While many of our readers were enjoying the long weekend, the team at the Lismore App were working hard behind the scenes to make some changes to what we provide you on a daily basis.

Often, we get feedback from our readers through the Contact The App button or on the website. Making the front page more simple was feedback received most often over the last twelve months. This was important to our website users, both through iPads and PCs and through their mobile phones, because it makes finding information more difficult.

(The menu option on the left if you use the Lismore App website on your mobile, and the result on your right.)

We have created a Business Directory button to help with this situation.

Like the old Yellow Pages, all your local businesses can be found in one place: in the Business Directory. Trades & Construction, Services, Retail Shopping, Automotive, Eat/Drink/Stay, Farming/Agriculture and Weddings. If you are looking for a tradie, someone to fix your appliance or to tint your windows, this is the place you should go.

The Lismore App thanks all of our business partners for their support. This is how we can bring you the best local news on a daily basis. These business fund local journalism.

Another improvement for the summer of 2024/25 is the addition of National and International News as well as National Sport.

Through an agreement with AAP (Australian Associated Press), the Lismore App can bring you a broader perspective on news from around the country and around the world. Don't worry; we will never lose our main focus, which is providing comprehensive news and sports coverage for Lismore and the Northern Rivers.

You will notice the News and Sport buttons are now separate. This will allow us to provide you with the relevant news sections. So, your News button will automatically open to local news. You will then see a tab to the right, which says National and another International.

This will be the same with the Sport button. It will open to local sports with a National tab to the right.

The bottom of the Lismore App buttons provide easy access to popular information. For Jobs, Funerals and Notifications, there is no change. You will see the inclusion of a Notices button. This is for Community Notices, such as garage sales, a community group's annual meeting, announcing a local event or seeking volunteers. This is not for private businesses but for the community and volunteer organisations or charities.

We wanted to create a safe space where locals can easily share information and support each other.

You can add your own information by clicking on the 'List your notice here +' option at the top of the page. We will be notified when it is submitted to check the details before making it go live.

Thank you for making the Lismore App your local digital newspaper. Google Analytics tells us that we have had over 60,000 readers in the last 30 days. This was beyond our expectations when we launched in November 2017. We are humbled by your trust in our journalism and reporting to bring you balanced and breaking news and sport.

Remember, if you have a news story, email simon@lismoreapp.com.au.