Lithgow news, sport and weather | Lithgow Mercury

The Omicron COVID-19 variant has been found in two overseas travellers who arrived in Sydney.

Omicron confirmed in Sydney passengers

Colin Brinsden

ON FOOT: Ivor Houston recently passed through Lithgow on his 4000km walk. Picture: ALANNA TOMAZIN

PHOTOS"I'm just a guy walking": Ivor passes through Lithgow on trek for refugee awareness

Alanna Tomazin

Candidates respond: On the issue of Council's financial management

Benjamin Palmer

Where will you go? All you need is a computer or mobile phone to explore and book your next holiday. Picture: Shutterstock

Where will you go? Find and book your holiday online with Explore

Joanne Crawford

The World Health Organisation has designated the Omicron coronavirus variant a "variant of concern".

EXPLAINERExplainer: What we know about the new COVID-19 'variant of concern' Omicron

Australian Associated Press

TRIBUTE: Lithgow Garden Club plant a tree in memory of the late Lillian Gummow. Picture: SUPPLIED

Garden Club members hold a moving tribute for Lillian Gummow

Scott Morrison claims Gladys Berejiklian was brought down by a "kangaroo court". Picture: Getty Images

DIGESTSometimes a drizzle turns into a storm

Kayla Osborne

NOT A GOOD LOOK: Days out from Summer the season has ben great for new growth particularly weeds. Nowhere more evident than leading into the busiest visitor season our highway welcome mat is looking truly tatty.

OPINIONThe Saint: A milestone towards a new future

The Saint

New school rules for COVID-19 cases in classrooms from Monday

THINGS TO DOGang Gang Gallery's latest exhibit goes VR and other events on around Lithgow

Lidsdale's Keegan Brain to contest final TCR race of the season

GOOD NEWSPortland Pool receives a splash of funding just in time for Summer

Omicron confirmed in Sydney passengers

Candidates respond: On the issue of tourism

Candidates respond: On the issue of Council's financial management

UPDATEDCandidates respond: On the issue of a waste incinerator

UPDATEDCandidates respond: On the issue of roads

BEST VIDS: Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie takes aim at anti-vaxxers in parliament (left), NSW's oldest smokestacks demolished (top right) and what happens when you meet a cheetah (bottom right).

WATCHVideos of the week: An unlikely icon, meeting cheetahs, mesmerising demolitions

Man drowns off Sydney's northern beaches

19:12PM

DIGESTOmicron reaches Australian shores, PM cracks down on social media abuse

19:08PM

Omicron variant confirmed in NSW arrivals

18:52PM

Passengers infected with Omicron variant of concern: NSW Health

18:11PM

Toughest fight of all: Jack Newton's family opens up on dementia battle

18:00PM

Omicron confirmed in Sydney passengers

17:37PM

Authorities have confirmed two travellers in Sydney have the highly transmissible Omicron strain. Picture: Shutterstock

DIGESTOmicron reaches Australian shores, PM cracks down on social media abuse

The World Health Organisation has declared the Omicron variant a variant of concern after it emerged in southern Africa. Picture: Shutterstock

Passengers infected with Omicron variant of concern: NSW Health

Countries around the world have reacted to new coronavirus variant Omicron, with some shutting borders to southern Africa. Picture: Shutterstock

DIGESTBorders close as WHO declares another COVID variant of concern

SES warning possible major flooding for Singleton

NSW Health are working closely with the Commonwealth and other states and territories to rapidly understand the implications of the new COVID-19 variant of concern, Omicron.

WATCHNSW records 235 COVID cases as fears grow over new 'variant of concern'

Fleur Connick

DIGESTSometimes a drizzle turns into a storm

Kayla Osborne

NSW COVID cases remain above 200 as state outlines easing restrictions

Kim Chappell
Michael Parris

Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison. Picture: Keegan Carroll

DIGESTRegressive or progressive? Depends who you ask

Kayla Osborne

BATHURST FEVER: Keegan Brain with driver coach Harry Hayek and the Volkswagon Golf GTI. Picture: SUPPLIED

Lidsdale's Keegan Brain to contest final TCR race of the season

Bradley Jurd

A new variant of COVID-19 has begun to impact sport in Africa.

