Education & training

In a display of community spirit, the Year 11 and 12 Vocational Major Personal Development Skills class of 2024 at Donald High School have chosen to undertake a series of projects aimed at improving our local community. They have been joined by the Donald High School Hands On Learning Group. The classes recently participated in a tree-planting day...

Dr Skye Charry. In December 2023, Australia enacted significant amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth), enforcing a new era of workplace responsibility. Under this reform, all business owners, regardless of size, are mandated to take ‘reasonable and proportionate measures’ to eliminate sexual harassment and related harm ... For rural and regional businesses, this presents unique challenges.

Researchers at CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, are leading the five-year ‘Landscapes’ program, looking at the health and function of Australia’s natural and managed ecosystems.  Administered through the innovative TERN project (Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network), the team will deliver important soil and landscape environmental data to support sustainable ecosystem management.  

Golf NSW Western Region Manager Gary Begg thought it would be a good idea to bring Senior Regional Manager for Jack Newton Junior Golf, Mark Ingrey to Wilcannia to show him the world of golf in the far west, and the struggles the Club has in maintaining the course, particularly in wet periods. They conducted four clinics … for students from both schools.

Having up-to-date first aid training could mean the difference between life and death for your family, friends and neighbours in an emergency situation ... Last week, Dawn Ferrier from TalkSmart Training was in Birchip to provide community members, childcare workers and sports trainers with the skills and knowledge required to keep their certification relevant.

A large number of students, families, past students, past teachers, and community members attended the 125th celebrations at Bunker’s Hill State School. This included many staff and students who were here in 1999 at the school’s Centenary. The students and staff made it a magnificent day ...

There is an old saying “not a lot of sense is common!” There are things that should be taken as a given in life. Things such as manners, not talking over people, being polite, saying please and thank you, looking at people who are talking to you, and assuming best intentions when dealing with colleagues. To be respected you must first be respectful. So, when our elected Members of Parliament require a code of conduct on how to act and behave to prevent bullying, sexual harassment, and inappropriate behaviour, you have to ask what happened to common sense?

Are you a young adult 18 to 25 years (or know someone who is) that is keen to increase their agricultural knowledge and skills, expand networks and take advantage of priceless mentoring? Applications are now open for the 2025 Hay Inc Rural Education Program. Next year’s intake will be the 11th cohort of the uniquely local and focussed training program, which now boasts more than 140 alumni.

Madison Eastmond. A Berri equine charity is searching for volunteers so its therapy services for the wider Riverland community can continue ... Over the past three years, Miracle Park Stables have provided therapeutic avenues for those struggling with mental health and/or have a disability to build self-esteem, self-efficacy, resilience and emotional regulation skills through a variety of programs.

Rachel Hagan. Minlaton's time to celebrate arrived with the official opening of the long-awaited Minlaton Family Centre ...The ribbon was cut by Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey, and the three women who started it all: Katie Hughes, Anna Phasey and Amy Honner ... The centre has created 120 childcare places in the region, which is an incredible increase from a few years earlier when there were only 14.

What do you get when you take a Fireback Huntsman home for research and photograph it in your bathroom? And not just any bathroom... Lego bathroom? And why? TEDx speaker, author and wildlife educator Steven Gill says "Let Me Explain..." with his new Australian east coast tour!

Serena Kirby. Denmark Senior High School emergency services cadets gathered last week for a meet and greet with Local Government and Youth Minister Hannah Beazley. Ms Beazley, who is also Emergency Services Minister Parliamentary Secretary, said the cadets program was the favourite thing in her portfolio.

Acting President of Forestry Australia Dr Bill Jackson says the paper answers questions around active management - and how it relates to forest management - by stating that active management is principally about human engagement in shaping forests and is  deliberate tending of forests by humans for diverse purposes and goals relating to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services and function including resilience.

Overlockers and sewing machines, hot glue guns and paper mâché formations worked overtime last week to prepare costumes for the 2024 Book Week Parade at Barham’s Riverside Park. For those time-restricted or creatively impaired, it was a flying trip to costume shops to gather all the bibs and bobs needed to help bring book characters to life!

One of Australia’s best beaches is making a comeback. Yorke Peninsula Council has recruited some hardworking students to help get Flaherty Beach, near Point Turton, back into shape ... "Flaherty Beach is a coastal gem on Yorke Peninsula and has been ranked as the fourth best beach in Australia," says Letitia Dahl-helm, YPC environment officer.

The former flood damaged Broadwater Public School is gone – demolished and only bare ground remains where playgrounds and classrooms once stood. Today, Monday, August 26, students, teachers and parents mark the start of construction on the rebuild of their village school more than two and a half years since the 2022 flood disaster.

It’s been a tough ride, but Naracoorte’s Racheal Kraemer is not giving up. The 29-year-old has made it to the prestigious Racing SA Apprentice Academy, a journey filled with optimism, love, and passion to do something in life.

An innovative creativity workshop for young people is coming to Corryong next month. Parallel Wilds is an immersive a cutting-edge 3D creative writing platform for youth, empowering self-identity in the natural world and a speculative universe on the future of species and wilderness, set in the year 2050.

Think you know it all! Think again! 1. What do the stars on the U.S. flag represent?2. What country's largest ethnic group are known...

Dive into this week’s trivia and see if you can swim through these questions! 1. What was Henry Hudson looking for when his crew mutinied...

Switch on and step up for your trivia test. 1. By overall track length, which city has the largest tram network in the world?2. In...