Emma Pritchard, Clarence Valley Independent

It isn’t just the trees, blossoming shrubs, and well tendered to veggie patches which are growing in the Yamba Community Garden. After applying for and subsequently receiving a grant of close to $14000 through the Northern Rivers Community Foundation (NRCF) last month, the popular recreational area in Wattle Park is set to expand by 200m2, creating additional space for more Clarence Valley residents to enjoy outdoor activities while fostering an inclusive environment and promoting sustainability within the Lower Clarence.

The idyllic fishing village of Iluka has been rocked by the stabbing murder of one of its own after a 41-year-old man allegedly attacked a 58-year-old Iluka resident before leading police on a more than 50km long pursuit. Social media ignited on the afternoon of Saturday, December 7, with posts from locals and visitors curious about a massive police presence and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter landing in the town.

Making every step count, close to 100 Clarence Valley residents joined members of the Iluka-Woombah Rotary Club on November 29 for a twilight walk to raise awareness of domestic and family violence and the devastating impact it has on communities around Australia. Organised as part of the global campaign 16 Days of Activism, an annual event aimed at eliminating violence against women and young girls while promoting respectful relationships, the initiative received an outpouring of support throughout the coastal village.

Volunteers of the Pelican Playhouse Committee are calling on the Clarence Valley community to assist them as they actively seek grant funding opportunities to restore and rebuild the iconic property in South Grafton. Following the devastating bushfires during 2019 and 2020, which impacted a number of theatre members, and the Covid-19 pandemic which forced the cancellation of several auditions and rehearsals, the Pelican Playhouse sustained significant structural damage during 2022 when devastating flooding occurred throughout Northern NSW.

After the Albanese Government recently announced a proposal to introduce new laws to prohibit youths aged 16 and under from accessing and using social media, citing the changes are aimed at mitigating the harm social media is inflicting on Australian children, the Clarence Valley Independent decided to conduct a street survey.

She is already an inspiration to many throughout the Clarence Valley, and after coaching the Australian Mighty 11s BMX team to victory at the 2024 BMX NZ North Island Titles at the Cambridge BMX Club ... Tahlia Marsh’s knowledge, exuberance, and passion for the sport has been passed on to the next generation of accomplished athletes.

Several clean-up operations were in place across Grafton ... after a ferocious storm swept across southern parts of the Clarence Valley. Trees were uprooted by strong gusts of wind and localised flash flooding cut roads in half as heavy rain fell relentlessly during the afternoon and into the evening.

They put their right feet, left feet, right arms, left arms, heads, knees, shoulders, elbows, and bottoms in, and they shook them all about, they did the Hokey Pokey and they turned around, and that’s what it was all about as hundreds of participants attempted to set a new record for the biggest Hokey Pokey in Australian history during the 2024 Grafton Jacaranda Festival.

Born and raised in the Clarence Valley, Alice Jabour, 30, grew up admiring the Grafton Jacaranda Festival and the proud traditions it holds within the local community. As a student at St Joseph’s Primary School in South Grafton, she recalls feeling inspired to nominate as a Jacaranda candidate after a former Jacaranda Royal Party visited her and her classmates.