COVID-19 causes havoc across sports world

Borussia Dortmund's Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring in their Bundesliga win at Wolfsburg.

Haaland back on target, Bayern win again

Derek Wilson

Lidsdale's Keegan Brain to contest final TCR race of the season

TOP DOG: Sam and Kristy Sultana with Flying Ricciardo, who has been named Greyhound of the Year for 2020. Picture: GRNSW

OPINIONFlying Ricciardo crowned Greyhound of the Year for 2020

Greyhound Racing NSW CEO Tony Mestrov

Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to have to beat European champions Italy to get to the World Cup finals.

Italy bar Ronaldo's path to World Cup spot

Marki the wombat was treated for mange in captivity. This is very rare. Picture: Supplied.

LISTENWombats are rotting to death, meet the people trying to save them

K'gari was named for the Butchulla spirit who helped create the land and sea and then never wanted to leave. Photo: Shutterstock

LISTENRestoring Aboriginal place names to acknowledge identity and history

Bylong's general store has been closed for a few months, it's owned by mining giant KEPCO along side the church and the primary school. Picture by Jonathan Carroll for the Newcastle Herald.

LISTENRegenerating a valley and a community

CITY MOVE: Harcourts Horsham agent Tim Coller has sold St John's Church three times, this time most of the demand came from Melbourne, and ended up with a city owner.

City buyers ditch plans to stay close to the office

No end in sight in race to the regions

Infrastructure and services racing to keep up across regional Australia

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THINGS TO DOGang Gang Gallery's latest exhibit goes VR and other events on around Lithgow

Newsroom

RACING SEASON: Judy Egan and Bev Longmate at the Blue Fox in 2020. Picture: ALANNA TOMAZIN

THINGS TO DOHere's where you can celebrate Melbourne Cup day in Lithgow

Newsroom

A STUNNING BACKDROP: Mayfield Garden's Chris Muldoon enjoying the European style garden. Picture: ALANNA TOMAZIN

PHOTOSMayfield showcases a pop of colour and getting back to nature this Spring

Alanna Tomazin

Welcome to the 2021 Western Rural Guide

Andrew Lotherington

Welcome to the 2021 celebration of Christmas in Community

Queens of Mystery makes for some compelling watching on Acorn TV.

The streaming service with new hard-to-find classics and British favourites every single week

Linda Lambrechts

Welcome to the 2021 Western Rural Guide

Modibodi takes the anxiety out of periods that could cause most teens to step away from their usual sport or social activities.

Teens can trust Modibodi period underwear to help them through the night

Linda Lambrechts

Westpac's National Agribusiness Manager, Stephen Hannan.

Helping generations of Australian farmers to grow

Stephen Hannan, National Agribusiness Manager

When it comes to selling property, the more boxes you can tick to match the wish list of buyers, the better placed you will be to sell at a good price.

What makes a property a winner come auction time?

Coastal living is now a distant dream for many renters. Picture: Shutterstock

Property wrap: Regional renters suffer, lake listing garners international interest

Decluttering before you pack is an important step in a smooth house move. Picture: Shutterstock.

Packing hacks that make moving house a little easier

Edel Beattie, The Happy Organiser

Paddy Coughlan behind the bar at Five Islands Hotel, the pub he bought for $20 million as CEO of an investment group earlier this year. Picture: Robert Peet

'Still undervalued': Why the regional pub boom might just be getting started

Jack Needham

One of the lodges at Aquila, located at 586 Victoria Valley Road, Dunkeld. Picture: Supplied

Off-grid eco lodges in Victoria's Grampians could be your ticket to 'green' tourism boom

Jack Needham

According to Scamwatch, the government is not offering a benefit payment for those who receive their COVID-19 vaccine.

