Latest news with #Armidale
The Guardian
23-05-2025
- Climate
- The Guardian
NSW floods: personal hardship grants on the way as disaster assistance expanded
NSW premier Chris Minns has announced that personal hardship grants of $180 per individual or $900 per family be available soon to help those affected by the severe floods in the state. Anthony Albanese also announced that disaster assistance measures, which had previously been activated for 16 local government areas, have now been extended to three more: Armidale, Muswellbrook and Walcha.
Sydney Morning Herald
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Race-by-race tips and previews for Friday's meeting at Inverell
Track soft 5 and rail true. RACE 1 1. Ring Ahoy is a tough finisher well into his prep, which made up plenty of ground from a wide draw in a much deeper Saturday class 3 Highway. The seven-day turnaround is a strong stable pointer, along with the extra furlong, and he can settle closer in the run here and be very strong late. 5. Descending Mist has not finished further back than second in his past four, and while this is tougher, he draws to get a handy trail just off the speed. 6. Everlasting Kiss draws wide, but looks fairly placed coming back from an even effort in provincial company. 3. Mindspace also draws off the track, but gets a timely drop in class fifth up. 9. Brave Boy, down in weight, and 12. Bill Peyto, suited over a furlong further, both go into trifecta and first four plays in what is an open race. How to play it: Ring Ahoy to win. RACE 2 1. City Gold Speed stuck on OK making his debut behind a dominant and odds-on winner in a much better maiden on Scone Cup day. Will appreciate this line-up on a firmer track, importantly backing up in seven days. 4. Zouandme is the immediate threat second up from a low draw, and also benefiting from firmer going. 5. Bobby Is King has more than enough ability second up, but has to get over from a wide gate. 13. Hefty Price is a market watch resuming without the winkers, while 6. Casino Collection is a second-start improver with a far more experienced jockey taking over. How to play it: City Gold Speed to win, RACE 3 7. Sugar Osland is an improving Queensland-based three-year-old well placed to break through third up. Was only fair to the line when resuming at home before hitting the line to miss by less than a length in a better maiden at Ipswich. That run reads well for his crossing the border over more ground, and is drawn to get good cover a few lengths off the speed. Watch the betting on 1. Marin County, a US-bred filly on debut behind a 23-week break for the Brett Cavanough stable, in his first Australian run since landing from the UK. 4. Ju Two is another lightly raced Scone raider drawn to be in the finish second up. Gap to the rest, headed by 3. Homeland, which gets key gear changes fifth up, but drawn wide, while 2. Comancheria is an ex-Victorian capable of running into the minor money at big odds on his first outing for the new Armidale stable. How to play it: Sugar Island to win. 13. Ol' Mate Coop is a promising and lightly raced two-year-old that can progress off a fast-finishing fresh run at Grafton to strike over a shade further against the older horses. The winner ran a record that day, and he's drawn to park closer in the run. Only needs clear air from the 400m. 12. Four Degrees was rock solid on debut at Mudgee, and drawn to get a soft run right behind the speed. 6. Bouvier is another big market watch, a former UK filly by Invincible Spirit and first up in Australia for the new Brett Cavanough stable. Has placed in five from six starts, although seemingly more effective over further. 11. Show Us Ya Texts is an each-way chance on debut for the Lyle Chandler yard behind two progressive trials, while 7. Gold Puma at big odds improves into his second start. How to play it: Ol' Mate Coop to win.
The Age
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Race-by-race tips and previews for Friday's meeting at Inverell
Track soft 5 and rail true. RACE 1 1. Ring Ahoy is a tough finisher well into his prep, which made up plenty of ground from a wide draw in a much deeper Saturday class 3 Highway. The seven-day turnaround is a strong stable pointer, along with the extra furlong, and he can settle closer in the run here and be very strong late. 5. Descending Mist has not finished further back than second in his past four, and while this is tougher, he draws to get a handy trail just off the speed. 6. Everlasting Kiss draws wide, but looks fairly placed coming back from an even effort in provincial company. 3. Mindspace also draws off the track, but gets a timely drop in class fifth up. 9. Brave Boy, down in weight, and 12. Bill Peyto, suited over a furlong further, both go into trifecta and first four plays in what is an open race. How to play it: Ring Ahoy to win. RACE 2 1. City Gold Speed stuck on OK making his debut behind a dominant and odds-on winner in a much better maiden on Scone Cup day. Will appreciate this line-up on a firmer track, importantly backing up in seven days. 4. Zouandme is the immediate threat second up from a low draw, and also benefiting from firmer going. 5. Bobby Is King has more than enough ability second up, but has to get over from a wide gate. 13. Hefty Price is a market watch resuming without the winkers, while 6. Casino Collection is a second-start improver with a far more experienced jockey taking over. How to play it: City Gold Speed to win, RACE 3 7. Sugar Osland is an improving Queensland-based three-year-old well placed to break through third up. Was only fair to the line when resuming at home before hitting the line to miss by less than a length in a better maiden at Ipswich. That run reads well for his crossing the border over more ground, and is drawn to get good cover a few lengths off the speed. Watch the betting on 1. Marin County, a US-bred filly on debut behind a 23-week break for the Brett Cavanough stable, in his first Australian run since landing from the UK. 4. Ju Two is another lightly raced Scone raider drawn to be in the finish second up. Gap to the rest, headed by 3. Homeland, which gets key gear changes fifth up, but drawn wide, while 2. Comancheria is an ex-Victorian capable of running into the minor money at big odds on his first outing for the new Armidale stable. How to play it: Sugar Island to win. 13. Ol' Mate Coop is a promising and lightly raced two-year-old that can progress off a fast-finishing fresh run at Grafton to strike over a shade further against the older horses. The winner ran a record that day, and he's drawn to park closer in the run. Only needs clear air from the 400m. 12. Four Degrees was rock solid on debut at Mudgee, and drawn to get a soft run right behind the speed. 6. Bouvier is another big market watch, a former UK filly by Invincible Spirit and first up in Australia for the new Brett Cavanough stable. Has placed in five from six starts, although seemingly more effective over further. 11. Show Us Ya Texts is an each-way chance on debut for the Lyle Chandler yard behind two progressive trials, while 7. Gold Puma at big odds improves into his second start. How to play it: Ol' Mate Coop to win.
News.com.au
11-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Preview: Stirling Osland confident stunning debut winner Calico Miss can repeat the dose at Quirindi
ONE of the most impressive debut winners in the Northwest region so far this year will strive to make the quantum leap from a maiden to a Class 1 when she returns to Quirindi on Monday. Calico Miss, a Scone-bred, Armidale housed three-year-old filly, landed some substantial wagers when she burst away from her nine rivals to win her 1200m Maiden debut on April 29. 'She is a very nice horse,'' Osland said. 'We thought we would run her on New Year's Day but she went a bit shinny so she went to the paddock. 'We always thought she was a nice horse. 'She works well and does everything right, I thought she raced pretty tractably at her first start and didn't do a lot wrong in the running. 'She put herself everywhere she needed to be.' Calico Miss was given the perfect steer by prolific winning jockey Mikayla Weir at Quirindi 12-days ago. She'll need an even better ride this time given Calico Miss swaps barrier one for 13 which has unsettled her trainer somewhat. 'I'm still a little undecided given the sticky draw at Quirindi whether we go around there or go to Scone on Friday where there is a Class 1 on Cup Day,'' Osland said. 'If there are a few scratchings and the draw looks a bit more favourable, we'll go around at Quirindi but if it holds as it is, we'll be going around at Scone. 'I just get a little bit worried, Quirindi being a tight track, that being drawn wide and lightly-raced, we can get ourselves beaten by bad luck rather than ability.' Calico Miss is a long way off retirement but is sure to become a valued and welcome member of the elite Ramsey Pastoral broodmare band when the time comes. The filly is one of only 20 foals sired by Better Land which was narrowly beaten in the Rosebud and Up And Coming Stakes early on his career. Better Land's dam, Amelia's Dream, will forever be remembered as 'the Golden Slipper winner that wasn't' given her sensational withdrawal from the 2008 juvenile feature in the wake of her epic six-lengths win in the Silver Slipper. On top of that, Calico Miss can lay claim to being a member of one the most influential female families in the Australia Stud Book. All of its ongoing success can be traced directly to the Grand Chaudiere mare, Easy Date, whose four stakes-winners include the two fillies. Asawir and True Blonde, as a Apollo Stakes winner Quick Score and Max Lees' Champion Sprinter and later Champion Sire, Snippets. Meanwhile, Osland and Weir will combine early on the Quirindi card today when and where Skit 'N' Skat contests the Jockey Club Maiden Plate over 1450m. The five-year-old had his first three career starts under the care of John O'Shea, finishing second at Kembla on debut. His last start for O'Shea was an eye-catching, closing fourth, at Goulburn almost 12 months to the day that he made his Osland stable debut at his new home at Armidale. 'It looked he needed the run bad and was carrying a heap of weight,'' Osland said. 'He travelled nice then his legs got heavy and he blew out so obviously a couple of weeks between runs will tighten him up a bit so he should improve. 'He's got a sticky draw at Quirindi which doesn't but I am definitely heaps happier with him.'
ABC News
07-05-2025
- ABC News
Former UNE vice chancellor Brigid Heywood sentenced for offensive behaviour
A former University of New England vice chancellor has received no conviction after pleading guilty to behaving in an offensive manner. Brigid Heywood, 68, was due to face a week-long hearing for common assault and offensive behaviour this week. But Ms Heywood pleaded guilty to the lesser offence on Monday when the prosecution withdrew the assault charge. Her defence sought during her sentencing hearing on Wednesday for the outcome of the case to be suppressed, preventing any publication for a year. However, Magistrate Michael Holmes declined the request. The court heard Ms Heywood was a guest speaker at an International Women's Day event in Armidale in March, 2022. A 15-year-old girl who was also attending the event had a photo taken with the then-vice chancellor along with some fellow students. The court heard Ms Heywood later interrupted an exchange between the girl and another academic. Ms Heywood said to the girl: "Oh really, I didn't realise you were brown." The court heard she then licked her finger and wiped it on the girl's face. Brigid Heywood covers her face as she leaves Armidale Courthouse with lawyer Simon Buchan. ( ABC News: Liana Boss ) Apology read out Defence barrister Simon Buchen SC tendered expert medical evidence detailing his client's severe mental health difficulties since the case had been before the court. He read aloud a letter of apology, addressed to the magistrate. "I was shocked when informed my brief interaction with this student caused her distress," Ms Heywood said in the letter read to the court. " It was never my intention to cause distress to any young female … participating in the celebration of and for women's rights. " The letter spoke of the heavy toll the situation had taken. "I've reflected on all of this every day since," she wrote. "I've lost my career, my professional reputation and a job I dearly loved after some 40 years of being involved in higher education and regional economic development. "It was never, and nor would it ever be, my intention to cause upset or distress to a student or any individual." Mr Buchan said the offence could be summed up as "a momentary and bizarre and inconceivable lapse" which was "entirely out of character". "It was a bizarre and momentary aberration from a life of exemplary service," Mr Buchan said. Mr Holmes said the conduct had "given offence" to the girl involved, "no matter how it was intended". Mr Buchan said Ms Heywood's conduct was "not motivated by racism". Mr Buchan told the court Ms Heywood, who held other "very important appointments" during her career, had seen her career crumble since the allegations were made against her. "She has been deeply hurt and pained … as a good person who has been through deep torment and agony," he said. Career loss Mr Buchan said Ms Heywood's extra curial consequences had been disproportionate to the offence, including the "irretrievable loss of an illustrious career". "She has been subject to adverse media reporting which has effectively destroyed her reputation, she was subject to an online campaign of rancour and hatred," Mr Buchan said. "She had to resign as the vice chancellor of the University of New England." Mr Buchan asked the court to consider not imposing a conviction. He said Ms Heywood was devastated to leave her job and her community of Armidale because of the allegations. The prosecutor did not oppose a non-conviction result, but highlighted that it had taken more than three years for Ms Heywood to enter a guilty plea. He also focused on the "ongoing emotional effect" the 2022 exchange had on the girl. "Because of this matter, the family left the state," he said. Brigid Heywood leaves court in Armidale with Simon Buchan (left) and Tom Taylor. ( ABC News: Liana Boss ) Magistrate Holmes noted Ms Heywood came before the court with a clear criminal record. He acknowledged she had a glittering career and was a person of great significance in the community. "Her behaviour could be described as foolish, lacking a good sense of judgement, or being unwise in what she did," Mr Holmes said. "She also acted in an unconsidered way, or at worst, a boorish behaviour.
