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This week Armidale ushered in the New Year. Community leaders let us know what was on their wish list for the 2014, with growth being on the top of the agenda for most of them.
Meanwhile, an Armidale man is in a stable condition after being assaulted early New Year's Day. The 25-year-old man was walking home when he was attacked from behind by two or three men. The man was taken to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle for emergency surgery. He remains in hospital in a stable condition.
Despite this incident, police were otherwise happy with the behaviour of New Year's revellers.
![HAPPY NEW YEAR: Tahliea Merchant, Stephen Tanner and Chloe Reeves helped bring in 2014 at a big New Year’s Eve entertainment feast at the Armidale City Bowling Club. HAPPY NEW YEAR: Tahliea Merchant, Stephen Tanner and Chloe Reeves helped bring in 2014 at a big New Year’s Eve entertainment feast at the Armidale City Bowling Club.](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-3AQdSWZkfZWdxbzL4vbGQfb/ba8f7f09-6f8c-4ef6-a58e-7c794ce96f21.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![FAMILY FIRST: David Harvey and Rebecca Adams get to know little Addison Grace. FAMILY FIRST: David Harvey and Rebecca Adams get to know little Addison Grace.](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-3AQdSWZkfZWdxbzL4vbGQfb/803e6018-a1f7-4e11-b0ce-46e07962b21b.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![SUMMER FUN: Peter Heagney and his son Rhett, 7, with Glencoe’s Stephen Newberry and his 18-month-old son Alec paddling on Dumaresq Dam. SUMMER FUN: Peter Heagney and his son Rhett, 7, with Glencoe’s Stephen Newberry and his 18-month-old son Alec paddling on Dumaresq Dam.](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-3AQdSWZkfZWdxbzL4vbGQfb/3314ca05-ff77-41d6-a40b-6c60d6c5eb2d.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![BEATING THE HEAT: Ross Schumack escaped the heat under a shady tree. BEATING THE HEAT: Ross Schumack escaped the heat under a shady tree.](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-3AQdSWZkfZWdxbzL4vbGQfb/32c3e1ad-fa91-4250-a739-cb8e9233ef99.JPG/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![SERVICE WITH A SMILE: Sarah Houlahan and Josh Oxley have been kept busy by customers at the Goldfish Bowl Café in Armidale. SERVICE WITH A SMILE: Sarah Houlahan and Josh Oxley have been kept busy by customers at the Goldfish Bowl Café in Armidale.](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-3AQdSWZkfZWdxbzL4vbGQfb/6d3f5bcd-e977-4ff8-93ab-40e1642e17c2.JPG/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![NOT A LOAD OF POOP: Neville Moore is one of the volunteers who are part of the Pets of Older Persons Program. NOT A LOAD OF POOP: Neville Moore is one of the volunteers who are part of the Pets of Older Persons Program.](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-3AQdSWZkfZWdxbzL4vbGQfb/a30e9f36-25e6-4066-9742-0734355d263d.JPG/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![FOUND: German shepherd mixed breed dog Sarge is currently at the New England Regional Companion Animal Shelter. He was found wandering Rologas Fields on New Year’s Eve. FOUND: German shepherd mixed breed dog Sarge is currently at the New England Regional Companion Animal Shelter. He was found wandering Rologas Fields on New Year’s Eve.](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-3AQdSWZkfZWdxbzL4vbGQfb/b85f3070-3776-44e9-bcce-a6efef70e861.JPG/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![NOT COMPLAINTS: Scot MacDonald MLC is pleased the Armidale Fair Trading office in Faulkner Street will be an access point for a new tribunal. NOT COMPLAINTS: Scot MacDonald MLC is pleased the Armidale Fair Trading office in Faulkner Street will be an access point for a new tribunal.](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-3AQdSWZkfZWdxbzL4vbGQfb/89712944-0cc2-42e3-ba7d-c984f655d34c.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![SPORT GROUND: From left: Armidale Dumaresq Councillor Colin Gadd, President of the Armidale Sports Council Steve McMillan, Darren Schaefer Chief Marketing Officer of the Community Mutual Group and President of the Armidale District Cricket Association Mike Porter in front of one of the signs at the New England Mutual Sportsground. SPORT GROUND: From left: Armidale Dumaresq Councillor Colin Gadd, President of the Armidale Sports Council Steve McMillan, Darren Schaefer Chief Marketing Officer of the Community Mutual Group and President of the Armidale District Cricket Association Mike Porter in front of one of the signs at the New England Mutual Sportsground.](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-3AQdSWZkfZWdxbzL4vbGQfb/9ae38217-4fb0-4704-8857-8946ef810257.JPG/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![VITAL SERVICE: Nita and John Hughes are among the local volunteers who work at the driver reviver station at Uralla in an effort to save lives. VITAL SERVICE: Nita and John Hughes are among the local volunteers who work at the driver reviver station at Uralla in an effort to save lives.](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-3AQdSWZkfZWdxbzL4vbGQfb/7e54788a-c6fc-4951-a067-e60dc7deae0d.JPG/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
![STELLAR PERFORMANCE: Jodie Ostenfeld, Jan-Piet Knijff and Lena Schmalz kicked off 2014 with a concert in Uralla. STELLAR PERFORMANCE: Jodie Ostenfeld, Jan-Piet Knijff and Lena Schmalz kicked off 2014 with a concert in Uralla.](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-3AQdSWZkfZWdxbzL4vbGQfb/55bcdf4a-4d0c-48f2-9181-5243d7abef0b.JPG/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
An Armidale couple has had a very special holiday delivery, with their daughter being the first baby born in the region for 2014. Addison Grace Harvey was born at 1.02am on Wednesday and is the first child of Rebecca Adams and her partner David Harvey.
In other news, January might be a quieter month around the city, but Armidale will be buzzing with a number of sporting events coming to town. It all kicks off on Monday with the start of the Walter Taylor Shield, which will see athletes and families from as far away as Sydney call Armidale home for the week.
Twelve locals from Armidale Action on Coal Seam Gas and Mining have joined the fight to stop coal seam gas and mining at Maules Creek and the Pilliga Forest, claiming the region will be turned into "an industrial wasteland".
There is no end in sight for the industrial battle between the University of New England and the National Tertiary Education Union, with the university accusing the union of preventing an outcome for a more flexible working environment for academic staff as part of the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement. The union says it has other priorities it wants to address before discussing the issue, such as the trimesters.
Armidale’s McCarthy Building on Faulkner Street will now be an access point for the consumer and commercial division of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, with Guyra-based member of the NSW Legislative Council Scot MacDonald is claiming something of a personal victory and a win for Armidale as a new “super tribunal” takes effect this week.
Take a look back at the photos from the Armidale Express from the week, and don't forget to check out how Armidale welcomed in 2014.