Gail Baker's dying wish has been granted, with her sister allowed a travel exemption to fly to Australia from New Zealand to care for her in her final days.

The Australian Red Cross and Salvation Army have so far paid out fewer than half the donations they received to help Black Summer bushfire victims — with one charity claiming it's had to sift through more than 1,000 fraudulent claims.

Last week the ABC published the story behind a tiny 66-year-old handprint found in a garden shed. After seeing the story, family and friends have now filled in the details about the life, and tragic death of Ian Redman.

The only unburnt area of bushland around the Conjola National Park, on the South Coast, is set to be cleared this week for a new housing development.

Three girls accused of attacking another teen near Wollongong face a maximum 25 years behind bars if found guilty of the shopping centre assault.

Sick of isolation? It might be time to explore the slow TV genre. From the comfort of your lounge room you can cruise down the Manning River as video producers live stream their tranquil journey.

It was the New South Wales rail disaster that killed six people and injured 100 more. Some of those on board share their recollections of that day.

In the five months since her house was destroyed, Tod Adams has been at war with government agencies because the Fires Near Me app suggests her home was not affected.

NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance abandons his bid to enter federal Parliament less than 24 hours after announcing he would seek Liberal pre-selection at the Eden-Monaro by-election.

A court hears the NSW Rural Fire Service may ask the state's Attorney-General to relax restrictions so it can distribute the $51.3 million raised by comedian Celeste Barber to help victims of the Black Summer bushfires.

Farmers want a 30 cent to 40-cent levy imposed on dairy products to ensure the industry has a future.

Police have called for fresh details about a woman who was found murdered in the state's north west in January.

Over $340,000 raised by celebrity bushfire relief concert Fire Aid 2020 is being pre-loaded onto EFTPOS cards linked to local businesses, tackling two disasters with one innovative idea.

As retail stores across Australia gradually start reopening their doors, a New South Wales economist is warning consumers to be cautious about their return.

The wonderful The Angels' Share reminds us that Loach's best work is always lit with flashes of humour as well as brilliant ensemble work between actors.

There's nothing like a singalong and plenty in the audience did just that at last Friday night's performance of a local production that has been circulating around the North Coast for a year now.

A crazy bunch of clowns on a sensory journey

It is fair to say that any new Tim Winton book, play, film or short story is welcomed with open arms by Western Australians.

A small town with very dark secrets where racism and mistrust are the order of the day.

'Brief Encounter' serves as a poignant little reminder of the volcano ready to erupt beneath the cover of a mediocre suburban life.

Mark Grentell's celebration of an Aussie tradition is low on budget and rough around the edges, but is ultimately an affectionate tale with plenty of laughs.

Geoff's Picture Show (and Geoff) review the latest Alexander Payne film, Nebraska.

Geoff Hutchison reviews the most talked about film of the year - 12 Years a Slave.

Geoff Hutchison reviews 'Her' starring Joaquin Pheonix, Amy Adams and Scarlett Johansson as the voice of Samantha.

Nick and Meg escape to Paris in a bid to save their marriage. Will they survive? Geoff Hutchison reviews the latest Roger Michell film, Le Week-end.

If you grew up in the early 1970s, you probably have no problem conjuring up a bar or two of 'the Roller Skate song'. It was singer Melanie Safka's biggest hit and it topped the Australian pop charts in 1971.

Lismore's big chill last weekend did not stop Jeanti St Clair from catching NORPA's Food and Lloyd Cole, a most unassuming eighties pop star on a freezing Saturday night.Food is good for the soul

The equine-inspired group of exhibitions are on display at the Northern Rivers Community Gallery until October 5.

After Damien Ryan's energetic and enjoyable Henry V last year, it is pleasing to see that Bell Shakespeare has brought the director back to tackle Shakespeare's most complex and nuanced tragedy, Hamlet. And the marriage is a solid one. To start, casting Josh McConville as the grief-struck prince of Denmark has paid off handsomely. McConville approaches Hamlet's descent into his 'prison' of madness with powerful and dexterous complexity, bringing the contradictions that render the character into a fulsome and multi-faceted presentation of Shakespeare's vision for Hamlet.

The gruesome remains of a shark caught on the NSW South Coast have sparked a debate about how the animal met its fate and highlighted the 'amazing healing powers' of the predators.

Paris Whibley has made the 1,200-kilometre round trip from her family's farm near Moree in NSW to Sydney three times during her school holidays to compete at the Royal Easter Show.

The Broncos answer a number of their critics by ending a four-match losing streak with a convincing victory over the Sharks, while the Tigers snare a win against the Titans in Tamworth.

A Chinese mining giant is being accused of underestimating the impact a proposed open cut mine will have on groundwater on the New South Wales Liverpool Plains.

Police find four children under the age of 14 who took a Nissan Patrol from Gracemere in central Queensland and embarked on a joyride to Grafton in northern New South Wales.

Russ French's highly detailed military models have helped secure billion-dollar contracts, with one even landing at the Pentagon. These are no toys.

A decision to prioritise a controversial coal project over the protection of Indigenous sacred sites has landed the Federal Environment Minister at the centre of a fierce legal battle.

The NSW Rural Fire Service says there are 65 bush and grass fires burning across the state, but no emergency warnings are in place. Six fires have been downgraded to watch and act or advice status after spending much of the day as emergencies due to dry and windy conditions.

Two dangerous fires near Tenterfield and Armidale are downgraded as firefighters keep properties out of danger, but the dwindling water supply and expected strong winds will make today challenging.

With dams and creeks bone dry in drought-stricken towns, firefighters are being forced to find ways to combat blazes that are almost impossible to extinguish.

Ten years ago Chris Roby sought help from the Salvos for crippling alcoholism; he's now leading a group of men fighting addiction to help their local community's response to bushfires.

A bushfire threatening homes at Drake, near Tenterfield, is downgraded as the threat to houses eases.

An emergency warning has been issued for a blaze burning at Sandy Creek, east of Armidale, which has closed roads and is threatening several properties where residents have been told it is "too late to leave".

An emergency warning is downgraded in northern NSW after an "unpredictable and fast-moving" grass fire had threatened homes, with embers to blowing up to 4 kilometres ahead of the fire front.

Business owners in Tenterfield say tourists will be the key to the rural town's recovery, as bushfires and drought take their toll on the local economy.

MORNING BRIEFING: The Rural Fire Service says it will begin assessing the full extent of the bushfire damage in northern New South Wales today, and a man is charged after a robbery in 2003.

The remains of a 77-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman are found on a property destroyed in the bushfires which ripped through northern NSW earlier this week.