LAST Tuesday was International Volunteer Day (IVD) which is dedicated to celebrating the hardest working volunteers in local communities and there are none more worthy than those from the Country Fire Authority (CFA).

STEPHANIE Trethewey was busy building a career as a television journalist, when one slow news day she attended an agricultural event for work.

SIX south-west primary schools participated in the Readers Cup late last month, with Australian children’s author, Alison Reynolds, on board to help host and judge the challenge day.

THE ‘Safe Seats, Safe Kids’ program has been successful in Hamilton over the past three years but a lack of funding from the State Government could jeopardise its future.

PENSHURST export, Jess Rentsch, has long been waiting for the coming Monday in the hope that it could be one of the best days of her life and she could hear her name read out at the AFLW National Draft.

FARMERS interested in adding industrial hemp to their crop rotations are invited to attend a local field day at the end of January.

RECENTLY, Balmoral resident Kathryn Mutch dropped in at The Spectator to deliver a message in relation to her situation and how the way the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) facilitates suitable accommodation can be improved.

THE Hamilton Racing Club held another successful Party With The Ponies meeting on Tuesday, including plenty of off-field activities to help recognize International Day of People with Disability, which complimented some fantastic racing on the track.

HAMILTON Uniting Church is calling for people to donate non-perishable goods for those who need them the most, with locals able to donate up until Friday, December 22.

A HAMILTON man that was in custody for 25 days has been released but fined for multiple charges including assault and making threats.