Neville family celebrates silo murals
The King's Birthday long weekend provided the perfect opportunity for a special family reunion in Birchip as members of the Neville family gathered to celebrate the recently completed Ray Neville silo murals. The visit was sparked by Ray's daughter, Lyn Dumesny of Rockhampton, who was travelling to Victoria and was keen to see the impressive artwork honouring her father on the Birchip silos.
Decades of community advocacy earns State Heritage listing for MV Beardmore: Williamson
The formal listing of the historic MV Beardmore on the NSW State Heritage Register marks a significant milestone for the Clarence Valley community and recognises decades of tireless advocacy to preserve an important part of the region's maritime and industrial heritage, according to State Nationals Member for Clarence Richie Williamson.
Tree planting events in Allora
A link has been made between the pine trees planted at the Showgrounds, the planting of the trees for celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of the reign of Queen Victoria in 1897, and the planting of the trees in 'Mayoral Row' in 1905. In fact, they were planted on three separate occasions ... It is not known if the Aleppo pine tree which blew down in William Street last Thursday night has any connection with the above tree plantings.
Rugby Union football in the Clarence Valley
The first rugby union club to be established in Australia was Sydney University’s in 1863 ... On 12 June 1880, the game was first introduced to the Clarence River by James Ellis, quarry manager at the Clarence entrance breakwater works.
Campfire sparks big, bright idea
Patricia Gill. Renowned Denmark photographer Nic Duncan and Menang – Gnudju Elder and WA Women’s Hall of Fame inductee, Aunty Carol Pettersen, had a brilliant idea while camping two years ago. At the time, expressions of interest were called for projects to mark Albany’s bicentenary of white settlement.
John Smith Nhill Watchmaker/ Jeweller
On Victoria Street Nhill, just above the awning of Amber’s café, a single word still rises in relief from the concrete façade: Watchmaker. It’s a quiet survivor from an era when every town relied on a steady hand, a jeweller’s loupe, and a bench of tiny brass tools to keep the district’s clocks, fob watches, and wedding rings in working order.
Celebrating a new book honouring May Gibbs, Nutcote and wild koalas: Australian Koala Foundation
The Australian Koala Foundation is delighted to have sponsored a new enchanting book celebrating the life of May Gibbs and her love of wild koalas ... Written by Fiona Starr and created for Nutcote’s centenary, this stunning 100-page book brings together May’s own words, artwork, and rich imagery to tell the story of the place she called home.
Genetic bottlenecks: Vic Jurskis
Another study of koalas’ genetics has been published but a key result flowing from this research was not clearly identified by the authors ... The crashes in unsustainably high numbers of koalas, consequent to the Federation Drought but attributed to shooting for pelts, didn’t cause genetic bottlenecks.
Koala numbers crashed across Australia 100,000 years ago. Global glacial cycles are likely to blame
Toby Kovacs. As my new study published in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution shows, koalas experienced a population crash about 100,000 years ago. This finding rewrites our understanding of the genetic history of koalas in Australia – and overturns previous theories about what caused their decline in ancient times.
Prestigious military honour for Brendan
Ex-Donald local, Brendan Allen, son of Leo and the late Fay Allen, has been recognised in the 2026 King's Birthday Honours, receiving the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC). Lieutenant Colonel Brendan Patrick Allen was awarded the prestigious military decoration for outstanding devotion to duty and leadership during his service as Commanding Officer of the 5th/6th Battalion, Royal Victoria Regiment, Australian Army.
Call to action over sad state of war memorial
The heartbreaking story of one family losing three sons in WW1 and WW2 prompted family history and military buff Joe Laws to join the call for the 103-year-old Erina District War Memorial to be restored and better maintained. After researching his family's history, Mr Laws came across the sad story of the Weiss brothers – Frederick, Erle and Harry – who all lost their lives in service for their country.
Teamster prepares horse team for Barellan Good Old Days Festival
Teamster Aleks Berzins has scored a back-to-back win in The Golden Plough and can next be seen with his horse team at the Barellan Good Old Days Festival on 2-4 October. Aleks will be not only ploughing but showing off his other talents as a horse master and why he is rated among the top horse teamsters in the world.
Barellan Good Old Days history revived
Len Davies, of West Wyalong, is the grandson of the original owner of the Bennett waggon used in the Australian record 62 horse team at the Barellan Good Old Days Festival in 2025. His grandfather, JT "Tommy" Davies selected the farm "Lantarnam" at Calleen in 1901 at the age of 19.
Call for calm
Michelle Daw. Member for Grey Tom Venning has called for a truce in the dispute between the National Trust of South Australia and members of the suspended Moonta branch committee, who are backed by more than 100 locked-out volunteers and many concerned locals. "In the background, certainly we’ve been talking to all parties involved to show support in terms of de-escalating the situation," Mr Venning said yesterday (Tuesday, June 9).
Fragile buildings, precious items locked away
For 12 years, Marie Heesemans has cleaned and cared for the buildings housing some of Moonta's much-loved heritage attractions - the Moonta Mines Museum, Miner's Cottage and Family History and Resource Centre in the former School of Mines. Now all she can do is hope the buildings - and the precious items they house - are not falling into disrepair.
Nhill’s Butcher’s Corner
John Williams. The prominent corner of Victoria and MacPherson Streets has worn many names over nearly 150 years: Butcher’s Corner, Buzz’s Corner, McLennan’s Corner, and a few since including Clohesy and Gurry. Its story begins in the 1880s, when Richard Rigewell built Nhill’s first butchery on the site.
Honouring Australia’s first First Nations police officer this Reconciliation Week
Dr Colin Dillon AM, APM, a proud Kombumerri man of the Yugambeh Nation, made history when he joined the Queensland Police Service (QPS) at just 20 years old in 1965. As Australia marked National Reconciliation Week (which ran from the 27th of May to Wednesday of this week, the 3rd of June), the QPS acknowledged the contributions and legacy of the nation’s first, First Nations police officer, Dr Colin Dillon AM, APM.
Riverfront celebration marks PS Canally’s return to service
Christine Webster. The recommissioning of the PS Canally will be celebrated with the return of the Morgan Living River Festival, on Saturday and Sunday, at the town's riverfront reserve. A team of dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers spent 16 years restoring the 119-year-old paddle steamer.
Nhill’s pliable plastic factory
John Williams. At the Nhill Plastic Factory, staff once found themselves unable to unclasp their own fingers no matter how hard they tried, while another employee slept upright in a chair for half an hour - wide awake inside her head but unable to move a muscle. No, it wasn’t a typical Monday morning. Hypnotist Bud Flanagan Junior was in town, using the factory workers to promote his 1949 show.
One man walking 474km to visit six massacre sites from Ballina to Myall Creek
Geoff Reid is in his 70s and he’s walking from Ballina to Myall Creek to visit massacre sites along the way. It’s a long walk – 474km with a lot to think about on the way. Geoff started at East Ballina Cemetery and then went on to Goanna Headland at Evans Head.
Moonta heritage shutdown fallout tops $100k
Michelle Daw. Moonta Mines heritage volunteers say about $100,000 has been lost since National Trust of South Australia shut local sites in February, as they continue to fight the closure on multiple fronts.
Brick by Brick exhibition celebrates local heritage landmarks
The Living Arts Space is delighted to present Brick by Brick: 10 Years of Building Bendigo, a new exhibition celebrating a decade of creativity from the Bendigo LEGO® User Group. Founded in 2014, the Bendigo LEGO® User Group has grown to more than 100 members across central Victoria.
