►WOLLONGONG: The RSPCA Illawarra shelter is having a fire sale of sorts, aiming to find loving, new homes for all their displaced and abandoned animals this weekend. More here

►BALLARAT: Police are investigating a fatal smash in Newlyn North on Friday evening. A male driver of a SUV died at the scene after colliding with a small truck on the Midland Highway, shortly before 5pm. Read more

►MOUNT ISA: Operations at Cloncurry’s Rocklands mine has been suspended until it updates its health and safety reports. More here

►KATHERINE: A squadron of the world’s most advanced military aircraft have been based in Katherine in the Northern Territory’s Top End during the past month as part of US-Australia joint exercises. More here

►TASMANIA: Tasmania has cleaned up at the Australian Tourism Awards, taking home five gold medals, seven silvers and two bronzes. Find out more here

►BENDIGO: Claims of workplace bullying, forced night shifts, and taking on tasks beyond her job description – Alesia’s* employment experiences in central Victoria have been anything but stable. The 22-year-old moved to Bendigo from the Victorian surf coast in 2013, but has found the employment situation dire. More here

► SHOALHAVEN: If you’re on the roads in the early hours of Saturday, February 25, look out for a giraffe. More here

►RIVERINA: Cootamundra’s largest employer closed its doors on Friday, leaving 150 permanent and 70 casual staff out of a job. Read more here

►GUNNING: A private cremation, followed by a memorial service, will be held on March 3 in Gunning for long-time locals Annie and Andrew Basnett who died in a tragic set of circumstances. Andrew and Annie Basnett died in a water tank tragedy on their property in Gunning on February 16. More here​

►Call it age-inflation: Middle age now begins at 50 and runs until 75, say social policy experts Don and Patricia Edgar. By this definition, a third of Australians – about 7 million people – are now middle-aged, say the Edgars in a new book. More here

►New penalties for pubs and clubs that breach their licence conditions have been watered down by the NSW government even before they come into force after a review of laws designed to combat alcohol-related violence. More here

►Labor's proposed method to achieve a 50 per cent renewable energy quota for Australia by 2030 would cost billions more than previously understood, modelling commissioned by the Turnbull government has found. Read more

►Notorious former gynaecologist Graeme Reeves "made a mistake" when he misdiagnosed a seriously ill new mother but does not deserve criminal punishment, his barrister says. More here

►Indonesian president Joko Widodo's ambitious program to develop "10 new Balis" across the archipelago will be among the issues discussed with Malcolm Turnbull this weekend as most Australian tourists continue to only visit the resort island when they visit the country. Read more here

► A police officer who kicked, punched and stomped on a man after he was involved in a high-speed crash during a pursuit in Newcastle has been found not guilty of assault after the prosecution failed to prove he knew what he was doing. Read more here

► US president Donald Trump declared himself among friends as he delivered a campaign-style speech on Friday at an annual gathering of conservative activists, where he told the crowd that the movement he built during his campaign represents the future of the Republican Party. More here

►One of the most vocal critics of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly crackdown on drugs remained defiant after being arrested on Friday, declaring "I am innocent of these trumped up charges." Read more

►The wind is roaring off the Atlantic at Cornwall airport, blowing patterns in the puddles on the tarmac. More here

1497 Italians troops reconquer Taranto on France

1838 London pedestrian walks 20 miles backward then forward in 8 hours

1916 World War I: The Germans capture Fort Douaumont during the Battle of Verdun.

1969 Beatles begin recording Abbey Road album

1988 South Korea adopts constitution

2015 At least 310 people are killed in avalanches in northeastern Afghanistan.

Yvonne Thornton sparkles in any crowd.

That was the summation given by good friend Beth Dean earlier this month, when the Tamworth marvel celebrated her 95th birthday with friends and family at Wests Leagues Club.

One of Tamworth’s lesser known, but brightest, stars has lived a life that many women these days could only dream of. 

Read more about Yvonne here.