News Archives - Gunnedah Times

Ireland-born priest who Catholics ‘owe a deep debt of gratitude’

When Fr Daniel Keane came to Gunnedah from Ireland, he began a ministry that would last close to 40 years and see the construction of the heritage St Joseph’s Catholic Church 107 years ago. A newspaper article published after Fr Keane’s death, on August 31, 1944, described him as “one of the pioneers of the great spaces to whom Australian Catholics owe a deep debt of gratitude”. All shops and offices were closed as a ‘tribute to a great citizen’ and the funeral procession stretched from the church to the Hunter Street cemetery. Before the advent of the motorcar, Fr […]

Jan 21, 2025

Gunnedah’s 2024 Australia Day recipients reflect on recognition

As Gunnedah prepares to announce its 2025 Australia Day Awards next week, the Gunnedah Times reflects with last year’s award recipients about their community recognition. The 2024 Citizen of the Year Marie Hobson was recognised for her “outstanding contribution” to the Gunnedah community as both as “highly respected professional journalist as well as a valued volunteer”. “To say that I felt very honoured and privileged to receive the Citizen of the Year award is an understatement,” Marie said earlier this week. “I felt extremely humbled when I was nominated – and to have my name announced at the Australia Day […]

Jan 21, 2025

Gunnedah subdivision faces roadblock

An $80,000 concrete causeway to service just one neighbouring property has brought a rural subdivision to a standstill before it even started. Emerge Developments – owned and operated by Gunnedah’s Avard family – is seeking to develop six, small acreage lots off Eveleigh Road, south of Gunnedah. The proposed blocks are an extension of an existing, 41-lot rural residential subdivision which the Avards have been developing in the foothills of Porcupine Reserve for the last 15 years. The developers already have Gunnedah Shire Council’s approval for the new development but only if the water is re-directed in the opposite direction […]

Jan 20, 2025

Fee relief for families of preschool children

Families of at least 200,000 children across NSW will be eligible to access fee relief at early childhood education providers this year. Families can now apply for fee relief at their chosen early childhood education and care service for this year. Eligible services will pass on the savings as a weekly reduction in fees. From January 1, 2025, NSW families can receive: – Up to $4347 a year for three- to five-year-olds attending eligible community and mobile preschools; – Up to $2174 a year for children aged four and above attending eligible preschool programs in long day care services. This […]

Jan 20, 2025