Unlike our city cousins, we’re not blessed with public transport on tap. However, as I found out by being compelled to use Bathurst’s public transport system, we’re not too bad off.  Today, here’s a light-hearted look at public transport – a la Bathurst.

Ralph Entwistle, transported to Botany Bay for stealing clothing, had worked himself up to ticket-of-leave – TOL status and had just completed a return trip from Bathurst to Sydney, a very demanding journey. A bright November day and the chance of a cool skinny dip in the Macquarie River was too good an opportunity to miss. Of course, there was something or someone to dampen – no pun intended, the fun.

As Ned Kelly is to Glenrowan; Ben Hall is to Forbes; so the Ribbon Gang is to Bathurst.

The Ribbon Gang? Who are these notorious bushrangers, these rebellious upstarts who should disturb the peace of Bathurst?

Well I’ truth, no more than a group of young men who were victims of the mores of the times. Our bad old colonial days. It all started with a swim.

Bathurst 1000 – it’s on again.   The car race that stops a city, if not a nation. Holden v Ford.  Who is going to be in ‘08?

Excitement, fun and a good boost to the city’s funds.  I’m not a true believer, I’m as field sportsperson of yesteryear – soccer; so I’ll leave this weekend to them as loves the rrrrrrrrrroar of the engines…

A must for tourists – has to be The Chifley Home in Bathurst.   This five roomed home brings to life the times of Ben Chifley, our 16th PM, former engine driver and a harsh critic of injustice.

2008 marks the 75th anniversary of two famous Australian icons.    The Australian Women’s Weekly and Bathutst’s famous Carillon War Memorial.

To mark the Carillon’s 75th, the Bathurst Stamp, Coin, collectables cand Laspidary Club, and the Bathurst District Historic Society has commissioned a Special Anniversary Cover and stamp…

Recently the Craft Learning Centre, a new kid on the block, here in Bathust, opened its doors to give fellow crafties the chance to get together and learn new skills and enhance old ones.   The advent of such a place has been long awaited.  Let’s meet the Craft Learning Centre.

THE beaut thing about our city is our living history – and when we go back to our colourful past we tend to do it through the memorabilia of those who have gone before. People such as Ben Chifley and Ida Traill.

The smell of the petrol, the oil, the tyres and the roar of the crowd as well.

I guess clichés can be in order, for the big, big sporting event and its legion of fans about to invade Bathurst.

As we go to press, the winner of the innaugural Drover Award for Best Presenter (Best Venue) has been announced.    Although the results were not readily available, it was good news indeed for our city to get nominated.

 We were pitted againsr three other centres with populations of 100,000 plus.

We have less than  60,000.