Young news, sport and weather | The Young Witness | Young, NSW

A burnt landscape at the Jerrawangala National Park from the NSW Tianjara Fire. Photo: Dion Georgopoulous

FREEScorched, in seven days: A look back at the week that was

Walk of Fame inductee Maurice Penson, his son Brad Penson and daughter-in-law Cathy Penson on Tuesday morning. Photo: Peter Guthrie

Plaque honouring Maurice Penson added to Sports Walk of Fame

Peter Guthrie

Firefighters work on fire near Pialligo Road. Picture: Elesa Kurtz

LIVEFire emergency shuts Canberra Airport

20m ago

The dust storm in William Street, Bathurst.

PHOTOSSee photos as the dust storm blankets the region

Nadine Morton
1hr ago

IN CHARGE: NSW Rural Fire Service Superintendent Karen Hodges was in charge of the massive Gospers Mountain bushfire. Photo: GEOFF JONES 012020fire2

The tough days during the Gospers Mountain bushfire: RFS boss

Nadine Morton
2hrs ago

STAY SAFE: NSW Police Western Region Traffic Tactician Acting Inspector Jason Bush will be among the extra officers on patrol this long weekend. Photo: BELINDA SOOLE

Top highway cop urges motorists to take it easy on the roads

Nadine Morton

BIRTH RATES: Cowra, Parkes, Hilltops and Cootamundra-Gundagai birth rates under the spotlight. Photo: FILE

Booming baby numbers are growing regional towns

Nadine Morton

A burnt landscape at the Jerrawangala National Park from the NSW Tianjara Fire. Photo: Dion Georgopoulous

FREEScorched, in seven days: A look back at the week that was

Walk of Fame inductee Maurice Penson, his son Brad Penson and daughter-in-law Cathy Penson on Tuesday morning. Photo: Peter Guthrie

Plaque honouring Maurice Penson added to Sports Walk of Fame

Peter Guthrie

Stacey Wilson from Milton Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong

Heroes of the Home Front: Share your stories of gratitude

The Sing brothers, Brock and Clay, at the 2019 Sports Advisory Committee Awards with special guest Paralympic gold medal winner Scott Reardon. Photo: file

Sing brothers crack Canberra's Harold Matthews squad

Peter Guthrie

Lachlan Berry.

Mini trotters feature at Young Paceway on Tuesday night

John Grant crashes over for a try while playing for Cowra Magpies in Group 10. Photo: file

Cherrypickers announce first major signings of 2020

Peter Guthrie

The Sing brothers, Brock and Clay, at the 2019 Sports Advisory Committee Awards with special guest Paralympic gold medal winner Scott Reardon. Photo: file

Sing brothers crack Canberra's Harold Matthews squad

Play Up A Storm (blue silks), trained and driven by Young's John Vautin, wins the Southwest Tractors Young Pace (2100m) at the Paceway on Tuesday night. Photo: Peter Guthrie

Vautin salutes with Play Up A Storm in opening race

Stuart Maxwell

Walk of Fame inductee Maurice Penson, his son Brad Penson and daughter-in-law Cathy Penson on Tuesday morning. Photo: Peter Guthrie

Plaque honouring Maurice Penson added to Sports Walk of Fame

Peter Guthrie

Balloons at sunrise over Goreme, Cappadocia, Turkey. Photo: Nicole Phillips

Finding a magical fairyland in Cappadocia

Nicole Phillips

PRIZE: You could win a cruise from London to Bergen, via Nordkapp and the Norwegian fjords, in Explore. Entries open on Saturday.

Win a cruise to Norway - and other great travel ideas

Why Sicily is a must-see destination in Italy

Why Sicily is a must-see destination in Italy

Nicole Phillips

BIRTH RATES: Cowra, Parkes, Hilltops and Cootamundra-Gundagai birth rates under the spotlight. Photo: FILE

Booming baby numbers are growing regional towns

Nadine Morton

What's happening around the Hilltops?

What's happening around the Hilltops?