All the online scams you need to avoid

Garden Club members hold a moving tribute for Lillian Gummow

SING IT: Luke O'Shea performs alongside Ashleigh Dallas. Photo: Peter Hardin

Stars revel in rebirth of live music as Golden Guitar finalists announced

Madeline Link
Caitlin Reid

All the online scams you need to avoid

TOGETHER: MP Andrew Gee, MP Paul Toole, Sam Farraway, Shane Mallard and Alistair Lunn at Coxs Road. Photo: CIARA BASTOW

Love it or hate it? Come and have your say on the Great Western Highway concept design

Ciara Bastow

THUMBS UP FOR MEN'S SHED: Terry Tonkin, Bob Kitchener, Darryl Fitzgerald, Andrew Gee MP, Tom Bradford, and Daryl Campbell. Picture: SUPPLIED

GOOD NEWSMen's Shed members add technology to their toolbox

Michael Caine is a tour de force in Best Sellers. Picture: Rialto

REVIEWPoking fun of publishing industry

Tasmanian Independent senator Jacqui Lambie. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong

SUBSCRIBERLambie set to hold cards in election showdown

WATCHNSW records 235 COVID cases as fears grow over new 'variant of concern'

Genesis Owusu is the first hip hop artist to win Album of the Year at the ARIA Awards. Picture: Supplied

'The weirdo can't be stopped': Genesis Owusu 'validated' by historic ARIA win

REVIVED: Tim Freedman's love of touring inspired him to write The Whitlams' first new album in 15 years.

The Whitlams uncover their creative aphrodisiac

Josh Leeson

WATCHVideos of the week: An unlikely icon, meeting cheetahs, mesmerising demolitions

Emma Horn

CLEAR: Sweetheart the koala ready to go home after recovering from serious eye disease. Photo: Supplied

WATCHSee the moment a Koala is set free after lifesaving rescue

Compost worms are incredibly beneficial to the soil. Picture: Shutterstock.

WATCHTake a tour of a worm farm at work

Hannah Moloney

OPINIONThe Saint: A milestone towards a new future

The Saint

OPINIONA lot is riding on new Lithgow Council

Benjamin Palmer

TOP MARKS: A crowning achievement in the term of the current Lithgow Council was the completion of the delightful Lake Pillans Wetlands.

COMMENTThe Saint: Spare the criticism for a second

The Saint

CHEEKY CHICKS: The February girls. Photos: Sandra Ramsay

Never too old to be calendar girls

Therese Murray

CHALLENGE: Australia needs many more aged care workers. Picture Shutterstock

Critical shortage of aged care workers threatens care standards

Eileen Wood

The true beauty of older models

Therese Murray

A man has drowned off Dee Why Beach, on Sydney's Northern Beaches. (file)

Man drowns off Sydney's northern beaches

DIGESTOmicron reaches Australian shores, PM cracks down on social media abuse

Omicron variant confirmed in NSW arrivals

Passengers infected with Omicron variant of concern: NSW Health

NO SILVER LININGS: Hunter golfing legend Jack Newton was diagnosed with dementia in 2019. His loving wife Jackie, pictured here with Jack in their Merewether home, said her husband's condition has gradually deteriorated over the past year. Picture: Marina Neil

Toughest fight of all: Jack Newton's family opens up on dementia battle

RICK ALLEN

Omicron confirmed in Sydney passengers

Colin Brinsden

Australia is now 86.68 per cent fully vaccinated for everyone aged 16 or over.

Latest snapshot of the coronavirus impact

New laws will force social media platforms to expose people who make defamatory posts anonymously.

PM says new laws to end online bullying

Colin Brinsden

Future Farmers Network director Samantha Noon.

Agriculture, the career of opportunity

Samantha Noon

NSW agriculture has grown by a whopping $5.2 billion in just 12 months to become a $20.9 billion industry.

Ag: Where else would you be?

Edwina Watson

Kristen Hegarty, with her son Jim, 2, and Merino ewes with first-cross lambs run at Belvedere, Cassilis.

Cassilis grazier an AWEX classing finalist

Edwina Watson

SWEPT: Taylor Swift's face framing hairstyles usually include a fringe. Illustration: Shutterstock

Famous hairstyles to copy this summer

HOMELY FEEL: Blockheads Hayden and Sara Vale chose concrete and timber to feature throughout their multi-storey home. This presents a balanced, yet luxurious feel as it incorporates flooring, joinery, furnishings and accents. Photos: supplied by the Vales.

Shack to chic in five stunning storeys

Vickii Byram

Fitness doesn't have to stop as you get older. There are plenty of senior fitness junkies keeping fit and pushing themselves to great heights. Picture: Shutterstock.

WELLNESSFitness after fifty has never looked so inspiring

Wellness with Amy Cooper