As the COVID-19 lockdown ended in much of regional NSW, it meant our hospitality venues, along with many other businesses, could reopen.

We spoke to Harley on Friday ahead of the reopening and he explained what the lockdown experience had been like for him and his staff at the pub.

It's great to see so many businesses return around Armidale, and see people out and about over the weekend.

Obviously, we still need to adhere to strict social distancing rules and limits in some places. That was a message we heard loud and clear when we spoke with community leaders about the end of lockdown.

Mayor Ian Tiley, chair of Business New England Aileen MacDonald, state MP Adam Marshall and federal MP Barnaby Joyce all expressed some delight, but there were words of caution about it.

The region is not completely out of the woods yet, and there are still restrictions in place.

Meanwhile in non-covid news, in a Sydney courtroom, an Armidale woman who defrauded several victims of more than $2 million has received a jail sentence.

We have been following the case of Sandra Henri Edmonds, 61, for three years now since her arrest.

Edmonds, who masterminded an elaborate scam worth more than $2.2 million to fund her rural property purchases and her lifestyle, will spend at least two and a half years behind bars.

Thanks for reading and have a good week!

Laurie Bullock

Group Editor