2025: A year that tested, changed and united Junee

By any measure, 2025 was a year Junee will not soon forget.

It was a year shaped by extremes of weather and emotion, loss and renewal, controversy and pride. The Shire was tested again and again, and repeatedly proved its capacity to rally, rebuild and stand together.

From violent storms and devastating fires to landmark elections, historic farewells and moments of pure community joy, the stories that defined 2025 painted a vivid portrait of a town constantly in motion: resilient, passionate and deeply connected.

Chapter One: A turbulent start

The year’s tone was set early.

On January 15, a violent thunderstorm tore through Wagga and the broader district with winds topping 100km/h, leaving destruction in its wake.

Shipping containers were toppled, trees stripped and powerlines brought down.

The impact rippled across the region, with the old Downside Hall at Downside destroyed when a fallen tree crushed the building.

Thousands lost power at the height of the storm, with many still disconnected a full day later.

Even amid the damage, the story foreshadowed a recurring truth of 2025: severe weather was not an outlier. It was a pattern.

Yet January still made room for celebration and community pride.

Australia Day again showcased the Junee Shire’s depth of volunteerism and achievement, with local champions acknowledged across multiple categories.

It was a reminder that recognition in Junee is not about status, but service.

Chapter Two: Flood, fire and community power

In February, Junee endured two emergencies back-to-back, and the contrast between them showed how quickly everyday life can tilt.

On February 10, high-precipitation storms triggered flash flooding across the township.

At Junee High School, significant water damage impacted more than a dozen classrooms, forcing the school to close.

It was a disruption with real cost, not only repairs but the loss of routine for students, staff and families.

Then, just hours later, Junee faced one of its most confronting incidents in years.

A major structure fire erupted in the CBD and consumed one of the town’s oldest buildings, destroying two much-loved local businesses, Brick Lane Sewing and So Dance Junee.

It was the largest emergency the town had seen in four years, and it landed while the community was still reeling from storm impacts.

What followed became one of 2025’s defining sequences: Junee rallied.

Fundraisers took shape. Community support surged. Campaigns, events and donations accumulated into tens of thousands of dollars, helping people rebuild what the fire took.

The fundraiser headlined by Laurie Daley became more than a night out. It became a symbol of Junee’s reflex to support its own.

So Dance Junee, in particular, channelled that help into upgrading a temporary home at Belling Hall at the Showgrounds, turning recovery into reinvention.

Against that backdrop, February still delivered forward motion.

Danny’s Kitchen reopened, this time at the Red Cow Hotel, closing a tumultuous chapter that had dominated headlines the year before.

The Junee Poker Run and Blues Night celebrated its milestone 20th year with more than 400 participants and a surge in sponsorship that would later translate into a record $42,000 donation to Can Assist Junee, a local example of community fun becoming community funding.

And in another win for stability, Junee’s last remaining bank branch secured its future for at least another two-and-a-half years under a new deal with the federal government.

It was a small headline, perhaps, but a major relief for a town that understands what it loses when essential services disappear.

Chapter Three: Change, controversy and consequence

As the year moved into March and April, the story broadened from natural disasters and recovery to major civic decisions and community tensions.

Late March delivered a rare tourist moment as steam locomotive R766 swept through the region, leaving behind a trail of nostalgia and wide-eyed spectators.

It was a reminder that a town can hold both heritage and modern pressures at once.

Then came one of the most consequential economic and political changes Junee has seen in decades.

At 6pm on March 31, Corrective Services NSW formally assumed management of the Junee Correctional Centre, ending more than 30 years of private operation by GEO Group.

The takeover was read in two ways. Some saw it as a necessary correction and workforce victory. Others viewed it as a profound loss, with fears that millions would be pulled from Junee’s local economy.

Either way, it marked a new era and confirmed that Junee remains central to decisions made far beyond the Shire.

April also carried shock.

On April 10, outrage erupted after six protected wedge-tailed eagles were found shot dead on a rural property, with a seventh wounded.

The incident triggered an investigation and widespread condemnation, not only because of the cruelty, but because it struck at something many locals view as sacred: the land, and the life within it.

On the development front, council-backed momentum emerged for the rejuvenation of one of Junee’s long-dormant sites, with plans advancing for the transformation of the former Egg Market into a modern light-industrial hub.

April ended with another high-stakes community decision.

The Junee Ex-Services Memorial Club board election and AGM, held amid standing-room crowds, delivered a clear message from members.

