Skin Patrol, a national provider of doctor-led skin cancer checks, will be offering free skin cancer checks at the Glen Innes Showgrounds from 13 to 15 February 2026, with appointments available from 9.00am each day. The clinic is part of Skin Patrol’s mobile health program, which delivers onsite skin checks across metropolitan, regional and rural Australia. Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, with one in three Australians expected to be diagnosed in their lifetime. Early detection remains one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of serious outcomes.

PLC Armidale continues to set the benchmark for academic excellence in the New England North West, achieving outstanding results in both NAPLAN and the 2025 Higher School Certificate (HSC) and reinforcing its standing as one of the region’s leading schools. Recently released 2025 NAPLAN data on the ACARA MySchool website confirms PLC Armidale as the strongest-performing school overall in the region, with students consistently achieving results above the national average and above those of statistically similar schools across most tested domains in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9.

Red Range Hall was literally bursting at the seams with a terrific crowd of locals and visitors gathered for an 8am breakfast, the first celebration of Australia Day for 2026 in the Glen Innes Severn Local Government Area. The local Red Range Hall Committee had set up an impressive display of milk cans and cream separators as well as  some examples of the first teat cups as a nod to the importance of the dairying industry to Red Ranges early history.  However, it was the alluring smell of the BBQ that drew the locals indoors. 

Glen Innes Severn Council has received confirmation from Local Government NSW (LGNSW) that its final outstanding motion from the 2025 Annual Conference, relating to the Australian Biochar Industry 2030 Roadmap, has now been formally supported by the LGNSW Board. This update follows Council’s earlier announcement in November 2025, which outlined the strong advocacy effort undertaken at the conference and reported that six of Council’s seven motions were successfully carried during conference proceedings. At that time, the Biochar motion was deferred due to time constraints and referred to the newly elected LGNSW Board for determination.

Just 34 kilometres from Emmaville — an easy 30-minute drive — the Pindari Centre has launched a new hands-on Homesteading and Farm Stay experience, inviting visitors to slow down, roll up their sleeves and enjoy authentic country life. Set on more than 2,000 acres beside the picturesque Pindari Dam, the new program builds on the Centre’s long-standing reputation for outdoor education. Guests can take part in daily homestead activities such as feeding and milking goats, collecting fresh eggs, meeting horses and foals, harvesting honey from flow hives, and learning practical farm-to-table and sustainable living skills.

After an application and interviewing process with the Scholarship Project Committee the club is very happy to announce that three students have been awarded our Post Secondary Scholarship for 2025. In 2025 the club received applications from three worthy students whom we are pleased to assist in their future studies. Chelsea McIntyre, Phoebe Vimpany and Rory Husband joined the club at the December meeting when the students informed all the members of their plans and dreams of their futures. The Highlands Lioness Lions Club aims to help young people from our community in as many ways as possible.

 One of Australia’s oldest racing traditions is set to thunder back into life this summer, with the Deepwater Hotel Top Pub Race Meeting celebrating an extraordinary 161 years on Saturday, 24 January 2026. First run in 1865, the Deepwater Races are steeped in history. The event began when Emmanuel Barratt, owner of the then Deepwater Hotel, and his friend William Thomas Cadell of Deepwater Station hatched the idea of holding a horse race on the station grounds.

The mobile screening van will be in Glen Innes from 2 February to 25 February 2026. BreastScreen NSW provides free breast screening to women to support the early detection of breast cancer. Rebecca Delaporte (Manager, BreastScreen NSW Hunter New England) says a regular breast screen is one of the most important things women can do for their health. “Detecting breast cancer early increases your chance of survival while reducing the likelihood of invasive treatment, such as mastectomy or chemotherapy. “Around 90 per cent of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history.

An exciting new chapter for Anzac Park is just days away, with the $1.2 million Nature Play Park now effectively complete. Only a few minor finishing items remain, and once these are signed off, the site is expected to be handed over to Council within the next 10–14 days. This new play space is one of the most significant recreation projects Council has delivered in recent years.

Glen Innes Severn Council is set to deliver a major boost for local rugby league, securing a $50,000 NSW Rugby League Infrastructure grant, matched by a previously allocated $50,000 Council contribution. The investment will see two new full-size playing and training fields completed at Kerry Mead Park - a significant step forward for the home of the Glen Innes Magpies.

The world’s best distance runners gathered in Florida on 10 January for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26, with more than 500 athletes from 65 countries competing on a demanding course of sand, mud, water and rolling hills. Flying the flag for Australia, local runner Kayden Elliot delivered an outstanding performance in the U20 men’s 8km race…

The Glen Innes Jockey Club warmly welcomes all to attend the Glen Innes Cup Meeting, scheduled for 10th January 2026. This much-anticipated event carries forward a rich tradition, exemplifying the very best of country racing. Each January, the Glen Innes Racecourse springs to life, drawing enthusiastic crowds from the New England Tablelands and far beyond. The Glen Innes Races are a true summer highlight, combining the charm of the countryside with vibrant fashion, thrilling racing action, and family-friendly entertainment.

