Contributor, ARR.News

Coffs Harbour Yacht Club has set course for an exciting new era which will focus on growing sailing and associated water-based activities for the community.

The story of how the iconic HMAS Whyalla returned home in 1984 has been brought to life through the memories of crew member George Cook, who played a key role in the historic voyage. George served as a deckhand under Captain A. Ekblom, joining a crew of experienced shipyard and tugboat workers selected to sail the vessel from Melbourne back to Whyalla after its purchase by Whyalla City Council.

Parrtjima 2026 has celebrated its biggest opening weekend yet, recording the largest opening weekend attendance in the festival’s history, including the second-largest opening night, as visitors flocked to the Red Centre. Across Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the festival attracted nearly 8,300 attendances, with a program that’s still got plenty for all to enjoy until 19 April.

A lizard known to Wiimpatja Aboriginal Owners as Kungaka “the Hidden One” has been formally described as a new species, acknowledged in research published today in Zootaxa. With fewer than 20 individuals of the species known to exist, the Kungaka is also now one of Australia's most threatened reptiles.

The biggest-ever AFL Gather Round attendance has led to record crowds beyond the boundary in Norwood and the Barossa, as footy fans and visitors made the most of everything on offer across the state.

The Nationals Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland MP, says Victoria’s growing police vacancy crisis is leaving regional communities exposed, as reports of fuel theft surge across the region. Ms Cleeland said with more than 1500 Victoria Police vacancies and limited farm crime officers remaining, the Allan Labor Government had left farmers increasingly vulnerable to organised theft.

The Crisafulli Government is committed to unlocking productivity for Queenslanders with an inquiry into the impact of the Federal Government’s 2025 environmental legislation. Changes to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 have raised concerns with stakeholders about increased regulatory burden, compliance costs, uncertainty and delays. 

Victorians doing it tough are getting fresh food on the table thanks to produce grown by Marngoneet Correctional Centre. Participants in Marngoneet’s horticulture program grow and donate more than 30 vegetable boxes each week to help Victorians experiencing food insecurity.

Investment in Australia’s oil and gas industries is being hamstrung by net zero policies of the major banks, despite the nation’s escalating fuel crisis ... “I am extremely concerned that the net zero policies of Australian banks prevent them from supporting businesses that have been trying to increase the production of oil, simply because they’re in the business of ‘fossil fuels’.

The Australian Antarctic Program has completed two environmental management and research voyages to Heard Island and McDonald Islands – the first campaign of its kind in 20 years. The islands are an Australian external territory, located in the Southern Ocean, about 4,000 km south-west of Australia.