Serena Kirby, ARR.News
82 POSTS
Serena Kirby is a freelance reporter, writer and photographer based in regional Western Australia. With a background in public relations, education and tourism she’s had 30 years experience writing and photographing for local, national and international publications. Her current focus is on sharing stories from the sticks; its people, places and products and the life that lies beyond the city limits. She enjoys living in a small town while raising a tall teenager.
Review – Hot Ground
Set in Western Australia's goldfields, Hot Ground is the second crime fiction novel by author Lisa Ellery ... "Hot Ground" is a well-paced police crime novel that blends a clever plot with a vivid outback setting. If you enjoy crime fiction that mixes outback grit with gold fever and buried secrets, "Hot Ground" could be just the read you’re looking for.
Finding love in the country
Anyone who’s ventured into the world of online dating is sure to have countless stories of mismatches, mishaps, misconceptions and misunderstandings ... Dawn LaPuma was just one of those ‘over 60s’ living beyond the city lights who dipped her toe in the waters of online dating and it didn't take long for her to start keeping a journal of the various characters she encountered...
Laughter really is the best medicine
The expression ‘laughter is the best medicine’ is no joke. Countless studies confirm the healing properties and mental health benefits of a good giggle ... “I was given three years to live and that was 20-plus years ago so I’ve survived way past my expiry date,” says Laughter Yoga facilitator, Kim O'Meara, laughing.
Nilla Spark – Nilla’s Italian Kitchen
“People in my classes often say, ‘Oh my God this tastes amazing’ and I have to remind them that it tastes so good because they made it and they made it with the right intention. If you put love into your food, you're going to put love into your body.”
Dave Rastrick – All that Jazz
To say that David Rastrick is a hardworking musician is an understatement of monumental proportion ... He performs several times a week and can clock up around 120 gigs a year ... juggling all these commitments requires the skill of an air traffic controller and the stamina of an elite athlete.
Fish tales
I’m certainly no fisherwoman but when my elderly neighbour, Jim, offered to take me out on the inlet to go fishing I keenly accepted. Jim hadn’t told me what to bring so I borrowed the full range of fishing gear from friends so I’d be properly prepared. I had rods and reels, bait and burley and my gear quickly cluttered up the bottom of the boat. Jim by contrast had only a hand line and bucket and told me his bait was “still breathing” ...
Capturing the light – Kirsten Sivyer
When Kirsten Sivyer was a child she’d copy pictures of animals with elaborate accuracy and add little descriptions about the animal’s features, habitat and lifecycle. At one stage she thought she’d go on to be a vet but it turned out that all that drawing practice was the seed for the other career she eventually followed.
Ocean advocate: Marine biologist, Kat Mason
Marine biologist Kat Mason may have only been in Australia a matter of months, but her connection to the ocean runs deep. Raised in Bournemouth, a coastal town in the south of England, Kat’s early years were filled with an appreciation of the ocean but it was a childhood stint in Florida that truly sparked her curiosity about marine life.
Barrel Farm – A labour of love and family
Barrel Farm is one of Albany’s newest food and beverage venues and its creation was just a labour of love and very much a family affair. Owned and operated by the Buxton family, Barrel Farm has been the decades-long dream of parents, Peter and Peg Buxton ... Situated on one of Albany’s old dairy farms, it is a creative blend of old and new.
The bountiful garden
Spring is here and it’s time to start planting your vegetable garden. It’s also the perfect time to take inspiration from other gardeners who are passionate about what they grow and how they grow it. Many of us can only dream of being self-sufficient in regards to fruit and vegetables but for avid gardener, Artha Holmes, this dream is a daily reality.