Are you keeping a diary this year? Archibald Windeyer’s Deepwater Diary is a stark reminder of our early history - when bullock wagons travelling about 12 miles a day were the transport. Archibald and his family had sailed from Plymouth, landing in Sydney on 11th December 1838. ‘On 20th December 1838. William Collins left Sydney to take up property in New England having taken the steam boat to Williams River (i.e. Morpeth the head of navigation.) 13th July 1839. Collins returned from New England Sheep Station for supplies, another dray and bullocks, plough, harrows, seed etc., and to take up his family.

Thursday 8 January 2026 a local guest speaker Jennifer Mackenzie will be joining us at Glen Innes Severn Library. GROW & GLOW WITH EFA Join us for an inspirational evening with Youth Mentor Jennifer ‘Efa’ Mackenzie. Tap into your inner passion and gifts with Efa’s tips and tricks to boost confidence and get where you want to be in life.

“The Greatest Show in Town”: Glen Innes Prepares for Historic Annual Celebration Glen Innes is gearing up for one of the New England region’s most cherished events – the Glen Innes Show. Running for over 150 years, this iconic celebration, first held in 1869, is widely regarded as one of the finest agricultural shows in New South Wales, and often hailed as the Royal of the North. The 2026 show will take place from Friday, 13 February to Sunday, 15 February. A Jam-Packed Program Visitors can look forward to a full schedule across 39 sections, showcasing everything from livestock and equestrian events to folk art and local craftsmanship.

Anglican Church           CHRISTMAS EVE - 6.30pm Family Service - 11pm Book of Common Prayer Service            CHRISTMAS DAY - 9am Communion Service Crossroads Christian Church             CHRISTMAS DAY – 9am Oasis Community Church             CHRISTMAS DAY – 9.30am Presbyterian Church SUNDAY 22nd Dec – Heron Street Carols 7pm-8pm A service of Carols and Readings. Supper to follow. Uniting Church           CHRISTMAS EVE - 7:30 St Patrick’s Catholic Church          CHRISTMAS EVE  Family Mass 7pm (Carol singing from 6:45pm)          CHRISTMAS DAY Mass 9:00am

On behalf of the whole team at the Glen Innes News, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the people of Glen Innes and District for your fabulous support throughout the year—your encouragement, your scoops, your stories, and your wonderful photos. We love knowing what’s happening across our community, and we know you value this too. That’s the strength of truly local, independent media: sharing our lives, our joys, and the challenges of living in regional Australia.

Glen Innes News, and indeed our whole community, extends massive congratulations to the Class of 2025 on their fantastic results in the Higher School Certificate. Well done!!

Glen Innes locals and visitors are warmly invited to welcome the height of summer at the Australian Standing Stones this Sunday, 21 December, with a full day of community celebration hosted by the Australian Standing Stones Management Board. Across Celtic traditions, the Summer Solstice is a time of light, abundance and connection. From the ancient stone circles of Europe to our own national Celtic monument on the Beardy Plains, the solstice offers a moment to pause, reflect and enjoy our shared heritage in a beautiful natural setting.

Erosion to Emmaville Golf Club’s course has made accessing the fairways difficult but that is about to change with Member for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan delivering a grant for repairs and upgrades. $35,090 from the Community Building Partnership program will go towards levelling out a very eroded gully players have to cross. Mr Moylan said keeping community assets, like the Emmaville Golf Club, up to date is essential, particularly in our smaller villages.

Crofters Cottage, the popular café at the Standing Stones, is celebrating Christmas with a colouring competition for children — but time is running out to enter. The competition is open to three age groups: 0–5 years, 5–10 years and 10–15 years. To take part, children simply need to collect an entry form from Crofters Cottage, colour it in, and return it to the café by Saturday 20 December, when the competition closes.

This month's After Dark movie is to be screened on 18 December, the third Thursday of December, commencing at  6.30pm at the Glen Innes Severn Public and TAFE Library. The movie stars Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis in a comedy film of a couple trying to skip Christmas for a cruise, but end up scrambling to recreate the holiday when their daughter unexpectedly comes home. You may bring your dinner with you and light refreshments are provided. For more information contact the library on 67302600

Since 2022, The Glen Innes Highlands Lioness-Lions Club have coordinated ‘Hellies Christmas Drive’ – named in honour of a well-loved and valued community member, Hellen Jennings. For 15 years Helen had coordinated a similar drive for under privileged children in the Glen Innes area. The proceeds from this drive were always and will continue to be dispersed through the office of Glen Innes Youth and Family Support Service.

On 26 January 2025, Glen Innes celebrated the outstanding contributions of local volunteers during the annual Australia Day Awards, highlighting the remarkable dedication of individuals and groups across the community. Jenny and Robert Thomas were named 2025 Citizens of the Year for their tireless volunteer work. Known as quiet achievers, the couple contributes to a range of local organisations, including Karinya Homes Inc, the Bowls Club, the cemetery committee, the History House Museum, and the Australia Day Committee. “Our community is strong, evident through the depth of nominations this year,” they said.

On the 2nd November, the Glen Innes Art Gallery was proud to induct our first patrons. Mr Howard Eastwood, not only a sponsor, previous committee member and volunteer, had also been on the steering committee after the first public meeting held by the then Mayor, Mr Bob Dwyer. Mr Denis Haselwood, a very well-known supporter of the arts, committee member and volunteer was also inducted.