History & heritage

So, last time, we looked into the early years of Australia’s only ever Field Marshall, Thomas Blamey. From his admittedly sterling service in the Great War to his less than admirable service as Victoria Police Commissioner. This time around we’ll look at his time as the top dog in Australia’s World War II involvement and see if we can come up with some kind of summary of just who this bloke was.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles unveiled concept designs for the Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Culture Centre’s $10 million transformation in Tennant Creek yesterday. The investment is part of the Territory Labor Government’s Arts Trail initiative, which aims to make the Northern Territory a world-class tourist and cultural destination.

Viv Markham. No matter how many lattes are sipped in Main Street, the true, beating heart of Maldon lies up at the Bill Woodfull Recreation Reserve - it’s the Maldon Football Netball Club (MFNC). One of Maldon’s best-loved institutions, the MFNC celebrated its 150th anniversary in style last weekend.

The Coonawarra Wine industry, together with other representatives from the Limestone Coast Wine Region, have gathered to undertake a ‘post vintage tasting’ of over 100 wines from the 2023 Vintage.

Regional townships have a huge advantage over big cities in an ability to authentically inject a sense of connection and inclusion into the community ... when people know their family history, you will hear stories of enterprise, resilience, perseverance and bravery, which help fuel a sense of pride and family identity ... the research is quite clear. Children who know their family history have a sense of belonging, and in turn are more resilient.

In 1965, the National Trust of Australia gave a first-of-its-kind title to Maldon – that of being a Notable Town ... The decision to extend their heritage titles to include that of an entire township speaks volumes for the significance of Maldon.

Viv Markham. Many thanks to VGR volunteer Brendan Barry, who took this photo recently of the self-propelled Bluebird (but coloured red!) diesel rail car being loaded up to leave the yards at the Maldon railway station ... The bogies from the Bluebird will be used during the restoration of a very special carriage: the Mount Lofty Pullman car.

The author of a book about a young girl growing up beside the Murray River during The Great Depression is coming to Corryong to talk about her work. Cathy Hope’s book ‘Murray River Girl’ is a true story about Roma, the daughter of a swagman and shearer’s cook, who lived in a makeshift tent beside the river until she was eleven years old.

The remains of five ancestors have been returned to the Yaegl people of northern NSW, with a significant cultural ceremony honouring their repatriation back to Country. The repatriation ceremony took place at the Yaegl Nature Reserve, near Maclean, which was the designated burial site identified by the Yaegl community.

Shane O’Shea. After a long and very enjoyable fifty-one-and-a-half-year association with the "Buloke Times" (formerly the "Donald Times" and "Donald-Birchip Times"), I have made the difficult decision to retire, which came into effect as of June 30. I first joined the staff of the then "Donald Times" as a 16 -year-old, after completing Form 4 at Donald High School .

I thought [Naracoorte Community] News readers might get a kick out of this 1930's version of a 'Hybrid vehicle' from the Sheeps Back Museum photo collection. I found it while searching the museums 3500 photo collection in preparation for a new exhibit on 'working horses'.

From the excitement of the woodchop to prized cattle and champion sponge cakes or marmalades that used secret family recipes, it was an event that survived and thrived. Now, one of Queensland’s proudest regional traditions – The Maleny Show – and those who made it great, will feature in a special documentary film.

Tennant Creek has celebrated NAIDOC Week with a range of community events. Despite some inclement weather, the festivities kicked off with a Community BBQ at the Transit Centre, which included a jumping castle for kids and hair braiding in the colours of the Aboriginal flag. The NAIDOC March on Monday was a heartwarming event, with awards presented to outstanding First Nations individuals.

Viv Markham. Since the 1960s, heritage has been an important part of Maldon’s persona. It’s therefore surprising that the recently published and updated Maldon Design Guidelines (MDG) was not announced with a little more fanfare.

When Film and TV producer Muffy Potter first clapped eyes on Porcupine Village in Maldon, she knew she’d found her dream location for the comedy series Gold Diggers, currently airing on ABC and iView. Doubling as ‘Dead Horse Gap’, Porcupine Village provided a fully immersive location to film a boisterous and irreverent take on the early gold rush era.

This year’s NAIDOC theme was one that was tremendously special to all - recognising the important role that Elders played and continued to play in Aboriginal lives, both individually and as a community and more broadly as First Nations people ... To embrace this year’s NAIDOC theme "For Our Elders" Ms Hickson gave her speech surrounded by her grannies, mob and community.

After 33 years in business, the family-owned and operated business Kaniva Bus Service owned by Steve and Annie Austin, has been sold to Wimmera Roadways. Kaniva Bus Service was originally begun by Norm Austin, Jack and Sandy Goldsworthy in 1953 whilst they were running Kaniva Motors.

Patrick Goldsmith. There were cultural burns across Yorke Peninsula from Monday to Friday, June 19-23. In a bid to reinvigorate the Narungga land management practice, Narungga men and women took to four locations in Ardrossan, Point Pearce and Minlaton for just the second time in recent history to ignite shrubbery.

A decision to build a bushfire access track across the western side of houses between the old surf club building and Mary Lindsay Homestead is on hold while other options are considered, according to the property owners. Charmane Edwards, whose grandparents bought the home she now owns in 1947, and other owners met with the City of Wanneroo on June 27 about the proposed bushfire access track.

When Lord Howe was discovered, there were sixteen land bird species breeding on the Island and early sailors, naturalists and painters documented these ... The extinct Lord Howe Island Grey Fantail was a small (length: about 15 cm) grey insectivorous bird with pale creamy-yellow underparts and a long dark-grey tail ... Over a period of a few days, I found not one but two fantails in the forest there.

There will be plenty happening from Thursday July 20 and running for 10 days in Warwick and surrounds. An easy 20 minute drive north of Warwick and you’re in Allora "The best little town on the Downs".

From Pozieres, France, to Grafton, Australia, the spirit of the Legacy Centenary Torch Relay 2023, continued to burn brightly when it arrived in the Clarence Valley on June 26 to commence its Grafton tour as part of its nationwide journey commemorating the 100th anniversary of Legacy, an iconic charity dedicated to providing support and assistance to the families of deceased and seriously injured Australian Defence Force personnel.