Hotel hosts home-grown celebrations
The Birchip Hotel is building on a traditional theme of celebrating home grown talent on Australia day and this year the event was another resounding success. Bathed in sunlight, and welcoming shade from the trees, picnic rugs were rolled out on the grassy beer garden at the Birchip Hotel, with young families enjoying a jam-packed card of home grown talent.
Journey to sustainable homes for Barkly country unveiled at exhibition
Wilya Ajjul Janta Aboriginal Corporation held an exhibition last Friday at Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Cultural Centre to unveil its housing model that is more environmentally and culturally appropriate for Warumungu country. CEO Simon Quilty was ecstatic with the turnout and the community’s interest in changing the Territory’s housing models to suit its searing heat, especially in light of climate change.
Clydesdales cancelled?
Due to compliance issues with Council, Sandy Creek Clydesdales owners Matthew and Jaimie Thompson say they have been forced to cancel much of their business activities ... well-known and much-loved enterprise ... “We delved into just what changing the land use zoning would require,” Jaimie said.
Dud route: VNI West fails to satisfy
As Australians were stocking fridges and checking gas bottles before Australia Day, local farmers were receiving word that the towering transmission lines would carve through their properties. One farmer said it was the first contact they had from the company, stating “no personal contact” before receiving the news that left them feeling “side swiped.”
True cost of renewables remain hidden
As Australian politicians take aim at globally dictated emissions targets, are everyday Australians left to carry the burden of the ‘green dream’? ... There were an estimated 100 million individual solar photovoltaic (PV) panels in Australia at the end of 2022, and it is estimated 2 billion solar panels will be required if we are to meet the 2050 emissions targets.
Artworks enchant travellers
Towong Shire Council is encouraging residents and visitors to discover the newly installed large-scale artworks along the Great River Road, which were unveiled in late December. Towong mayor, Cr Andrew Whitehead, emphasised council’s commitment to the project, providing an enjoyable experience for travellers, allowing them to appreciate the scenery of shire.
Toowoomba most expensive for fuel
Toowoomba topped the RACQ’s list of most expensive regional centres for fuel in 2023. RACQ’s analysis revealed eight out of the ten largest regional centres posted record high average unleaded prices for 2023. Toowoomba emerged as the most expensive, charging 187 cents per litre (cpl).
Clipper convoy turns heads
Motoring enthusiasts and the plain curious gathered at the former netball courts at the Corryong Recreation Reserve following the Australia Day ceremony to inspect a fleet of restored Ansair Flxible Clipper buses that was visiting the region.
This year have a fulfilled diary rather than a full diary
The start of another year provides a good opportunity to take a little time out to reflect on the past year and assess what matters to you. This is not about setting huge new year resolutions, but more about identifying and pursuing what matters to you. A 3 x 3 x 3 framework is a useful approach, something for yourself daily, targets to achieve by the first quarter, and some goals for the year.
Bonza marks milestone of first year making air travel more affordable and saving Aussies millions: Bonza
Australia’s only independent low-cost carrier Bonza is celebrating a year since taking to Aussie skies to democratise air travel across the country. Bonza revealed that during the past year it has saved Aussie travellers over $125 million by delivering upon its mission of making air travel more affordable and accessible to travellers…
Allora features in stone sculpture trail
Southern Downs Regional Council is inviting visitors and locals to explore the region’s rich arts scene which includes the region’s most loved sculptures carved by local and international sculptors ... stop off at PL Travers Park and check out the Mary Poppins monument ...
Allora Heritage Weekend draws the crowds
This year’s Heritage Weekend was another huge success with an impressive collection of vintage cars, trucks, historical tractors and machinery, stationary engines and motorcycles on show along with well supported swap meets. One of many highlights was the celebration of recognising 50 years of Versatile tractors sold and delivered in Australia.
Storer success at the Tamworth Country Music Festival
Frances Evans. Following a few challenging years due to the pandemic and drought, it was a return to big crowds and big temperatures at the 52nd Tamworth Country Music Festival ... One name synonymous with Australian country music is Storer. And Storer did not disappoint.
Free fish for all at festival
The 10th annual Gynburra festival was held at Port Victoria on Friday and Saturday, January 26-27. The festival is named after the Gynburra fish, also known as butterfish or dusky morwong, which has cultural significance for the Narungga people.
NRLX gates open for first cattle sale in seven months
After a long seven months, the gates to the Casino saleyards will open this Friday ... Tom Newsome is the managing director and he said the negotiation process with everyone involved has been professional and positive.
Maldon’s dinner delight
Every now and then, something comes along to remind you that, despite all the current negativity around the traps and around the world, it does one good to give yourself permission to grab at least one night a year to scoop up friends, invite visitors, get dressed up and have yourself a mighty good time. Enter the 18th Twilight Dinner.
Cr Grundy: Power prices killing our livestock sector
High electricity prices are killing the district’s livestock sector, making life difficult for businesses and households, claims an elected counsellor. Naracoorte-Lucindale Council Cr Cameron Grundy says farmers who used irrigation to produce more, adding to our gross domestic product, “have simply turned off their pumps”, thereby producing less.
Council commits to Stawell gift
Northern Grampians Shire Council has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the Stawell Gift, signing a significant four-year partnership agreement with Stawell Gift Event Management afternoon that will see the council invest $400,000 in the prestigious Australian athletics carnival over the next four years.
A new heatwave safety campaign
Sweltering Cities. This year on January 27, the deadliest day for heat-related deaths in Australia, we’re calling on people to help keep their loved ones and community safe. Sweltering Cities’ new heat safety campaign is calling on people to check-in on friends, family and other people who might be at risk this summer. Heatwaves are Australia’s deadliest environmental disaster and they’re expected to get worse
Special flight
Naracoorte will host an event of the popular Tasting Australia program in May 2024. And for the first time ever, the festival will bring visitors from interstate direct to regional South Australia, with a charter plane flying from Melbourne direct to Naracoorte as part of a new Tasting Australia Airlines experience.
A day at the races – Bong Bong 2023
For those of you who have never spent the day at a picnic races in country Australia, if you make your first foray the Bong Bong Picnic Races at Bowral in the NSW Southern Highlands, the odds are you'll be hooked. Simply everyone is happy to be there.
The Nationals force Labor to call ACCC inquiry: Littleproud
Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud has welcomed the announcement of an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) supermarket inquiry into price gouging, but claimed the Labor Government had to be shamed into calling it, after ignoring warnings and support to act on supermarkets for more than 12 months.

