►The Robertson Spuddies Shield side toughed it out to take a win over Bargo on June 17. 

The Spuddies travelled to Appin where the defeated Bargo 18-6. 

►A Bowral Rugby Club girls side is finally in action. 

The club has started a girls under-16 7s team after months of planning and rallying girls together. 

►Police have released an image in the hope a witness will come forward to assist with their investigation of Kathleen Lidden’s disappearance. 

They believe the woman may have had some interaction with Kathleen around the time she was last seen on June 13.

►Prepare for a busy weekend with a busy program of activities and events on offer in the Highlands on June 23, 24 and 25.

►One off-payments of up to $75 will soon assist some Highlanders with the cost of energy. More here.

►As far as environmentally friendly goes, a nursery is pretty green. But why stop there? Welby Garden Centre is looking to the sky for inspiration – specifically, the sun. More here.

TRAFFIC:  All roads are clear in the Southern Highlands today. Drive safely and enjoy the journey. 

TRAINS: Commuters can expect a good service on the Southern Highlands today. 

WEATHER: A mostly sunny, with light winds becoming W 20 to 30 km/h in the middle of the day and a daytime maximum temperature of 14 can be expected in the Highlands today.

Here's a look at what the local weather is doing right now.

Good morning and welcome to the Southern Highlands Rise and Shine. Over the next few hours we will be bringing you as much information as possible from across the Southern Highlands and nationally.

Weather, road conditions, breaking news, we will have it all - and we'd love to have your help! If there's anything happening in your part of the world, drop us a line! Email jackie.meyers@fairfaxmedia.com.au

Need a national news snapshot first thing - well, we have you covered. 

Regional news

►Albury: Licensing semi-automatic weapons for recreational hunters could be considered to help kill more deer.

A report in the Victorian Parliament’s inquiry into the control of invasive animals was handed down this week, with recommendations on how to deal with pest control in areas such as the Alpine National Park. Read on.

► Western Australia: The Shire of Murray will be keeping an eye on South Yunderup’s canal properties following a deputation from a resident which highlighted the existence of numerous illegal pergolas, patios and decks in the area.

Paul Eddy, like many other estate owners, built a deck and patio in his Murray Waters Boulevard home almost 10 years ago which didn’t follow the Shire’s building and setback regulations. Read on. 

► Bellbird: Police are searching for a woman who allegedly punched a service station attendant in the face and stole fuel from Bellbird.

The 27-year-old woman drove into the service station in a blue Hyundai Elantra on June 12 and filled up with $10 worth of petrol. More here.

► Illawarra: Reuben Martin was 16 years old when he was diagnosed with an advanced form of Hodgkin's lymphoma. His soccer coach, Peter Coles, was among those who got in his corner. The cancer was at stage four. Doctors attacked it with especially strong chemotherapy drugs that burnt his throat and quickly put an end to his ultra-active lifestyle of surfing, soccer and rugby league. More here.

► Federal politicians are set for a July 1 cash bonanza, with every MP in Parliament to receive thousands of extra dollars in pay, and a cut to their tax rate.

The 2 per cent pay rise was ordered by the independent Remuneration Tribunal on Thursday and will take effect on the very same day that every MP benefits from a drop in the top marginal tax rate from 49 per cent to 47 per cent when the deficit repair levy ends. Read on.

► Emma Husar loves her son.

So, it was as a mum, not the member for Lindsay, she spoke of her disgust and anger that Pauline Hanson had referred to her son, and other children with autism ,as "those others" holding their classmates back from their education. Full report here.

► Indonesia: Bali police were forced to hold off an investigation to ensure four prison escapees, including Australian Shaun Davidson, were not still trapped inside the escape tunnel after rain made conditions unstable.

The four prisoners have not been sighted since it emerged they had escaped during prison roll call at Kerobokan jail at 8am Monday. Read on.

► France:  A popular French lifestyle blogger has been killed in a freak accident involving an exploding whipped cream dispenser.

The death of Rebecca Burger, 32, was announced on social media by her family in a post on her Instagram page. Read on.