Margaret Bollingmoore and Roz Townsend said the time for politicians to consider a new route from Sydney was long overdue and the community needed to band together, generate ideas and force the government to act.

The topic had been back in the news after Bathurst transport stalwart Graeme Burke told the Western Advocate the closure of Bells Line of Road due to a landslip needed an immediate response from the State Government to build a third route between Sydney and the state's west.

Ms Bollingmoore suggested the government look at a southern route going from Oakdale, west of Camden, to Oberon over the back of Yerranderie above the catchment area.

Ms Townsend said the suggestion had a lot going for it.

"It could be a great tourist attraction and would save the heritage villages in the [Blue] Mountains - it would also make it easier for people to get to Canberra, the South Coast and the new airport from this part of the world," she said.

THE Bathurst community rallied to help one of its own as Mandy Griffiths faced a battle with cancer.

Her friend, Megan Russell, had started a gofundme page which had already raised in excess of $6500.

Ms Russell said the money would be used to take the financial pressure off the Griffiths while Mandy was unwell and enable them to focus on her recovery.

"Peter [Mandy's husband] and Mandy are currently down to one income, but Peter will soon also be required to take some leave without pay to be home with Mandy during initial recovery," she said.

"They don't live a lavish lifestyle, but still have the regular bills coming in."

Ms Russell said Mandy had had a pretty rough 12 months, and she just wanted to do something practical to support the couple.

These stories also made headlines in April:

A RESIDENTIAL home built in 1902 had been sold for $1.24 million, making it the highest known sales price for Bathurst CBD property.

Located at 253 Bentinck Street, the five-bedroom, three-bathroom home, also known as "Olivetto", sat on a generous 1268 square metre block, surrounded by established gardens.

The home had been restored and renovated over the years and boasted period features such as marble fireplaces, ornate cornices and high ceilings with centre roses.

The home was listed by Raine and Horne Bathurst director Grant Maskill-Dowton, who said the property sold prior to any marketing.

It was not the first time he had broken the CBD sales record. In fact, it was not even the first time he had done it in the last 12 months.

"It's just a reflection of where the market is at and that people are prepared to pay that sort of money to secure a piece of history," Mr Maskill-Dowton said.

LANDMARK Bathurst pub the Dudley changed hands as part of a five-hotel portfolio.

The hotel, on Stewart Street, was sold along with the Castlereagh (Dubbo), Federal (Wellington), Royal (Orange) and Federal (Mudgee) in a total deal believed to be worth around $75 million.

Industry insiders said Orange's Royal sold for $24 million, a new record sale price for pubs in regional NSW, but each of the five hotels was said to have set a record sale price in its town.

Pub Brokers and Advisory sold the five-hotel portfolio for MPK Hotels to a newly-formed syndicate known as Investment Management Group.

It continued a period of rapid change for the Dudley, where Robert "Stumpy" Taylor was the long-time licensee from 1993.

Former Easts and Manly rugby league footballer Kevin Junee bought both the Dudley Hotel's premises and business in 2017 before it was bought by MPK.

"REALLY stunned." That was how Bathurst RSL Sub Branch president David Mills felt after seeing a crowd of veterans and residents converge in Kings Parade for the city's main Anzac Day Service.

It was a big change from the previous year, where the only way people could commemorate service and sacrifice was at the end of their driveway.

"I did not believe that the numbers would turn out," Mr Mills said.

"I think it just shows how important commemoration is to the community."