All but one incumbent was ousted and replaced, closing a turbulent chapter and beginning a new one built, at least in intention, on renewal and transparency.

Between those moments, the Shire marked one of its most important annual rituals: Anzac Day.

With an estimated 1,500 people turning out for the main service, Junee’s commemorations became one of the town’s largest on record.

It was not simply a ceremony, but a statement of identity and respect.

Chapter Four: Pressure, relief and rising risk

By May, the Shire was staring down a different kind of crisis, one that doesn’t arrive in a single dramatic moment, but builds quietly day by day.

More than half of Junee Shire was drought-declared as conditions worsened and farmers reached difficult decisions.

Rainfall totals told the story bluntly: less than 35mm across 98 days. After years of wet seasons, the shift was swift and brutal, reviving memories of Black Summer.

Then the pattern broke, temporarily.

Late May delivered the heaviest rain in 100 days, with falls up to around 50mm in 24 hours across parts of the Shire.

Drought conditions eased significantly by early June, shrinking the drought footprint and offering sorely needed relief, even if many understood it was not a full reset.

May also brought relief of a different kind in the Junee Shire, following the installation of two brand new, modern ‘luxury loos’ at the Junee Lawn Cemetery.

June carried both awe and alarm.

On June 1, Riverina skies lit up with a rare aurora event driven by one of the strongest geomagnetic storms in more than two decades.

It was the kind of night that turns strangers into storytellers as they compare photos and look skyward together.

Yet June was also marked by tragedy and risk.

Two fatal crashes within weeks, including the death of a young man at Sebastopol during the King’s Birthday long weekend and another fatal crash involving a tractor near Temora, reinforced the region’s persistent road safety challenge and the way grief can ripple through small communities.

On June 20, the Riverina saw a different kind of crackdown.

A major three-day police operation targeting an alleged dial-a-dealer syndicate concluded with 13 people charged following raids across Wagga, Tumut and surrounding areas.

It was a reminder that regional crime trends do not stop at city limits, and enforcement operations increasingly move at scale.

Local government carried its own flashpoint, too.

In late June, Council voted to reintroduce the Lord’s Prayer at the start of meetings, reigniting debate about religion’s place in civic life, a classic small-town question with big principles underneath.

Away from tragedy and enforcement, Junee’s community spirit again came through in long-form: local families completed the gruelling Big Three Trek for brain cancer fundraising, carrying personal loss into public purpose.

Chapter Five: Service, shock and shared strength

In July, Junee took time to formally recognise the people who so often run toward danger.

A major local ceremony acknowledged Rural Fire Service volunteers with a combined 2,300 years of service, underscoring the depth of experience and commitment that underpins emergency response in the Shire.

Later in the month, a Junee house fire again highlighted the stakes and the speed of local action, with firefighters rescuing two puppies from a gutted home.

August delivered one of the most confronting criminal stories of the year: a violent home invasion at Bethungra, later upgraded to a murder charge after an elderly man succumbed to his injuries.

The shock ran deep, not because crime is unheard of, but because of how starkly it violated the expectation of safety in a quiet village.

Even amid that, the community still showed its scale.

The Riverina Schoolboys Carnival drew thousands, effectively doubling Junee’s population.

Public anger also intensified over a worsening rabbit infestation reaching cemeteries, a story that blended practical damage with deep emotion, as sacred spaces were reduced to warrens and residents demanded action.

August ended on a brighter note.

The Book Week parade brought colour and creativity to Railway Square, reflecting a year-long pattern where families and local organisations continued to create moments of joy even as tougher headlines dominated other weeks.

Chapter Six: Demolition, danger and devotion

Then September arrived, and with it the infrastructure story that defined the year for many.

On September 5, the Kemp Street bridge closed to traffic for the final time after 80 years.

Locals gathered for the final crossing, turning the shutdown into a shared community milestone as barriers were erected across a structure that had shaped daily life since the mid-1940s.

The detail that a restored 1934 Ford made the last drive across became symbolic, a small town marking history with character.

Within days, salvage began, including the careful removal of the bridge’s heritage lamp posts, before the demolition operation unfolded under intense time pressure and technical constraints.

By mid-September, the bridge was gone. Under a tight rail possession window, crews removed roughly 475 tonnes of steel and concrete.

For the first time since 1944, there was nothing above the tracks at Kemp Street, and Junee had stepped into a new chapter.

