Lloyd Polkinghorne, The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper

Ali Bohn. “Mum plays 18 holes of golf twice a week. She does light exercises twice a week, she’s involved with a group who play cards, and up until COVID-19, she was doing water aerobics. She is just a very happy lady and a wonderful person. She would absolutely love this!”

Kendall Jennings. When the birthday ballot forcefully selected healthy 20-year-old men for compulsory two years’ military service and a further three years on a reserve list under the National Service Act of 1964 for the Vietnam conflict, it set forth a mateship that has not altered in 50 years. On Saturday, April 25, former Two Royal Australian Regiment (2RAR) met on the towns located on the banks of the mighty Murray River, Barham and Koondrook, to pay homage at the Anzac Day services.

Kendall Jennings. In April 1996, I joined the Australian Army Reserve, 8th/7th Royal Victorian Regiment Charlie Company Headquarters Swan Hill. I served for four years, three as an administration clerk and one year as a driver. I had the chance to travel around Australia and play soccer for the Australian Army. When I went to transfer to Regular Army with my friends, unfortunately, I was made non-deployable and forced to be medically discharged. The people I served with over the years are life friends. One person I am incredibly proud of is Tamie Andrew. She enlisted into the Australian Army Reserve in 1997, as a combat storeman. In 2006, she transferred to the Australian Regular Army as a cargo specialist.

Ali Bohn. Last week I was thrilled to return face-to-face with our Pioneers after almost a year apart. Although we were not permitted to meet indoors, we sat under the tree out the front of Murray Haven and Barham’s stunning autumn weather did not disappoint; so much so in fact that it was cool drinks on offer in place of the usual hot cuppa. Today’s discussion topic was wartime and what our Pioneers’ memories are of such time with family members heading off to the unknown, and the uncertainty of ever seeing them again.

For 150 years, European settlers have enjoyed the regenerative resource that is our redgum forests. Now, the industry faces closure at the hands of the Victorian Labor Government. The Andrew’s government plan was first mooted in 2019 and now, with COVID-19 easing, bureaucratic boots are on the ground to ensure Labor achieve their objective. If successful, all Victorian native forestry harvesting and logging will cease by 2030. Other key milestones include the end of current forest contracts in 2024, followed by a re-tendering process.

Can you quantify the impact music has had on your life? Don Hearn from Caldwell near Barham believes music is intrinsic to our DNA and is enjoyed in every culture, and in every country around the world and he is looking to share the unity that music brings to us all ... Noteworthy’s aim is to repurpose pre-loved guitars or the like and provide them to people around the globe.

Kirstin Nicholson. A turtle nest – a wonderful construction, dug by the female to lay her eggs in and filled back up to keep the eggs safe from the world until they hatch up to a year later ... Despite being backfilled, the eggs are still in danger from predators like foxes and water rats. While we may not be able to easily identify a turtle nest, unfortunately a fox can ... Graham Stockfeld from Turtles Australia has been visiting the Gunbower and Cohuna area several times a year to protect the nests and collect data.

“Fisher folk, stand-up boarders, kayakers and everyone are invited to bring their sailboats, tinnies or whatever and come along with us to stand up for our inland rivers,” says Carol Carney. Carol is the proud owner of "Sneaky Snag", a beautiful 4.8 metre long blue and white trailor-boat that floats around the Murray River and other waterways near Echuca, one of Victoria's primo river towns. At 3pm on April 16, 2021, boats of all descriptions will launch into the weir-pool above Lock 32, at Menindee in Western NSW.