And under that hot spring sun, a region bursting with events was allowed to shine.

Beginning with the 151^st Wagga Show over Thursday and Friday, the crowds kept turning up to a plethora of activities.

On Friday, the Taste Riverina festival’s Cork and Fork, set on the banks of the Murrumbidgee, was the perfect venue for foodies to get their food and wine fix.

The place was packed and the event will take place every Friday until October 30.

The Taste festival encompasses all that is great in the Riverina.

As Australia’s food bowl, we cannot do enough to promote all the fantastic produce this fertile region has to offer the rest of Australia and the world, in great food as well as great wine, beer and cider.

The second annual Gears and Beers festival is aiming to do just that.

From a casual 15-kilometre Sunday ride, to a gruelling 130-kilometre slog, riders were welcomed back to Wagga’s Victory Memorial Gardens with a tent city offering the best cider and beer from around the region.

And then there’s the Deni Ute Muster – now an October long weekend institution as big as the NRL grand final.

Now in its 16^th year, the shining light of the Deniliquin entertainment calendar continues to grow from strength to strength.

Wagga residents are quick to complain of the city not having enough to do – now it is your turn to come out and keep supporting what’s on offer. Like a well-watered spring garden, residents need to keep supporting these events to keep them growing.

The Roads and Maritime’s decision to drop the controversial speed limit is a win for common sense.

The road is an avenue for young and relatively inexperienced drivers heading out to the university, and has been the scene of some ugly accidents in the past – including the unnecessary loss of life.

Add to this growing suburbs, Estella Rise and fledgling Gobbagombalin, and growing pressure from the community – it really was a no-brainer. A well-deserved pat on the back to the community who pushed for this for safety’s sake.