History & heritage

This ANZAC day a sole Riderless Horse will be led by myself (Ron Rogers), the saddle is stripped of weapons and equipment, Light Horsemen boots and leggings are placed in the stirrups backwards. This is to remember those soldiers who have fallen in battle.

If you haven’t had the chance to visit the poppy installation at Naracoorte Town Square, you’re truly missing a stunning display of craftsmanship. This powerful tribute, featuring around 1,500 hand-knitted poppies arranged on a five-by-five-metre net, was created by Naracoorte’s heartfelt group known as the “Poppy Girls” in honour of the courageous ANZAC soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom.

Honor Auchinleck. The days, weeks and months have been very full since I received an email from Pat Leary - the inspiration behind the plan to ride the General Sir Harry Chauvel Memorial Foundation's Border Light Horse Trail. Pat wrote "I am looking into the idea of riding in light horse uniform and saddlery along the Australian Light Horse trail starting from Shepparton to Harden and then from Harden back to Tallangatta.

Narrandera hosted another hugely successful Earlies Rod Run event over Easter 2025. The show and shine at Narrandera Sportsground on Easter Sunday was a great success with 450 cars in attendance and parked around the sports oval.

Maclean celebrated its 120th Highland Gathering in style across two massive days of events on the Easter Long Weekend ... Over 130 competitors travelled from as far as Perth, Melbourne, and Townsville to compete in the 33 solo events on the program.

Staff from Serco were honoured to present business representatives from the South Grafton Ex-Servicemen's Club with a series of beautiful handmade metal wreaths and poppies which will be laid beneath the South Grafton Cenotaph ... All of the poppies and wreaths were crafted by inmates at the Clarence Correctional Centre ...

The flag committee comprising of members of Nhill RSL Sub Branch, The Lowan Lodge 107, Nhill Rotary Club INC and Lions Club of Nhill INC have added an additional 100 flags in the Nhill cemetery to honour the veterans who have served our community.

In early March this year, relatives of Arthur William Wallis travelled to the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, to witness and participate in a respectful and moving service acknowledging Arthur's life and sacrifice made for his country.

Port Broughton's foreshore has once again transformed into a sea of red, with the Barunga West Council's annual Poppy Fields installation unveiled earlier than usual, to coincide with the Easter holidays. Now in its third year, the display was initiated by Mayor Leonie Kerley in 2023 and features 1232 handmade poppies affixed to crosses — a striking tribute to Australians who served and sacrificed.

Locals and tourists can go for gold searching for buried treasure in Central Queensland with a new fossicking area established at Mount Morgan. The recreational fossicking area has been established after the Government consented to a General Permission Area (GPA) on State land surrounding Mount Morgan No 7 Dam. 

The town of Onslow, where it is today, was settled in 1925. We are proud of its rich history, and this year we are thrilled to commemorate a significant milestone – 100 years since its establishment after its relocation!

Steam whistles echo through the rolling hills of Victoria’s Goldfields, heralding a journey back in time ... As the trains roll into Maldon and Muckleford, they carry more than passengers, they bring life, energy, and prosperity to a town that thrives on its past while embracing its future.

The Porcupine Village development has been referred under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act and is available on the EPBC Public Portal for community feedback until Tuesday 22 April.

Steven Alldrick. Narrandera is a special place for me and my family not only going every year, being able to organise the run, but it is where I met my wife Kathleen and where I proposed to her. Kathleen and I met 24 years ago and have been together ever since ... Kathleen and I also share a passion for hot rods and custom cars ...

Steven Alldrick. A warm hello to all our entrants, visitors, and locals who have ventured to Narrandera this year for the 40th Narrandera Rod Run. We are excited to be back for another wonderful Easter, with a good number of entrants, we expect similar numbers around the oval at the show n shine on Sunday; with 400 cars in attendance.

From a little Ford truck to a multi-million-dollar fleet of Kenworths and high-tech earthwork equipment, Naracoorte’s Bull Bros Pty Ltd this year celebrates 75 years in business. Driving further enthusiasm and longevity into the esteemed company which employs around 30 people, a fourth generation is stepping up.

Victoria’s biggest celebration of heritage returns on Friday, April 18, with the launch of the Australian Heritage Festival (Victoria) – presented by the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) and proudly supported by the Heritage Council Victoria and the Victorian Goldfields World Heritage Bid.

Rachel Hagan. The Nharangga Language Learning App is expected to launch within the next two months, following nearly two years of planning and community consultation led by the Nharangga Aboriginal Progress Association.

The Aquarius Foundation and friends have decided to hold an anniversary event each year that honours and celebrates the radical spirit created at the 1973 Aquarius Festival. The Aquarius Festival had the slogan 'You are the Festival', where people shared their skills, building domes and yurts, making food...

Riverina Police District is appealing for information to locate a stolen historic rodeo award from a 94-year-old competitor in Cootamundra. Police are investigating the theft of a historic solid silver and gold belt buckle, won 65 years ago at a rodeo in the United States by a Cootamundra man described as the world's oldest rodeo competitor.

Honor Auchinleck. As only a High Country town can, the people of Tumut turned out in force last week to welcome the Chauvel Australian Light Horse Memorial Ride to their war memorials in Richmond Park ... a small group of the Chauvel Australian Light Horse Memorial Ride returned with their horses to Tumut so that the oldies didn't miss out.

Western Heritage Group's new book, Country, Ancestors and Responsibility records information that Elders shared with us in the 1980s, showing that five Aboriginal Culture Groups have ancient cultural ties to the Willandra Lakes region. That's a unique way of belonging; but there's an outreach to non-Aboriginal people too.