Carlos by Candlelight at Carrington Park. Photo: file

Talking Tourism: Carols by Candlelight at Carrington Park

BIRTH RATES: Cowra, Parkes, Hilltops and Cootamundra-Gundagai birth rates under the spotlight. Photo: FILE

Booming baby numbers are growing regional towns

Cherry King David Munnerley.

David Munnerley crowned 2019 Cherry King

Peter Guthrie

Simon Taboury launches his winning pip into the air during Sunday's National Cherry Festival Pip Spit Competition. He registered a distance of 11.6m. Photo: Peter Guthrie

Cherry pip launched 11.6m in annual pip spit competition

Peter Guthrie

Have a break: This summer explore more of our vast continent without worrying about network coverage. With Pennytel you can get 98.8 per cent coverage across Australia's populated areas.

Keeping covered this summer

Could this be the perfect Christmas present?

Could this be the perfect Christmas present?

Emma Brown

Leadership qualities: Kate Venables was one of the first managers in Australia to receive Chartered Manager accreditation.

The making of a leader

Sponsored content

Have a break: This summer explore more of our vast continent without worrying about network coverage. With Pennytel you can get 98.8 per cent coverage across Australia's populated areas.

Keeping covered this summer

The time leading up to Christmas is rife with offers too good to resist. So make the most of them early, like this Nokia phone offer from Pennytel, which can help you prepare for the good times ahead and even finish your shopping.

'Tis the way to stay in touch this Christmas

HAND UP: Collaborative AI, in which people and AI team up, will change the way we work.

Collaborate: AI can be your friend

Ben Jackson

GOING UP: How does your weekly rent compare to your town's average? Check out the latest Domain Rental Report. Photo: FILE

More money needed to rent homes, units in region

Nadine Morton

RENTAL MARKET: The region's most expensive place to rent revealed in new data. Photo: FILE

Region's rising rental costs, with one town jumping by 14 per cent

Nadine Morton

REAL ESTATE: Here's what $350,000 will buy you around the Central West and Orana. Photo: FILE

PHOTOSWhat $350,000 buys you around the Central West, Orana

Nadine Morton

TAKING CARE: Animals, just like people, can be seriously affected by smoke haze.

Helping animals cope with those not-so-happy, hazy days

RSPCA

I WILL RETURN: Scottish man Matteo Chiari, 28, was convinced by a mate from Parkes to attend this year's Parkes Elvis Festival and he's already said he'll be back. Photo: Christine Little

Scottish Elvis travels thousands of kilometres for festival and vows he'll be back

Christine Little

REHEARSAL: Members of the Elvis Gospel Choir, from left, Joseph Bondareff, Michelle Jelbart, Louise Moore, Neil Naveau, Tom Rivett, Pamela Ward, Mal Westcott, Bob Strickland, Eileen Bradley, Joan Paul, Dawn Wakefield and Neil Westcott. Photo: Christine Little

WHAT'S ONElvis' love for gospel music brings people together by the thousands

Christine Little

TAKING CARE: Animals, just like people, can be seriously affected by smoke haze.

Helping animals cope with those not-so-happy, hazy days

THINK AHEAD: A simple strategy can mean the difference between life and death.

Plan to survive - an emergency bushfire guide for your pets

Lyndell Whyte

NO FUN: While we may relish fabulous fireworks displays, often our pets do not.

Big bang theory ... a fireworks survival guide for pet owners

Lyndell Whyte

The dust storm in William Street, Bathurst.

PHOTOSSee photos as the dust storm blankets the region

1hr ago

IN CHARGE: NSW Rural Fire Service Superintendent Karen Hodges was in charge of the massive Gospers Mountain bushfire. Photo: GEOFF JONES 012020fire2

The tough days during the Gospers Mountain bushfire: RFS boss

2hrs ago

DUSTY DAY: Raised dust and an afternoon thunderstorm is predicted across the region on Thursday afternoon. Reader Wendy Johnson took this photo of a dust storm earlier this week.

