Leah White
Lismore, NSW
Leah White is a cross-platform reporter for ABC North Coast, filing for radio, television and online. Previously, she has worked in print and commercial television.
Latest by Leah White
A stranger's act of kindness was 'the start of life' for this street kid turned foster father
Grame Hopf has dedicated more than half a century to fostering the most "challenging" cases, including a murderer, violent drug addicts and sex offenders.
'Icarus's dream': Hang-gliding community bids farewell to the sport's founding father
When John Dickenson's unique design for a hang-glider first took flight over the Clarence River in 1963, it revolutionised aviation. Now, the 89-year-old's life and legacy is being commemorated.
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Meet the backpacker choosing flood recovery over fruit picking
A flood recovery group on the NSW Far North Coast looks to recruit more people on working holiday visas after a volunteer awakened members to an untapped resource.
Calls for coronial inquest as young mother dies five weeks after an alleged assault in Casino
When 27-year-old Jamikka Olive died suddenly five weeks after an alleged assault that left her with head injuries, her family linked it back to the incident, saying she did not receive appropriate health care.
Why you need to know about 'credential stuffing' — the latest way scammers are targeting your data
A Byron Bay woman's $1.8m legal nightmare highlights how hackers use username and password combinations leaked online to access other accounts, a scam on the rise due to recent major data breaches, experts warn.
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Rhonda Hayes calls them 'her sons, her grandsons, her angels' who helped her in her darkest hour
Two weeks after floodwaters tore through Rhonda's home her son died but, thanks to the kindness of strangers who rebuilt her flood-damaged property from the ground up, she's finally been able to return home.
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While Lyn's home teeters on the edge of a landslip her trauma continues while she waits for a buyback
The survivors of last year's devastating landslips in the northern New South Wales flood catastrophe say they are in no-man's-land while they wait for news of a land buyback.
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Hundreds of 'invisible' and 'abandoned' flood victims rally on iconic NSW bridge
Residents from communities along the Richmond River have rallied on a bridge where harrowing scenes played out during last year's catastrophe.
People are being told their flooded homes are not high-risk. The council begs to differ
Residents from South Lismore were devastated by floods in 2022 but are struggling to access the scheme that offered them a chance of escape. Now they're being told the council wants to put a stop to residential development because of the flood risk.
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He fooled Hitler and Mussolini, now Lismore celebrates local highwire hero Con Colleano
Almost a century after the "greatest tightwire artist of all time" built his career on hiding his Indigenous heritage, Con Colleano's legacy is celebrated through a special tribute in his home town.
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Two homes where people died in February 2022 floods not eligible for buyback
When the waters receded after the record-breaking flood in Lismore, three people were found dead inside homes — but only one of those houses is classified as a high-risk priority for government buybacks.
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Parents of murdered backpacker feel 'no closer' to answers after charges withdrawn
The parents of Simone Strobel, murdered in Lismore in 2005, hope a second inquest into her death will proceed now charges against her then-boyfriend have been withdrawn.
Charges dropped against man accused of cold case murder of German backpacker Simone Strobel
Simone Strobel's naked body was found in Lismore in 2005. Last year Tobias Moran was charged over her death, but prosecutors have withdrawn their case.
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Former lover of missing woman Marion Barter denies wrongdoing, says multiple women's fraud evidence 'lies'
The former lover of Gold Coast teacher Marion Barter, missing for nearly 26 years, has given evidence at the inquest into her disappearance and suspected death.
Inquest into disappearance of 'dedicated and caring' schoolteacher 25 years ago hears from overseas witness
The mystery surrounding the mother of two's disappearance a quarter of a century ago has captured the attention of millions through the popular podcast The Lady Vanishes.
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Lisa spent eight years and $500,000 on IVF. Then her best friend made a 'miracle' possible
Lisa Messenger sold her house and pushed her body to its limits trying to conceive. In one phone call, her best friend Sarah Megginson changed her life with a "phenomenal" gift.
How costs, red tape capsized a father's dying wish for his unique inland maritime museum
The Finch family home in Kyogle was once an homage to life at sea — attracting tourists from far and wide. But when its founder Frank Finch passed away, no safe harbour could be found for his maritime memorabilia.
Thelma's home is her haven, but when it was destroyed by flood she couldn't get the same help as others
After months of assessments and reports, the NSW Reconstruction Authority says Thelma Murphy's home in a caravan park is not eligible for further disaster relief, leaving her to ask why her home is "deemed less worthy".
The festival that transformed a conservative dairy town into a haven for hippies and herbs
It is 50 years since the first Aquarius festival was held in Nimbin, but the counter-culture event has left a lasting legacy that is still being celebrated.
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'Unconvincing, unreliable' captor's hands shake as judge sends her to jail
A judge was unable to find a Tweed woman genuinely remorseful for her role in detaining a Brisbane school teacher who died when hit by a truck soon after being released.
These students faced devastating fires and floods but how did they fare on stage at Bluesfest?
Five students from the small flood and fire-ravaged village of Rappville on the NSW far north coast have performed on stage at Bluesfest in the same line-up as world-famous musicians.
Duration: 21 seconds
Kid rockers emerge from fires, floods, to share Bluesfest stage with world-class musicians
Five young students from a fire and flood-ravaged village take to the stage at Bluesfest, playing in the same line-up as some of the biggest names in music.
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Flooding damaged this road a year ago leaving locals in the lurch. But complex repair works are now on the way
A landslip during 2022 flooding wrecked this road near Tyalgum in NSW, impacting businesses and adding hours to school drop offs. But a contract for repairs likened to building a four-storey structure underground has just been awarded.
Gen Z voters want action on housing, environment and gambling as NSW election looms
For the first time, the under-40s will make up the majority of voters at the NSW election on Saturday. And they have clear messages about the issues they care about most.
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The 'fine art' of feather repair saving birds of prey from starvation
Damaged or broken flight feathers can be a death sentence for birds such as raptors and owls. Fortunately, Melanie Barsony is skilled in a rare and difficult technique needed to fix them.