Best ever heritage weekend
Thanks to all the hard working Committee and Volunteers who made the Allora Heritage Weekend such a great success. The weekend brings many visitors to our town, meaning a real boost to local businesses.
Lord Howe Island Festival
We’re so excited to share with you the information that we'll be running a series of events for our community in late February… all part of the Lord Howe Island Festival!
Celebrating 45 years with local business
Donna Layton knows a thing or two about the true meaning of loyalty, commitment, and devotion. As the General Manager of J Notaras and Sons Sawmill proudly reflects on 45 years with the local business, where she is well respected by her friends and colleagues, she said she can’t imagine being anywhere else.
Action needed on land conflict: NSW Farmers
Farmer blockades of mining trucks will escalate unless real action is taken to resolve land and water use conflict, NSW Farmers warns. On Saturday police were called to a state forest near Gunnedah after more than 60 farmers blockaded Santos trucks amid a dispute over potential water extraction and fracking. Local communities feared the Sub-Artesian Basin and aquifers could be forever polluted if coal seam gas projects went ahead, and saw no option but to take action after the NSW Government renewed a petroleum exploration licence in the area.
Castlemaine State Festival announces 2023 season line-up, 24 March-9 April 2023
A diverse curation of the very best local and international arts talent and events will bring focus to Castlemaine, spotlighting the wealth of the region while bringing visitors from across Australia and overseas to experience this renowned family-friendly, fun, and accessible seventeen-day event.
Construction companies shortlisted to build $8 billion worth of new hospitals and major expansions: D’Ath
Queensland Health has established a supplier panel of major construction companies to accelerate the delivery of three new hospitals and nine major hospital expansions under the Palaszczuk Government’s Queensland Health and Hospitals Plan ... “The building contractor shortlist of 12 was established based on an expression of interest process and through Queensland Health’s broader engagement with industry": Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Yvette D’Ath.
Scenic Rim forges ahead on the Garage Sale Trail
Scenic Rim sellers who turned their trash into cash during two weekends of garage sales in November 2022 generated more than $40,000 in sales and saved almost 3.2 tonnes of unwanted items from landfill ... “Programs such as the Garage Sale Trail play a valuable role in shifting community perceptions of purchasing second hand, supporting the transition to a circular economy and enabling more effective reuse and recycling of unwanted items”: Mayor Christensen.
Regional Tech Hub launches new book-in phone service: NFF
Say goodbye to connectivity frustration in rural, regional, and remote Australia with a new and convenient book-in phone support service from the Regional Tech Hub. The team is ready to provide free, independent personalised connectivity assistance, answer questions, and provide advice on internet and mobile options, no matter where you live in regional Australia.
Exports to Singapore get a digital boost: DAFF
Australian exporters will see faster export documentation and easier access into Singapore’s markets, as certification between Australia and Singapore moves towards paperless trading ... “Using electronic export certification (eCert) means the relevant information is sent directly to overseas government agencies almost instantly, allowing for quicker clearance times so producers can get their goods to market faster”: A/g Deputy Secretary Nicola Hinder.
Three-year partnership with golf NSW a big hit for regional NSW: Toole, Henskens, Franklin
"We expect that these 51 strategically placed golf events over three years will attract more than 16,000 visitors to the host regions, injecting an estimated $13.5 million into the regional NSW economy": Minister for Tourism, Ben Franklin.
International delegation to provide lasting benefits for the Lockyer Valley
Lockyer Valley Regional Council Mayor, Cr Tanya Milligan is honoured to be part of an upcoming international delegation to north America, which is set to focus on a range of issues for the Lockyer Valley. The Council of Mayors South East Queensland delegation will put a spotlight on waste management issues and better transport connectivity ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Announcement of agreement to sell J Notaras & Sons business and assets
After more than 70 years supplying quality hardwood timber and timber products, the Board of J Notaras and Sons (“the Company”) is pleased to advise that the business will be continuing its strong legacy and commitment to the family-owned service ethic and outstanding quality its customers have come to admire and respect under the direction of the Marshall family.
24th International Seaweed Symposium
The 24th International Seaweed Symposium will be held for the first time in Australia. It will take place in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia’s most southern state, from Sunday 19th to Friday 24th February 2023.
South Australia’s world-class medical precinct on show at global tech event: Champion
South Australian medical and biotech companies will get the opportunity to pitch to global investors at a major trade event in the Middle East, which begins today. The Arab Health Exhibition and Congress, held at Dubai’s World Trade Centre, will provide local companies the international platform to showcase their world-class medical products, devices and capability.
Patients in pain waiting more than seven years to see a specialist: Hurn
Record ramping under Peter Malinauskas continues to have a ripple effect throughout the health system, as new government data exposes that some South Australian patients have a gruelling wait of more than seven years to see a specialist ... Shadow Minister for Health Ashton Hurn said these wait times go hand-in-hand with record ramping where patients are regularly forced to wait more than 24 hours for a bed.
Sixty years of seediness
Peter Flavel. At a recent Probus meeting, the seed business story was told by Jamie Tidy who is general manager of Naracoorte Seeds Pty Ltd & South Australian Seed Marketers. Jamie handles National and International Seed Trading. The Naracoorte Seeds business was established in 1962 as an outlet for Pasture Seed & Grain and is the oldest family run seeds business in Australia.
Porcupine Village woes
It was an announcement that was significant enough for the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events to visit Maldon in May last year: a State Government decision to invest $1.7 million in a development at Porcupine Village ... After eight months, progress on the Porcupine Village development has stalled, with works shut down by Council owing to lack of compliance regarding appropriate planning permission.
A Victorian wallpaper story or do not lick the wallpaper
Palm House in Maldon is an impressive example of a pristine, well-preserved heritage home with all the Victorian charm that is part of Maldon. Situated on High Street, south of the township, serving as a B&B and loved home for Andrew and Amanda Fedorowicz, the residence is a step back in time.
eID committee survives
A committee charged with assessing the benefits, risks and costs of implementing eID tags for sheep and goats in SA has survived a tied 10-10 vote of no confidence. A call for its removal came after a two-hour debate where farmers spoke for and against mandatory eID tags in sheep and goats.
Mobs of debate over eID tags
If a truck load of vendor-bred sheep go direct from a farm to an abattoir, should producers pay for the time, effort and cost of each animal having a $2.50 electronic identification (eID) ear tag ... Current figures suggest around $30 million will be ripped out of rural communities and their service towns by the scheme.
Energy boss takes the reins
Snowy Hydro has announced the appointment of Dennis Barnes as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director ... Mr Barnes was most recently CEO of ASX/NZX-listed Contact Energy, guiding the company through a period of significant change including the separation from Australian majority shareholder Origin Energy and the completion of a NZ$2billion investment program encompassing renewable generation and enterprise-wide systems.
New bridge takes shape
The first of three spans of girders are now in place as the basis of the new Towong Bridge deck slab begins to take form. The first five pre-cast bridge girders were craned into place early this week with each spanning up to 20 metres in length and weighing up to 30 tonnes.
