History & heritage

Sean Cunningham. The loss of Australian lives from all wars and conflicts was commemorated by locals ... during a Remembrance Day service at the Narrandera Memorial Gardens ... On the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, people gathered not only in Narrandera, but around the Riverina and Australia-wide, to pause to remember those who have fought and died in conflicts around the globe so we can enjoy the lives we have today.

It’s 110 years since the start of the First World War, in what was Australia’s deadliest conflict. Since that time, our nation sacrificed more than 103,000 of our best and brightest in the defence of freedom and liberty ... A healthy crowd gathered at the Barham Cenotaph as Barham RSL President Bill O’Malley led the service.

Corryong RSL president, Ivor Atkins, with vice president, Ray Grech, laid the wreath on behalf of all members of the sub-branch on Remembrance Day in Corryong.

Cenotaphs and memorials across the Clarence Valley were decked with wreaths and flowers as the community stopped to remember the end of hostilities of the ‘war to end all wars’ on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

Around 40 people gathered in Nhill to commemorate Remembrance Day ... The ceremony included a reading of the poignant poem In Flanders Fields, followed by the Ode, the Last Post, and Reveille, beautifully performed by Miss Lucy Dodds from the Nhill-Dimboola band.

Christine Webster. More than 300 people of all ages took part in a Remembrance Day Service at the Waikerie War Memorial Gardens ... Among the participants were 250 students from the Waikerie High School. The Waikerie Army Cadets provided the catafalque party.

At the annual Remembrance Day service held at Yanchep National Park ... Yanchep Two Rocks RSL president Bill Jones said November 11 marked the end of fighting in the most horrific war of the modern era ... "may all of those who have fallen in past conflict, never be forgotten…freedom is not free.’’

Rachel Hagan. Close to 100 people attended the Remembrance Day service at the new Port Clinton veterans’ memorial ... After a lengthy battle to install the memorial, which divided the community, Port Clinton has had its first service at the new memorial near the corner of Yelta Street and Yoolamardy Terrace.

The Victorian Goldfields Railway (VGR) has welcomed a new depot in Castlemaine for the historic trains that run between Castlemaine and Maldon … The many benefits of the new depot buildings include greater space and more comfortable indoor environs for VGR volunteer workers to maintain locomotives and prepare them for service.

Denmark's Anglican Church celebrated the 125th anniversary of the consecration of St Leonard’s on October 20 ... The name St Leonard’s was chosen in 1914 because the French saint (d. 599) established a community for released prisoners in a forest ... Denmark historian Bev McGuinness spoke at the morning service and described how Norwegian carpenters had built the church.

At the 2024 annual general meeting of the Man from Snowy River Tourism Association (MFSRTA), president Ros McKenzie presented her report of its activities over the past 12 months ... "Our projects are funded from profits from the sale of souvenir items at the Corryong Visitor Information Centre and in the last few years we have also been successful with funding from a number of grants. Ongoing projects of the association are..."

Vera is currently in the window of the Nhill Free Press And Kaniva Times. This unique work of art sprang from an idea put forward by Nhill locals Pamela Deckert and Rosie Clark of the Nhill RSL Sub-Branch in 2021 ... The dress was named ‘Vera’ in honour of Dame Vera Lynn DBE. OStJ.

The History Society has received a copy of a book "Mining Towns and Schools in Outback NSW’, "dedicated to the men, women and children who endured tremendous social and physical hardships in outback NSW during the 1800’s and first half of the 1900’s". Author John Selwood compiled the book after a 40 year teaching career, which started at a one teacher school at Afterlee…

John Williams. Foaming horses galloping four-in-hands over the West Wimmera tracks, day and night, in burning sun or drenching rain; washing down damper and salt meat with pannikins of strong tea….this was the lot of Nhill Cobb and Co driver William Nesbitt. Despite this strenuous life, Bill had a romance for the open road, and for many years drove the coach between Bordertown and Nhill with a reputation for being a gentleman and obliging to his many passengers.

Lynne Mowbray. The scaffolding on Maclean’s historic Argyle Hotel is about to be removed, as the long-awaited opening is finally here. Hotel owner ‘Dhugal’ said that the unofficial opening will take place ... “It will be a bar and restaurant dining, with a beer garden,” said Dhugal.

Two years ago, on 14 November 2022, a wall of water virtually swept the town away, nearly wiping Eugowra from the map. The residents were all but forgotten in the build-up to the event through rushed and late warnings. Immediately after the flood, the emergency response didn’t meet the expectations politicians kept promising after every emergency disaster.

As part of our Roadshow events, you can visit the Victorian Goldfields World Heritage bid information display at the Maldon Museum and Historic Archives. The team worked together with the Museum volunteers to set up our display on show at the museum throughout November.    

The facade of Leeton’s Roxy Theatre was damaged by a driver who lost control on the nearby roundabout last week. The historic building is in the middle of extensive renovations. CCTV footage shows the vehicle being driven at speed and going into an apparently deliberate slide or "drift" before hitting the building and being driven away.

Coinciding with Cambooya Landcare’s annual general meeting at Felton Hall on Saturday, 9 November will be a free ‘Fossils on Farms’ Workshop and community barbecue ... Attendees will learn what fossils can be discovered in our area, what to look for, where to look and what the rules and rights are if you find something.

Many residents of the close-knit community of Towong gathered on Saturday to celebrate the official re-opening of the Towong Soldiers Memorial Hall ... during the 2019-20 bushfires it was the local relief centre and as a place to reconnect with friends and neighbours.

The Kaniva and District Progress Association’s Wiregrass Heritage Trail project is progressing well, combining art, history, and community input to bring Australian social history to life. The project launched in July 2023 with an initial community meeting to gather local input, followed by the start of video storytelling, capturing the community’s connection to the trail’s history.