Dust, thunderstorms predicted to end a very hot day

Lachlan Berry.

Mini trotters feature at Young Paceway on Tuesday night

Think you might have "survivor guilt"? Photo: Shutterstock

REAL AUSTRALIAThink the Summer of the Not-So-Random Apocalypse didn't impact you? Think again

Janine Graham

HAY NOW: Cowell farmer Brenton Smith welcomes the donation as feed dries up in the district.

Hay arrives in Cowell following benefit concert

Rachel McDonald

Sheila Bower looks over the remains of what was her car port, including a speaker which flew more than 30 feet. Picture: Kate Healy

Burrumbeet unofficially records more than 200mm of rain in a few hours

Greg Gliddon and Pat Nolan

Photo: Sandra Buchler

PHOTOSDozens of photos from the dust storm that descended on the region

Nadine Morton

The plot twists but the inner goth remains

OPINIONThe plot twists but the inner goth remains

Marie Low

Lucky country goes into uncharted territory

OPINIONLucky country goes into uncharted territory

Marie Low

Ole! Ole! Or actually not, as the case may be

OPINIONOle! Ole! Or actually not, as the case may be

Janine Graham

REUNITED: Valda Dawson (left) with cousin, and neighbour, Dorothy Wallis.

Cousins reunited after six decades

Geraldine Cardozo

JUST LOVING IT: See Aussie singing legend John Paul Young. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

JPY shares the love

Cheryl Field

MULTI-LEVEL: The Smart Road vertical village will comprise 77 independent living apartments and community amenities, including a Montessori Early Learning Centre.

Vertical living: A smart idea for generations

Geraldine Cardozo

Over 100 workers at Melbourne's West Gate Tunnel project construction could lose their jobs.

Melbourne tunnel workers losing jobs

4m ago

Most passengers and crew on board a flight from Wuhan that landed in Sydney wore face masks.

No ill passengers on Wuhan flight into Syd

13m ago

A quicker test is being developed to diagnose coronavirus, as Australia steps up border control.

Scientists seek quick test for coronavirus

32m ago

Cancer conwoman Belle Gibson has surfaced at a Melbourne-based Ethiopian community meeting.

Cancer con Belle Gibson goes Ethiopian

36m ago

Residents have been told it's too late to leave as a merged bushfire burns in Canberra.

Bushfires force Canberra airport closure

Paul Osborne
37m ago

Helicopters are trying to locate the missing tanker, that went missing in the Snowy Mountains on Thursday afternoon. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong

BREAKINGRFS investigating disappearance of air tanker over Snowy Monaro region

Doug Dingwall
38m ago

NSW minister David Elliott has rebuked charities for taking time to distribute bushfire donations.

Pull your finger out: NSW MPs to charities

AAP reporters
1hr ago

The SA government has announced measures to support school students impacted by bushfires.

Bushfire hit students in SA to get help

1hr ago

Milk- and two-tooth Hereford steers, 417kg, from Frank Hannigan, Woodview, sold for 312c/kg or $1358 to Mort and Co feedlots, Darling Downs, Qld, at Casino on Wednesday.

Welcome rise after rain

Jamie Brown
1hr ago

State regional judge, Paul Parker, Young, presents the award of farming excellence to Jon, Jenny and Kevin Kilby, Inglewood, Gilgandra, with competition coordinator, Tom Dwyer. The award recognises excellent farm management.

Farming excellence award presented to Kilby family, Gilgandra

Mark Griggs

January has seen a return of more typical wet and stormy weather patterns that were notably absent over NSW during December.

Fire threat returns, with stormy days ahead

BY BEN DOMENSINO, Weatherzone

NO BEEF: McDonald's new veggie burger is a straight-up-and-down vegetable patty, not a beef look-a-like.

When's a veggie burger a real veggie burger?

Shan Goodwin

Should lamington-flavoured hot cross buns be a thing?

Should lamington-flavoured hot cross buns be a thing?

Do your research pre-build

Do your research pre-build