ones. Back by popular demand, Messy Kids with Bron will run twice on Friday, September 26.

Click here to download the Spring School Holidays Workshop Flyer.

8AM

BATHURST'S newest police officer will join the ranks today after he was sworn in at the NSW Police Academy in Goulburn last week.

The officer is one of two to join the Chifley Local Area Command, and among 170 new probationary constables.

The class of 111 policemen and 59 policewomen will undertake 12 months on-the-job training, combined with study, before being rising to the rank of constable.

Six other new recruits will be stationed across the Western Region, including Barrier (one), Barwon (one), Darling River (one), Orana (two) and Oxley (one).

7.57AM

SPEAKING of musical talent, have you often thought about singing Handel`s 'Messiah'?

As of tomorrow, rehearsals will be held every Tuesday evening of school term time, from 7pm to 9pm at the Mitchell Conservatorium, Russell Street, Bathurst.

For more information call Megan Jackson, on 6337 4277.

7.55AM

CHILDREN across Bathurst have been practising their hearts out in preparation for this year's Bathurst Eisteddfod on this week will finally get to put what they have learnt on show.

The event will kick off with the music section tomorrow.

This year the music adjudicators will be acclaimed pianist Jeremy Eskenazi and opera singer Inge Southcott.

Soloists and groups will perform in the speech and drama section between August 31 and September 5 as well as September 8 and 12.

One of the biggest sections this year is dance. Groups will take to the stage on September 6 and 7, while the soloists and duos/trios will perform from September 1 to 5 and September 8 to 12.

7.50AM

LAST week children from schools across the city celebrated Children's Book Week. The theme this year was "Connect to Reading".

The Children's Book Council of Australia said the week was all about enjoying the experience of exploring story, and travelling to other worlds.

And if the costumes were anything to go by 2014 has been a roaring success.

Check out the Western Advocate's gallery - included are photos from Bathurst South Public School, Bathurst West Public School, Assumption School, Cathedral Primary School and the Bathurst Regional Library.

7.47AM

FOR the second consecutive year Bathurst's Shelley Hanrahan has been crowned fastest female in the Mudgee half marathon, collecting her honour with another impressive run on Sunday.

Albeit a fraction slower than her 2013 tilt, Hanrahan was still delighted by the result.

In the full marathon, Bathurst's Nick Zawadski took out the men's 18-29 years division and was second overall in a time of 3:17.57.

7.45AM

SHE has done it again.

Prior to this season talented The Lagoon driver Amanda Turnbull had never won a Group 1 race but as of yesterday, she now has two to her credit.

Turnbull combined with New South Wales trainer Dennis Picker for Group 1 glory at Tabcorp Park Melton.

She steered Picker trained filly Just Cala to victory in the Bettors Delight @ Woodlands Breeders Crown Final for three-year-old fillies.

7.40AM

HERE is a look at what is making national news headlines today:

THE senior Malaysia Airlines staff member accused of raping an Australian woman on a Paris-bound flight earlier this month begged her not to report the alleged incident to the authorities because he had a wife and children.

Perth woman Laura Bushney recounted a horrifying tale of alleged abuse at the hands of chief steward Mohd Rosli Bin Ab Karim on flight MH20 from Kuala Lumpur to Paris on August 4.

She recorded part of the incident on her mobile phone in footage which was aired on Channel 7's Sunday Night program.

MORE than 50 refugees resettled by Australia on Nauru say they have been "abandoned to live like animals in the jungle".

In an interview from the tiny Pacific island, the refugees told Fairfax Media they don't have enough clean water, food, or work to sustain themselves and that they can't afford phone calls to their families back home.

"In our country, the Taliban will come and they will slash our throats and finish our lives. It will take 10 minutes to die. But here, they are killing us by pain, taking our soul and our life slowly. In our countries there is physical torture, but here we are being tortured mentally," one refugee told Fairfax Media.

HOOKER Paul Aiton says he hasn't heard from ASADA since the Cronulla doping investigation began and is disturbed his name has been repeatedly published as one of 17 players who have received "show cause" notices.

