Towns in regional NSW experience snowfall for the first time in 20 years as a deep polar vortex, which battered south-east Australia yesterday, moves north.

The Tristar Medical Group's chain of 50 clinics across regional Australia has been under "significant financial stress for 18 months" resulting in doctors often not being paid for weeks or months.

The death of one of the fiercest advocates for changing the name of the Mid Western Highway to Wiradjuri Way prompts renewed calls for change.

As the drought continues, water is being carted by train for the first time in decades to keep production on track at a NSW coal mine and secure 140 full-time jobs.

She already had years of experience in humanitarian work, but Carly Learson describes her Myanmar role as "probably the toughest job I've ever had".

The founder of an online discussion supporting hundreds trying to go dry believes drought, financial hardship, uncertainty, and isolation are causing more rural people to self-medicate with alcohol.

After four decades, a rural community farewells the family behind the town's first and only Chinese restaurant and celebrates their role in diversifying its culinary palate.

In 1969 a young Australian shearer travelled to Israel to orchestrate an arson attack he believed would prompt the return of Jesus and usher in the end of the world. The consequences still ring today.

Police ask for public help to identify a man caught on CCTV leaving crime scenes in a cape in central west New South Wales.

Despite prices in the overall wool market declining, non-mulesed wool is fetching premium prices due to the demand in Europe by retail brands looking for ethically produced wool.

For years Waryk Holmes was bullied while trying to be like his able-bodied classmates. Now he's teaching them a thing or two as a wheelchair racer.

What goes on inside a busy NSW local court from police pursuits to a letter from jail to a stolen vibrator.

MORNING BRIEFING: A new video of missing Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez is released as his family attempt to solve what happened to the 18-year-old, last seen in Byron Bay.

Australian scientists develop a drought-tolerant beer grain they hope will be a saving grace for some Australian farmers.

An Australian record price of $160,000 has been paid for an Angus bull at a stud sale in central-western New South Wales.

At least two houses and two businesses are destroyed in Tenterfield in northern NSW and a firefighter is suffering facial burns as crews brace for a long night ahead with four fires burning at emergency level across the state.

Australian grain growers will produce one of their smallest crops of the decade this year.

Taking the waters of a mineral pool is a long, human tradition, and today it is often grey nomads seeking out their reputed healing and bubbling waters.

The Federal Government's former special drought envoy says he sent "an awful lot" of reports to the Prime Minister, after a letter tabled in the Senate notes he did not compile a final report during his tenure.

Some of the bridal gowns awaiting to be picked up from this dry-cleaning business date back almost two decades.

The romance and lifestyle of winemaking do not match the reality of hard work and tough business, says an international wine writer.

Fresh from his tour of the United States, Prime Minister Scott Morrison heads to Queensland to pledge more money to support drought-affected communities.

A major program to combat fruit fly is underway in two Australian states where the Queensland fruit fly is not native to those areas.

The NSW Farmers Association is lobbying the State Government remove the interest on loans provided to farmers during drought.

The beer may be flowing, but water will be limited at Mount Panorama as supercars fans help conserve water in the drought-affected community.

New Zealand's Scott McLaughlin wins a drama-filled Bathurst 1000 for the first time in his career after surviving a tense finish at Mount Panorama.

The Dalys say they are not "competition-enterers", so you might be able to imagine their surprise to find out they have been crowned Australia's Farmers of the Year.

Controversial legislation punishing activists who protest on farms pass its first hurdle through the NSW Parliament after last-minute changes were made.

This family has a rare condition called ectodermal dysplasia, which means their sweat glands don't function properly and they can easily overheat.

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority will be investigated over its release of satellite images appearing to show dams filling with water, which David Littleproud labelled "premature" and "incorrect".