Businesses across the New England North West are being encouraged to nominate for the 2026 New England North West Business Awards, with the official launch of the program taking place in Tamworth on Tuesday.

Hosted by Business NSW in partnership with Joblink Plus, the awards celebrate outstanding business achievement, innovation and leadership across the region.

The awards are open to businesses located throughout the New England North West, including Armidale, Boggabri, Glen Innes, Gunnedah, Guyra, Inverell, Liverpool Plains, Moree, Narrabri, Tamworth, Tenterfield, Walcha, Warialda and Wee Waa.

The official launch will be held at Connections Café in Tamworth, where media and invited guests will hear details of the 2026 awards program, including award categories, nomination processes and opportunities for regional businesses to showcase their success.

Stephanie Cameron, Regional Director – New England North West for Business NSW, will formally launch the awards and outline the importance of recognising excellence within regional business communities.

Member for Barwon, Roy Butler, has warned that the ongoing fuel crisis could severely compromise access to essential health and community services in rural and remote communities unless a temporary fuel subsidy is introduced.

Mr Butler’s office has been contacted by numerous organisations that provide transport for rural and remote patients to attend health and specialist appointments, as well as organisations delivering health services directly into people’s homes.

“These services are a lifeline for people who have no other means of transport,” Mr Butler said. “Any disruption caused by increased fuel prices would have serious consequences for health and wellbeing outcomes in our communities.”

Burren Junction Public School has celebrated an outstanding achievement at the NSW Primary Schools Sports Association (NSWPSSA) State Swimming Championships, returning home with a gold medal and the prestigious Peter Dobson Relay Team Trophy.

Competing against schools from across New South Wales at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, the Burren Junction relay team of Angus Harris, John McMahon, Agatha Burke and Tabitha Shearer delivered a remarkable performance in the 4 x 50 metre freestyle relay.

The Burren Junction community gathered in strong numbers on April 25 to commemorate ANZAC Day, honouring the courage, sacrifice and legacy of Australian and New Zealand servicemen and women.

The morning began outside Burren Junction Public School, where students, staff and community members assembled before marching together to the town’s war memorial. Led by senior students carrying the Australian flag and school banner, the procession reflected both pride and respect, with young and old walking side by side through the streets.

At the memorial, the service was led by the Burren Junction Public School Year 6 Parliament, who played a central role throughout the ceremony. School leaders welcomed attendees, including returned service personnel and community members, and highlighted the importance of remembering not only those who served in past conflicts but also those who continue to serve today.

Rising concern about the impact of the fuel crisis on local tourism has prompted the Member for Barwon, Roy Butler, to urge city residents to continue with their plans to visit regional NSW over the Easter holiday.  

Local tourism operators are reporting a bump in Easter cancellations against a backdrop of lower overall bookings in March this year compared to the same time last year. 

“It’s a tough time for many people who work in tourism,” said Mr Butler.  

“Caravan parks in Broken Hill are reporting a drop in revenue of more than 25%, with management and staff discussing reduced hours. 

“Fewer shifts are available for motel workers around Narrabri too. 

💦 💦 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠!💦

Great news for locals and travellers alike — the Burren Junction Bore Baths will officially reopen on Monday 30th March 🙌

Come and soak in the warm artesian waters and enjoy one of the Walgett Shire’s most relaxing stops 🌿

Please note:
🔹 There will be no caretaker onsite
🔹 Camping is available for just $5 per night via an honesty box system
🔹 A tap & pay honesty system will be installed in the near future

Pack the van, bring your swimmers, and make Burren Junction part of your outback adventure 🚐✨

#VisitWalgettRegion #BurrenJunction #BoreBaths #OutbackNSW #RoadTripReady #artesianwater

A wave of mild hysteria swept across the region this week as towns up and down the highway reported dwindling fuel supplies. Drivers were spotted forming queues longer than a Centrelink phone wait, clutching jerry cans like they were rare artefacts from a bygone civilisation. Rumours spread faster than a harvest fire: “No fuel by lunchtime!”, “Servo’s dry!”, “Someone filled a Hilux AND a boat—selfish bugger!”

Local councils issued calm, measured statements encouraging residents to “avoid panic buying,” which of course triggered even more panic buying. One town reportedly saw a man attempt to siphon petrol from his own lawnmower “just in case.”

But in the midst of the chaos, one community remained perfectly, serenely unfazed.

Burren Junction.

While the rest of the region scrambled, Burren locals simply shrugged, sipped their coffees, and carried on with their day. When asked how they were staying so calm during the crisis, one resident replied:

“Mate… Burren Junction ran out of petrol 15 years ago.”
 

Author - Stephen Gardiner

Member for Barwon, Roy Butler, has tried to amend and delay the NSW government’s rushed laws in the wake of the Bondi terror attack, saying they don’t address the circumstances behind the attack while unfairly penalising regional people.  

The NSW government recalled parliament to rush through laws that can prevent protests, restrict firearm ownership and move firearms licence appeal hearings to the Supreme Court. 

A NSW parliament e-petition opposing the laws that was sponsored by Mr Butler has broken records for becoming the fastest to ever gather so many signatures. 

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has declined to investigate concerns raised by the Member for Barwon, Roy Butler MP, and the Australian Floodplain
Association regarding the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder’s (CEWH) unmetered water diversions and new water entitlements on the Warrego River at Toorale
Station.
ICAC advised that:

My name is Rob Bell, and I was born in East Bankstown (later Greenacre) in 1945, into a solid working-class family. By 1964, 5 years after leaving Punchbowl Boys High, I was requested by the local gendarmes to leave town. This was also issued to many of my friends who, like myself, travelled down the wrong roadway.

A friend who had been off the scene for a while was back in town and was going on about working on the railway as a fettler in a place called Burren Junction. Where the hell is B.J., we all cried, North West NSW, have you heard of Walgett? Well, it's this side of Walgett, and they are looking for workers.

So come Monday, we all troop down to Central Station (about 6 of us) for a medical and get the guts on this Fettler business. Being good, strong Aussie boys with an average age of around 20, we were in. Some of us were sent to Cryon and others to BJ.