September did not stop there.

A rare tornado warning was issued on September 10 after multiple twisters were observed in the region, another entry in the year’s extreme weather column.

The month ended with another major fire story beyond Junee but close enough to feel.

A destructive inferno tore through buildings in the heart of The Rock, destroying history and prompting a major emergency response.

September also carried major community celebration. The Junee Co-op’s 100-year milestone wasn’t simply a birthday.

It was a public demonstration of what local loyalty can sustain, with speeches and turnout reinforcing the cooperative model as part of Junee’s identity.

September also delivered moments of sporting pride that cut through a year often dominated by crisis and consequence.

Junee’s women’s rugby league program reached a historic milestone in 2025, with the Junee Diesels women’s tackle side charging into the inaugural Group 9 finals series.

After a stellar season that cemented their place among the region’s best, the team surged into the major semi-final, riding a wave of hometown support and belief.

While their finals campaign ended one step short of a grand final after a narrow preliminary final loss to Young, the achievement marked a breakthrough moment for women’s rugby league in Junee.

That progress was formally recognised later in the month when Abbey Field and Abby Foley were honoured at Group Nine’s annual awards night in Wagga.

The duo’s recognition capped a landmark year for the competition, which introduced its first official finals series after launching in 2024 without a ladder or championship decider.

For Junee, it was validation of years of investment, growth and belief in the women’s game.

September also delivered one of the most celebrated nights in local football history.

The Junee Jaguars men’s 3rd grade side broke a nine-year premiership drought, claiming the 2025 Blake Trophy with a 3–1 grand final victory over Henwood Park.

The win was more than a result. It symbolised resilience, depth and renewal within the club.

Moments later, history doubled down. An all-Junee 4th grade grand final unfolded under lights, with Jaguars Blue and Jaguars Yellow facing off for the Navinkell Cup.

With two premiership trophies lifted just hours apart, September 26, 2025 was etched into club folklore as one of the greatest nights the Jaguars have ever known.

Together, those victories and milestones offered a powerful counterpoint to the year’s harder chapters. They reminded the Shire that progress is not only measured in infrastructure and recovery, but also in teamwork, opportunity and shared celebration.

Chapter Seven: Carrying the weight

If the first half of 2025 revealed how Junee responds to crisis, October revealed how much pressure volunteer communities carry.

Junee rallied around six local children after the death of their mother, Vanessa Field, with public fundraising reflecting a familiar Shire pattern. When a family is hit, the community moves quickly to build support. Within days, a GoFundMe campaign had raised more than $30,000.

On October 4, a young family escaped unharmed after fire tore through their Lillian Street home, another sharp reminder of how quickly circumstances can change, and how vital rapid emergency response remains.

Later in the month, destructive storms carved through parts of the Riverina, hitting towns including Gundagai and Cootamundra hard with intense winds and fallen trees.

Yet October also delivered those “this is who we are” moments.

Nearly 50 locals turned out for Pink Power, supporting the Breast Cancer Network Australia through the Junee Run Club and raising more than $2,000, community health and community solidarity wrapped into one.

Volunteer succession became a major storyline too.

The potential end of Christmas on Broadway, later eased by community response, highlighted the pressure behind beloved events and how fragile tradition can become when committees thin out.

That strain was echoed again in news of the Illabo Show’s final curtain in its current format, the end of a century-long tradition shaped not by lack of love, but by the hard reality of sustaining volunteer-driven institutions year after year.

But there were new beginnings in October too, with one of Junee’s most iconic landmarks, The Loftus, roaring back to life as Junee’s newest Asian fusion restaurant, blending authentic Thai and Chinese flavours inside the beautifully restored 1890’s venue.

October also included major law enforcement activity with strike force raids reaching Junee, reflecting broader regional policing priorities around drugs and property crime.

And the weather returned with force. Damaging winds featured again, including a dramatic incident at Loftus Oval where a floodlight tower collapsed, a reminder that risk also sits inside local infrastructure and maintenance decisions.

Chapter Eight: Wind, fire and reflection

November delivered another extraordinary aurora event, with vivid displays photographed across wide areas.

It was a rare repeat performance that helped define 2025 as a year where the sky itself became a headline more than once.

The month also captured celebration and continuity. Annie’s Place marked 30 years of service, one of those institutions that quietly holds communities together through cost-of-living pressure, hardship and everyday need.