Aiton enjoyed a career highlight on Saturday when he helped Leeds lift their first Challenge Cup in 15 years with a 23-10 win over neighbours Castleford in front of 77,914 fans at Wembley Stadium

But the build-up was marred by reports in Australia he had been offered a discounted suspension if he owned up on Friday - and then that he would be fighting the allegations.

7.30AM

MAKING news across the region today:

PEOPLE travelling to and from Orange Airport will now be able to use the new Huntley and Aerodrome roads intersection after it opened to traffic on Friday afternoon.

Work began six months ago to move the road further away from the airport to accommodate an extra 538 metres that will be added to the western end of the airport's runway, part of the $19 million airport expansion project.

However progress on the intersection was delayed by six weeks after contractor Hewatt Earthworks ran into financial difficulties and a bout of bad weather earlier in the season.

THE Cudgegong Rural Fire Service (RFS) District was recognised for keeping their volunteers sharp at the recent NSW RFS Learning and Development Forum in Dubbo.

The local RFS District received the Training Encouragement Award for their diligence in getting local volunteers trained and keeping their skills up to date.

The bi-annual NSW RFS Learning and Development Forum is for RFS instructors, assessors and District Learning and Development Officers.

DUBBO residents Janneyl Foxe and her father Harold were struck by a "disgraceful crime."

A $1,000 reward is on offer for the safe return of the ashes of Ms Foxe's mother who died four years ago.

Thieves broke into 83-year-old Mr Foxe's Central Dubbo home on Thursday after he had left for dialysis and stole a wooden box which contained the ashes.

The memorial is a red mahogany varnished box with a silver plaque, an angel, photo of the late Mrs Foxe with her grandchild and butterfly and heart stickers.

7.20AM

THERE are a few road works taking place in the Bathurst region motorists should be aware of this week.

On the Mid Western Highway between Bathurst and Limestone Creek from Monday to Friday (7am to 5pm) there are scheduled lane closures. Expect delays of up to 10 minutes.

Expect delays of up to 10 minutes on Jenolan Caves Road between Jenolan Caves and Kanangra Road as routine maintenance is carried out between 7am-5pm.

There will be delays of up to five minutes between 7am and 5pm this week on the Great Western Highway between Bathurst and Lithgow while scheduled works are being carried out.

There may be similar delays between Gilmour Street and Stockland Drive between 7am-6pm and 7pm-5am.

7.15AM

IN local news today:

BATHURST'S growing community of Mount Panorama walkers is being warned it's only a matter of time before someone is killed while they are exercising at the iconic circuit.

Many residents are miffed about the lack of road safety being shown, with some reporting groups of women five abreast push.

People also take their dogs on a leash to the circuit but while they may stay on the side of the road, the animal is out in the middle of the track on a three-metre leash.

IT seems nostalgia for rail travel is alive and well after a large crowd turned out at Bathurst Railway Station yesterday morning to ride the rails on a rare vintage 1920 diesel rail motor.

By 10am 100 people had lined the platform, looking eagerly down the track for the little train that would carry them to Newbridge and back.

A large number of children came along with parents and grandparents, all excited about the two-hour journey.

MORE than 100 letters have been forwarded to Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian highlighting concerns with the new Bathurst Buslines timetable.

The timetable, introduced late last year, featured 27 new services across seven new routes. But it was met with widespread criticism from day one as passengers reacted badly to the changes.

Six months on, a group of dissatisfied passengers formed the Bathurst Bus Community Action Group (BBCAG) to bring attention to their concerns.

7AM

Good morning, Bathurst! Welcome to the last week of winter. We'll get a taste of spring today as we're heading to 17 degrees.

It should be a partly cloudy day, with areas of fog early in the morning. There is a chance of isolated showers, more frequent in the east during the afternoon.

If you have a community announcement, news tip or photo you would like to share this morning email it to anya.whitelaw@fairfaxmedia.com.au

Here is where the clouds are at the moment: