Bourke, outback NSW, has not seen meaningful rain in seven years and while its 2,500 residents prepare for unprecedented water restrictions, their dire plight has helped propel environmental concerns into NSW's political spotlight.

Graziers have turned to the help of a landscape ecologist to battle severe drought in rain-starved areas of far western New South Wales.

As a federal election and what should be the southern wet season approach, attention is returning to the drought. So where are we at?

A group of shearers tired of losing loved ones to suicide hope that, by sharing their stories, they can spark a broader conversation about mental health in regional areas.

Jack Absalom led an unconventional life and was best-known for his landscape paintings and bush survival skills, which were televised to the nation by the ABC.

The re-election of the Berejiklian Government for a third term has provided a morale boost for the federal Liberals, but any relief being felt will be tempered by a much bigger problem: what to do about voter discontent in the bush.

The most remote voters in New South Wales say they feel forgotten by politicians as the state election draws closer.

For the past four years Broken Hill's Indigenous community has welcomed all new public school teachers to the area with a cultural induction they hope will improve education for all students.

Extreme drought conditions have all but dried up the Barwon River in western NSW, and now the unprecedented dry has exposed an extraordinary piece of maritime history.

NSW's water woes extend beyond the farm gate and its impact on the local environment water is intimately linked to the strength of regional economies. And many are struggling.

From veterans to millennials, two-up is a celebrated pastime on Anzac Day. But why do we play it?

The headstones at Broken Hill's cemetery tell the story not only of the city's colourful history, but the progression of workers' rights.

Amid the mass fish kills and the ongoing drought, residents of Menindee in outback NSW hope a festival will be the first of many positives that draw tourists back to the region.

As a maintenance man, Peter Crawford knows better than most that one of the hazards of underground living is the question of who might drop in.

When 11-year-old Max Day broke his leg and dislocated his hip coming off a motorbike on a remote station in the far north-west corner of New South Wales, a well-practised network kicked into action.

Twenty-five years since The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert shone a light on homophobia in the outback, the landscape has changed in regional Australia.

As landowners clean out enormous water tanks in the hope of rain, their fond childhood memories of swimming in tanks and troughs are in stark contrast to today's dry and parched landscape.

Locals are worried for the future of the small NSW town of Ivanhoe, but a colourful truck and tractor show brought in crowds about three times the size of its population.

Western Australian farmers have welcomed the State Government's announcement to relax the controversial laws on land clearing.

An organisation which has been highly critical of Western Australia's land clearing regulations says the way the issue is approached needs to significantly change.

A new strategy to reduce fatal shark attacks is being implemented with baited drum lines to be set along popular beaches in Perth and the South West. Sharks will also be caught and killed if they enter zones near those beaches because they will be considered an imminent threat. The measures follow six fatal attacks by sharks in WA in two years. Opponents say sharks deserve respect and protection.

The plan to set out bait for large sharks near popular WA beaches has been criticised over concerns it could attract them into swimming areas, but others back the move.

The state Opposition Leader Mark McGowan has labelled as "out of control" fee increases for TAFE courses from next year. The Government flagged the increases months ago but the new fees were only published yesterday. Mr McGowan says the cost of a Diploma of Nursing will rise 390 per cent next year. He says the increases will result in fewer people enrolling and lead to skills shortages.

Travel back through time with us and take a look at 2013 in the South Coast and Great Southern.