Junee’s Christmas season began in earnest with the return of the town Christmas tree, a small but culturally significant marker of normality and rhythm.

Economically, new figures pointing to a visitor spend surge added another layer to Inland Rail’s local footprint. Beyond disruption and construction, increased worker presence and hospitality revival were beginning to show measurable effects in town.

But November also carried grief.

A man was killed in a tragic incident on a private property at Eurongilly on November 5, the kind of story that lands heavily in a small Shire, where loss is felt not as a headline, but as an absence.

The Shire also watched another end-of-an-era unfold with Monte Cristo Homestead listed for sale, a landmark long tied to identity, tourism and family legacy.

Nature again asserted itself.

Winds lashed the Riverina on November 26, toppling trees and disrupting roads and powerlines.

In Junee, a fallen branch onto powerlines on the Olympic Highway forced lane closures and a prolonged response.

Fire remained a constant threat.

A grass fire behind a Junee home kept firefighters busy on November 16 amid gusty conditions.

By late November, a fast-running fire at Mimosa and broader warnings from the RFS Riverina Zone pointed to an early-season intensity described as among the most significant starts in decades.

Yet November also delivered one of the year’s most satisfying narrative arcs.

After losing its CBD home in February’s devastating fire, So Dance Junee capped a difficult year with a triumphant concert at the Athenium Theatre, a community coming full circle.

In many ways, it became the emotional bookend to the fire story: proof that recovery is not only rebuilding walls, but restoring confidence, identity and joy.

Final Chapter: Tested to the end

December was not a quiet landing.

Inland Rail returned for another shutdown period as the Kemp Street site again transformed into a hive of activity, a reminder that even after a demolition milestone, the project’s presence remains embedded in daily life.

Mid-December delivered another confronting road incident.

A serious head-on crash on the Olympic Highway at Marinna prompted a rescue helicopter response, with members of the public praised for calm and compassionate early assistance.

Then came the heat.

Parts of the Riverina endured their hottest day in almost six years, with Wagga Airport reaching 41.3°C, the highest since early 2020.

As the year closed, the Shire also watched a significant economic and cultural shift. T-Line Steel Fabrication’s closure ended more than a century of local industrial legacy.

For many, it was more than a business story. It was a reminder that regional identity is often built on enterprises that quietly employ, build, sponsor and support for decades.

Finally, the announcement of the 2026 Australia Day nominees brought the year full circle, returning the focus to local contribution.

After everything 2025 carried, the list of nominees stood as a counterpoint: the people and groups who continue to create stability, pride and forward momentum, regardless of what the year throws at them.

In Memoriam — 2025

As the year draws to a close, we also pause to remember members of the Junee community who passed away during 2025.

Each name reflects a life lived and a place held within the Shire’s shared story.

Joyce White
January 1, 2025 (aged 90)

Betty Bond
January 14, 2025 (aged 99)

Cheryl Anne Eggleton
January 18, 2025 (aged 73)

Laraine Margaret Kirk
February 1, 2025 (aged 75)

Jeanne Anne Callow
February 11, 2025 (aged 87)

Colin John Fairweather
February 16, 2025 (aged 77)

Max Vincent Guthrie
February 26, 2025 (aged 84)

Alan Eric Lindbeck
March 15, 2025 (aged 78)

Peter Joseph Sweeney
March 30, 2025

Robert Noel Mutimer
April 27, 2025 (aged 80)

Kenneth Victor Primrose
May 15, 2025

David John McCarthy
June 9, 2025 (aged 61)

Dennis William Tonacia
July 2, 2025 (aged 82)

Patrick George Turner
September 2, 2025 (aged 84)

Robert William Stewart
September 9, 2025

Evaline Norma Higginson
September 25, 2025 (aged 97)

Vanessa Leigh Field
October 3, 2025

Leonard Ian Robinson
November 1, 2025 (aged 59)

Leslie Ronald Hayward
November 1, 2025 (aged 81)

Ivan Douglas Halbisch
November 2, 2025 (aged 83)

Barry John Britton
December 1, 2025 (aged 67)

We acknowledge that this list may not be exhaustive. The Junee Bulletin extends its sincere condolences to all families, friends and loved ones affected by loss during the year.

In conclusion

2025 was not easy. It was a year of loss, and a year of leadership. A year of endings, and of bold new beginnings.

Above all, it was a year that proved, time and again, that when Junee is challenged, it responds together.

By locals. For locals. Always.