ABC Western Plains

11/08/2025

The nation's financial crimes intelligence agency warns one in four NSW club poker machines could be vulnerable to money laundering and terrorism financing after a monitoring program "systemically failed".

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The nation's financial crimes intelligence agency warns one in four NSW club poker machines could be vulnerable to money laundering and terrorism financing after a monitoring program "systemically failed".

08/08/2025

Flood ☔ Information: Monday – moderate flooding near peak at Bugilbone (via BOM)

💧 Namoi River📍 Bugilbone, Goangra
⚬ Bugilbone at moderate and nearing flood peak - will remain above moderate today and tomorrow.
⚬ Goangra may exceed moderate flood level from around Wednesday, reaching around 7.50 m by Friday. Minor flooding is currently occurring.

ℹ️ ABC Emergency: ab.co/ABC-NSW
⚬ Bureau of Meteorology: ab.co/BOMNSW
⚬ SES warnings: www.hazardwatch.gov.au

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08/08/2025

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains the name and image of a person who has died.

A New South Wales coroner at an inquest in Dubbo recommends Corrective Services review its systems for informing families, after a father misses the chance to say a final goodbye to his dying son.

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A New South Wales coroner recommends Corrective Services review its systems for informing families, after a father misses the chance to say a final goodbye to his dying son.

06/08/2025

Meet Nguvu, Mzuri and Kaari! 🦁

Born in February, the three cubs at Taronga Western Plains Zoo have been named just in time for World Lion Day on Sunday.

The male cub is named Nguvu [NOO-voo], a Swahili word meaning ‘strength’, one of his sisters is Mzuri [muh-ZOO-ree], meaning ‘good’ or ‘beautiful’ and their other sister is Kaari [CAR-ree], a name meaning‘young girl’ or ‘daughter’ in Kenyan culture.

“It’s really important for us to get a gauge on their personalities when choosing names, and we think the names suit them well. We like names that reflect their homeland, and that are easy to pronounce and spell as well” says senior lion keeper Melanie Friedman.

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05/08/2025

Congratulations to Narromine High School who have been recognised for their Wellbeing Hub at the 2025 Public Education Awards.

Winning the Secretary's award for Outstanding School Achievement, the school was acknowledged for the program which integrates diverse health services, including a GP, paediatrician, exercise physiologist and mental health support.

Read more about the success of the Wellbeing Hub: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-30/narromine-social-wellbeing-hub-popular-with-students-families/104576414

📷 Lucy Burns, Rebecca Kennedy and Erin Burns

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04/08/2025

Detectives are appealing for information following two break-ins in the Orana region last month.

About 12.30am on Tuesday July 1st, a light rigid truck carrying power and concreting tools was allegedly stolen from a construction site on Bunglegumbie Road Dubbo.

About 3:35am the truck was allegedly used in a break and enter at a business on McGrane Way Narromine where power tools, cash, drinks and a battery charger was stolen.

About an hour later the truck was allegedly used in an attempted break-in at another business on Craigie Lea Lane Narromine.

Emergency services were later called to a truck on fire in bushland on Budden’s Road Dubbo, about 8.30am.

NSW Rural Fire Service attended and extinguished the blaze, however; the truck was destroyed.

As inquiries continue, anyone with information or has dashcam footage in these locations between 12.30am and 8:30am on Tuesday 1 July 2025, is urged to contact Dubbo Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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04/08/2025

Police are renewing their appeal for information, as they search for a man who allegedly crash-tackled a police officer leaving him unconscious on the side of the road in Dubbo last year.

In the early hours of December 7 a police sergeant approached a vehicle stopped in the middle of North Minore Road, about 20 kilometres west of Dubbo.

The male driver, described as being of a large build with a beard, allegedly tackled and assaulted the officer, before fleeing the scene.

The officer managed to call for help, but was later found unconscious and treated for a head injury at Dubbo hospital.

Police say the officer has since been released and are urging anyone with information to contact Dubbo police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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01/08/2025

A piano rescued from floods in the 1990s breathes new life into an outback NSW community selected for the ABC's Pop-Up Piano project.

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A piano rescued from floods in the 1990s breathes new life into an outback NSW community selected for the ABC's Pop-Up Piano project.

31/07/2025

The Member for Barwon has welcomed $12.6 million from the state government to build two new women's refuges in the Coonamble and Walgett Shires.

The refuges will include self-contained units alongside a core of shared support services such as counselling, legal assistance, education, employment programs and child-friendly spaces.

MP Roy Butler says safe housing for women and children fleeing violence helps them overcome one of the biggest barriers to leaving.

Minister the Prevention of Domestic Violence Jodie Harrison says the Walgett Shire refuge will be built by Murdi Paaki Regional Housing Corporation Ltd, while Orana Support will facilitate the Coonamble shire refuge.

📷 Barwon MP Roy Butler, Minister the Prevention of Domestic Violence Jodie Harrison, Murdi Paaki's Paul Kemp, Mission's Ann Winterton.

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31/07/2025

A cold and wet week across NSW will culminate this weekend in heavy rain, strong winds and powerful surf along the coast.

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A cold and wet week across NSW will culminate this weekend in heavy rain, strong winds and powerful surf along the coast.

31/07/2025

Farmers are concerned NSW will be vulnerable to biosecurity and climate threats if job cuts at the state's Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development go ahead.

All jobs at the department's Wollongbar environmental lab would be lost under the planned cuts, with the lab relocated to Wagga Wagga.

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Farmers working to combat biosecurity threats say proposed cuts to research roles at the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development could not come at a worse time.

30/07/2025

About 100 non-teaching roles could be axed from TAFE NSW sites across the state.

It's the third government agency to announce plans to cut jobs in the past week.

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The planned cuts of around 100 non-teaching jobs at TAFE NSW has been announced despite the Minns Labor government adding 500 positions to the institution since 2023.