THE first Derwent Valley Autumn Festival in three years has been confirmed as an outstanding success and have firmly reestablished the region as the 'Fall Capital” of Tasmania.

THE return of the tiny welcome swallow bird to farms and barns signals the first day of spring which means sunshine has come and at Welcome Swallow Brewery the beers are ready to be brewed.

DERWENT and Brighton job seekers have a new option for free and flexible transport to get to work.

DERWENT Valley rower Anneka Reardon has again been selected to represent Australia and international competitions.

THE Brighton area has been listed as the potential site for a new youth detention facility.

MEET Belinda Smith, the licensee of New Norfolk’s venerable Bush Inn for almost three days now. And her first order of business is ... to close the business. There’s urgent work to be done, and it’s going to take about six weeks to get Australia’s oldest working pub into what she considers fighting shape. Fresh carpet and paint are on their way. Facilities like the toilets are long overdue for a refurbishment, and new plant and equipment is needed.

KELVIN Derksen-Luelf doesn’t mince words. He sees a private sector-driven revitalisation of Willow Court as essential, and he’s going to continue to press hard to get it done.

TASNETWORKS erected the latest in a series of bird protection measures at Macquarie Plains last week following recent reports of eagle electrocution.

MUSIC lovers in the Derwent Valley have a rare opportunity to hear the TSO over two nights at New Norfolk.

ONE of the Derwent Valley’s own, Bridget Pross, is the head- line musical act for this year’s Autumn Festival, now a little more than a week away.