From the newsroom PM 17/9/12

REPORTERS are starting to file their copy in a busy start to the week in the newsroom.

Senior report Terry Deefholts is asking the Federal Government (Janelle Saffin and Anthony Albanese) whether it will match opposition commitments made on the weekend to move $2b from the proposed Parramatta to Epping Rail  project to the Pacific Highway. Nationals leader Warren Truss admitted on the weekend that the vast majority of this funding would not be available till 2017 - a year after the NSW Government said it would have the highway completed.

Reporter Lachlan Thompson has been talking to the Rural Fire Service about just how much it costs to fight a fire. As well he's taking a look at some of the holiday fun the National Parks and Wildlife Service has in store for kids during the school holidays.

Tim Howard has been chatting with Yamba's international author Peter Watt has been spending a lot of his time putting out fires recently with the Rural Fire Service. But that's about to come to an end as he leaves for a national book signing tour to market his latest novel, Beyond the Horizon. Daily Examiner readers can win a sneak preview of the book in our readers' competition.

He's also been in contact with the family who celebrated the 70th wedding anniversary of Mick and Elsie Heath. Apparently they sprang a little surprise on the couple, hiding a surprise guest until the last moment.

Sports reporter Matt McInerney interviewed Wallaby debutant and former Yamba Buccaneer Kane Douglas about his his first game against the Pumas. No surprisingly he said it was the toughest game he has palyed.

Matt has also been getting all the junior football grand final yarns together and wrapping up the Daily Examiner Primary School Netball competition.

You can contact The Daily Examiner on 6643 0500 if you have any news for us.