Local news for local people
Welcome to the Oberon Matters web site
No 133 - October 22, 2026
Trees hiding in the mist.
The Oberon taxi has new owners.
Ring
to book your ride.
Things are a bit light on here this week for several reasons.
- I've had to waste some time dealing with Facebook's impenetrable (and unresponsive) complaints system and also taking steps to stop AI systems from stealing the content of the site. (See "A bit of administrivia" below.)
- I lost some time getting my car serviced. Apparently you have to change the oil occasionally and if it ever gets hot again I'll need the air conditioner.
- The huge photinia trees bordering the lane next to the Oberon Matters office have decided to pump out their usual springtime clouds of pollen and it's hard to see the computer screen through weeping eyes or keep a steady hand on the mouse while sneezing. Phenergan helps a lot unless you want to stay awake.
- Not a lot happened around town. Compare this to October 31 when What's On tells me that there are four simultaneous things that need my attention. John Lennon warned that there'd be days like that.
- One of the rules of publishing is that you stick to deadlines as much as possible rather than wait for stuff to come in. That means the report on NAIDOC Day, the Council meeting, the Mayor's regular column and a book review will have to wait until next week.
PB
 | When you need a shot of caffeine Sometimes you just need a cup of something hot, and there's no shortage of coffee sources in Oberon. |
 | Your Federal Member's Community Update Your community update from the Federal Member for Calare, Andrew Gee MP, can be seen here. |
 | School's back for summer The schools are back from the holidays and working towards the end of the year. And the HSC exams are still going on, so good luck to Year 12. |
 | A little birdie told me ... ... that even when all the other sports took a weekend off the golfers would still be out there on the fairways chasing those elusive dimpled balls. |
Oberon Citizen Science Network
 | A day out at the markets Saturday, October 10, saw another edition of the Seasonal Markets at the Edith Rec Ground. The number of stalls was a little smaller this time that in the past, but that didn't affect the experience. There was still lots to see and, with a busker performing, to hear. |
Opinion - Do we need a puppy farm near Oberon? For some unknown reason I wasn't aware until this
week of a proposal that has been put to Oberon Council for a dog and cat
breeding operation at O'Connell. Apparently the business has been
running since 2020, so it's rather strange that approval has not been
sought before this. |
Oberon Council Mayor's Column This fortnight's column from Oberon Mayor Andrew McKibbin can be seen here. |  |
 | A little bit of schooling does you good Things are slowly getting back to normal after the holidays, although Year 12 students starting the HSC this week would probably love something approaching normal. |
Worried about your Year 12 exams? 3 ways to help anxiety Nobody would deny that exams are very stressful, even if you think you know the work. The stress is probably greatest at the HSC if you think the results will dictate the rest of your life (hint - they shouldn't and don't). This article from The Conversation has some useful advice about coping with exam stress. |  |
 | All the sport that's fit to print Another quiet week in sport with only the pony club, hockey and the inevitable golfers challenging the back pages. We are all waiting for a summer season of something. |
Corner of Oberon and Dudley Streets, opposite the RSL
Another place to eat in Oberon
And what about the food? Oberon Matters test drove a bacon and egg roll and some chips and the reviewer kept mumbling "Excellent!" through mouthfuls of bun. But you need to go there to see for yourself. Find out more at Emma's Facebook page. While you're here, Emma lost her house in one of the fires a few days ago. You can help by going to https://gofund.me/f53b941d1 and throwing a few dollars into the collection bucket. |  |
Have you ever got back to Oberon late in the evening (and even later now with Victoria Pass closed) and wanted to buy some food but everything seems to be closed? Well, now there's an answer because Emma Leggo has opened Emma's Takeaway, It's in the BP service station on Albion Street and it's open at the following times: | Excitement in the forests is coming to Oberon Forest rallying returns to Oberon with events on October 31 and November 14. On October 31, the Australian Motor Sport Action Group (AMSAG) will be holding a rally based on Black Springs. The service park will be the Avoca Reserve and the action will take place in Vulcan and Essington State Forests. The roads in these forests provide excellent action for both competitors and spectators. Two weeks later the Rally Car Club will be running the final round of the NSW Rally Championship. The service park and rally HQ will be at the Oberon Sports Complex with competition happening in Jenolan and Hampton State Forests. If you want to get even closer to the action, both events require officials and you don't have to have any specialised knowledge. Officials are always needed for road closures, timing control points and spectator control. For more details contact AMSAG or the Rally Car Club. Better still, contact both of them. |
Remembering the goodest dog This week marks the tenth anniversary of the death of Cody, who was my best friend in the world when I moved to Oberon. This is something I wrote for the Oberon Writers' Workshop in 2019. |  |
Two views of the same subject
 | Book review: "The Digital Delusion" by Jared Cooney Horvath There is a range of views on the use of screens and other technology in schools. One extreme is that they are essential to prepare students for life in the real world where the technology is ubiquitous. The other extreme is that their use is harmful and degrades the learning process by both distraction and deskilling. The truth, as with most things, lies somewhere in between. This book leans towards the "harmful" end of the spectrum. |
New research looks at how screens are actually being used in Australian classrooms - the results may surprise you With all the schools on holidays there's not a lot of activity to report, so here's an article from The Conversation detailing research into the use of screens and devices in schools. It seems that things might not be as bad as some people think. |  |
 | When most sport stops, the golfers don't Almost all sports have finished their seasons and celebrated with presentations, but the golfers just keep getting back out there doing a whatever it is that golfers do. |
 | A neutral safe space to enjoy other local blokes' company, with a range of activities. It's a great starting point for blokes new to Oberon to meet locals or for locals to catch up with old mates. There's even a very nutritious lunch at minimum cost. |
| Oberon Men's Shed meets every Tuesday at the Showground | |
Stories and articles for the most recent three weeks appear on the front page.
For earlier stories
see the Site History page.
We would like to acknowledge the Wiradjuri, Gundungurra and Dharug nations as the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work and we pay our respect to Elders past, present and future
Site last updated on October 21, 2026
