Emily Middleton
Dubbo, NSW
Emily Middleton is a reporter for ABC Western Plains.
Latest by Emily Middleton
Record-breaking sub-zero temperatures expected in NSW tomorrow
Temperatures as low as -7C are expected to be felt across the Central West region on Tuesday, with one weather forecaster warning of "unusually low" temperatures statewide.
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Phil lived out of his car before packing up his whole life and moving across the country to find a home
The 74-year-old pensioner had to leave his cat behind when he moved from WA to regional NSW to find affordable accommodation.
Occupational therapist swaps high needs for low needs to get lengthy waitlists moving
Malcolm Shepherd could still be struggling in the classroom if his occupational therapist hadn't changed the way she approached cases.
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feel good
feel good:The card game bridging the gap between young and old problem-solvers
Aadhi Hariharan was 10 years old when he first picked up cards to play bridge. Just three years later, he's competing in the Australian National Bridge Championships.
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Renewable Energy Zone transmission lines given green light, despite lingering community concerns
The Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone becomes the first in Australia to secure planning approval for the transmission lines that will link renewable projects to the electricity grid. Some residents say their concerns have been "overlooked".
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Games shop tackles the social isolation that can come with neurodivergence
Self-proclaimed nerd Laura Portelli has owned Total Tabletop — a game store on the main street of Dubbo — for more than a year, and aims to make people feel welcome and safe in a world where goblins might be fighting off three-headed monsters.
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Man, 76, jailed for soliciting explicit images from person he thought was a primary school boy
The Narromine man had previously been placed on a child protection register.
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Australia's biggest saleyard loses $1.7m a year. Why is the council that owns it being pressured not to sell?
Some producers fear potential fee hikes at the Dubbo Regional Livestock Market as privatisation is considered by council.
Opal mining 'ballrooms' carved out beneath Lightning Ridge threaten to collapse roads
"Opal Bill" Kotru has seen many mines give way during the 43 years he has been digging for precious gemstones in the NSW town, but now he fears another collapse will soon take a local road with it.
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How the threat of a broken heart and a night in an Italian jail made aviation history
The fear of losing his sweetheart inspired Arthur Butler to make a record-breaking flight from England to Australia in 1931. Now his grandson is fighting to preserve his legacy in Tooraweenah, the town his flight made famous.
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Community cheers on 94-year-old parkrun member as popularity of running clubs grows
Les Brookfield has walked 100 parkruns and is determined to keep exercising thanks to the health and social benefits he notices from the activity.
When disaster struck, this pub became much more than a place to have a beer
During a deadly bushfire crisis last year, the Glengarry Hilton at Grawin Opal Fields threw its doors open to everyone who needed shelter, including the men and women battling the blaze.
With temperatures here frequently topping 40C, a patched-up pool gives locals their 'happy place again'
Walgett's pool was closed indefinitely when it was discovered it needed $2 million in repairs, but last-minute repairs have given it a little more life and the locals a place to cool down again.
Concern for recycling facility workers after 53 used needles found in a day
A startling increase in used syringes dumped in residential recycling in Gilgandra is a risk for workers who sort the waste by hand, prompting calls for safer disposal options.
Detective-turned-teacher draws on previous career to help kids learn from mock crime scenes
Luke Taylor quit as a police detective for mental health reasons. Now he's a teacher, and his former career is coming in handy.
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After half a century, a community is nearing victory over the dreaded Hudson pear
A weed that can penetrate the toughest of footwear and car tyres had spread across roads and property for decades around Quanda in NSW. With it now contained to just 28 hectares, the Hudson Pear Taskforce dreams of eradication.
Inquest hears officers were not wearing body cameras while arresting Indigenous man who died
An officer told the court she initially believed there were no working body cameras at Wellington Police Station on the day officers attended the home of Brandon Rich, who died while being taken into custody.
Hudson bushfire in north-west NSW downgraded but similar conditions expected on Thursday
An emergency warning has been downgraded for the Hudson bushfire burning in the Narran Lake Reserve in north-west New South Wales, but authorities are bracing for similar conditions on Thursday.
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Residents say Central-West Orana renewable energy zone secrecy is dividing communities
Residents say the Central-West Orana renewable energy zone being developed by the NSW government is causing division in rural communities due to confidentiality agreements and what they believe are unfair payments.
Western NSW town with only one inpatient hospital bed desperate for staffing answers
The mayor of a NSW town which has had five of its six inpatient hospital beds closed for a year says residents are being sent to even smaller towns for medical care.
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Outback residents appalled they were left short of milk for two weeks
Fresh milk is a staple in many people's refrigerators, but for the Far West New South Wales town of Brewarrina, it went missing from households and businesses for close to two weeks last month.
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Penelope made her first film when she was seven, now she's sharing her Indigenous culture on YouTube
First inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, the young First Nations trailblazer wants to preserve her culture and language for generations to come.
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Inland Rail projects left on the backburner leave a sour taste
Landholders say they're frustrated that funding for projects in the Narromine-to-Narrabri section of the Inland Rail network has been pulled.
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The cost of meat is starting to come down, but not as quickly as farmers would like
Farmers say modest falls in retail prices over the past 12 months are nothing compared to the collapse in livestock prices, and supermarkets should have discounted meat sooner.
At 101, Bigambul man Wes has seen 'so many promises' broken. Now he's voting on the Voice
The ABC spoke to a number of First Nations people in Sydney and the regions to hear what the Voice means to them.
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