Councils voice concern over closure of Bega factory in Strathmerton
“This is a heartbreaking announcement for 300 workers, their families, and the wider community. It’s also a clear signal that our food manufacturing industry on which our region relies, is under increasing strain — from rising input costs to workforce challenges and from uncertainty driven by the Murray-Darling Basin Plan”: Chair of the Murray River Group of Councils, Cr. Dan Straub.
Cuttlefest 2025 is here!
Get ready to dive into the excitement – the Australian Giant Cuttlefish will arrive soon in the coastal waters near Stony Point, marking the start of Whyalla’s much-loved Cuttlefest 2025 celebrations! Running from June through July, the season features an exciting line-up of family-friendly, adventurous, and creative events taking place across the city.
Wellspring food pantry celebrates 10 years
A Lower Clarence Op-Shop that has helped thousands of people with discount grocery items is celebrating 10 years since its launch by reinventing its footprint and relocating the food pantry. The Wellspring Op-Shop food pantry on Treelands Drive, Yamba, which distributes on average 100 pallets of food each year, was an initiative of pastors Eric and Helen Aaron...
131st Maclean Show record?
Wet weather in the preceding days made way for welcome sunshine for the 131st annual Maclean Show which featured the largest sideshow alley ever and enjoyed by a big crowd ... “In sideshow alley we have never had that many rides there, they did a great job of squeezing all of those in, we had a record number of rides which was really great.
Mining exploration escalates in catchment
The Clarence Catchment Alliance CCA, local environmental groups and residents are calling for immediate action as mining exploration for antimony and tungsten escalates across the Wild Cattle Creek area near Dorrigo; a sensitive part of the drinking water catchment relied on by more than 80,000 people in the Clarence Valley and Coffs Harbour regions.
Sergeant Jim Richardson brings community focus to Nhill police role
Sergeant Jim Richardson has taken up his new role in Nhill with a clear focus: community connection, education, and proactive engagement. With over four decades of experience in policing, including 31 years based at Goroke, Jim is no stranger to the needs and strengths of rural communities.
World Agritourism Day, 16 May 2025: Agritourism Queensland
When was the last time you picked a strawberry fresh from the paddock, joined the farmers at the dairy for morning milking, or soaked in a hot tub on the clay pans of Outback Queensland? Farmers all over the state are opening their farm gates to visitors to share the character and heart of our farming communities. This Friday, 16 May is World Agritourism Day.
Telstra 5G coming to Kaniva
Telstra will be upgrading its mobile base station that services Kaniva to bring new 5G coverage to the area ... Telstra Regional General Manager for Northern and Western Victoria Steve Tinker said "We know how important mobile connectivity is for Australians, whether you're in the city or the country. Bringing 5G to the area is a major mobile milestone."
Hidden violence – what you told us is happening behind closed doors
We put out the call, and you answered – hidden abuse is happening right now in our town. "The nice neighbour you have next door - and have known your whole life - isn't always who you think they are behind closed doors," one person told us. "It happens in 'good' families too," said another.
Beefed-up exports: Bendigo Bank Agribusiness forecasts potential record-breaking month
Bendigo Bank Agribusiness’ Monthly Commodity Update, released today, reports even higher beef export volumes in early May, and heralds the possible breaking of the previous monthly export record for cattle, set in October 2024.
New study amplifies rural voices to improve palliative care at end-of-life: UniSA
As National Palliative Care Week (19–25 May 2024) approaches, a new study from the University of South Australia is shining a light on the experiences of rural South Australians who are navigating end-of-life care, in the hope of improving access to palliative care services and supports in rural and country areas.
Rural pharmacies – Indispensable to rural health: Remote and Isolated Pharmacist Association of Australia (RIPAA)
Rural and remote patients face greater health challenges and often have less access to health services compared to those in the city ... The Remote and Isolated Pharmacist Association Australia (RIPAA) is a new organisation that has established to represent pharmacists practising outside major metropolitan and regional centres. RIPAA’s mission is to ensure that people living in these rural and remote communities have equitable access to quality pharmacy care as an essential part of primary healthcare.
Not a scrap left behind in Yorketown
Rachel Hagan. With high-cost-of-living pressures and increasingly demanding lifestyles, eating healthy on a budget can be hard to prioritise, but chef Jo Minks says that, once you know how to use ingredients effectively, anyone can do it ... the SYP Community Hub delivered three workshops on creating low-cost and healthy food ideas.
Committed question
The Coalition before the election planned to keep its nuclear power policy if it lost, but the huge election defeat may now put this intention under scrutiny. This comes as just days before the election, a nuclear expert reconfirmed that a nuclear station in the Latrobe Valley would cost $10 billion, and highlighted China's new status as the world's largest user of domestic nuclear energy.
Five years of data in one application
Star of the South is confident of lodging the environmental approval applications this year for its proposed windfarm offshore from Gippsland. This follows the state government releasing the latest guidelines to implement the offshore wind projects.
Nourishing Kyogle with a truck that feeds people
A new sustainable food rescue program in Kyogle aims to bring together businesses, producers, and home gardeners to support people experiencing food insecurity. Foodbank’s 2024 Hunger Report reported that two million Australian households are experiencing severe food insecurity and do not have enough to feed their families.
Parliamentary inquiry into e-mobility safety
Motoring body RACQ has welcomed the State Government's announcement of a parliamentary inquiry into e-mobility safety after years of advocating for electric scooter reforms. In 2024, there were 1,504 presentations to participating Emergency Departments in Queensland as a result of an e-scooter crash, an increase of 231 from 2023.
Work has commenced on Allora precinct
There's a light at the end of the tunnel for Allora's Town Precinct with workmen on site at the Senior Citizens Rooms. When completed the Library will move into the old Senior Citizens Rooms with entry to the library down the side of the Museum via the double glass doors.
The steam engine that stole the show
Now that the dust has settled and the amazing Maldon Easter weekend is behind us, I am thinking back to one of the larger vehicles that you may have noticed in the parade. It's a 1909 John Fowler Power Traction Engine, made in Leeds England.
Supporting Grampians recovery: Better access to walks
If you’re headed to the Grampians, finding your way to iconic walks from the Halls Gap township is now even easier. Budja Budja is the latest trailhead that has recently opened in the heart of town, linking it to the world-class Grampians Peaks Trail and other popular walking tracks in Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park.
Cobalt blue a winner in Leeton Cup fashion stakes for Griffith milliner
Griffith milliner Elizabeth Paterson returned to dominate the 2025 CopRice Leeton Cup Fashions on the Field by taking out the Most Fashionable Lady in striking cobalt blue. Elizabeth had won the millinery category in last year's event but returned with a striking whimsical rose headpiece and dress ensemble ...
End of an era at Harristown saleyards
Former cattle drafter Barry Coonan from Wellcamp reflects on his history with the Toowoomba Saleyards at Harristown following the announcement of their indefinite closure. "I worked at the Saleyards for 58 years and retired in 2015, at the age of 75.

