History & heritage

South Australia is getting closer to finalising its bid for World Heritage status for the iconic Flinders Ranges National Park, with the lead authors of the nomination touring key sites in the region ... More than 600 million years old, the Flinders Ranges is one of Australia’s magnificent landscapes.: Minister for Climate, Environment and Water, Susan Close

We Australians pride ourselves on our native animals. Koalas, kangaroos, wombats, deadly snakes, platypuses (platypi?), drop bears, emus … just some of the animals that have spent millions of years evolving separately from the rest of the world’s fauna on this island nation of ours. But most of us probably don’t think too much about them during our day-to-day lives. Alistair Paton’s “Of Marsupials and Men” puts a spotlight on men (and the occasional woman) who made Australia’s wildlife the centre of their lives.

Before we get too far into this battle, let me take this opportunity to advise you to banish all images of trees and lush undergrowth when you think of Polygon Wood. This may have been true in early 1914. But remember this is part of the Third Battle of Ypres.

Nowadays, as a Vietnam Vet, I have come to notice that more people are acknowledging us for what we did as Australian soldiers representing our country ... Coming up is Vietnam Vets Day 2022 and even if your local RSL is not being involved, you can always contribute to this special day by saying g’day to a Vet. You know you know one, don’t do?

Riverina Express ran through the Narrandera area at the weekend. The Express is a full time tourist train to service the Riverina-Murray area. It is regarded as superstar in passenger train evolution, offering speed, comfort and air-conditioning.

The book demonstrates, through both the truly beautiful photography of Kimbal Baker and the meticulous detail regarding agricultural practices and the history of the establishments provided by Richard Allen, that properties are far more than houses. They are the land and the farming businesses which sustain the families, which the houses protect, and who, in turn, create, manage and develop the farming businesses which sustain the land and the houses. Each supporting and nurturing the other.

Geoff Helisma. A mural of Yaegl Elder Uncle Ron Herron, painted as part of NAIDOC Week celebrations, was vandalised over the weekend. “It’s unacceptable and a kick the guts for our mob as we try to raise our profile in Yaegl Country, following our successful native title claims,”: Yaegl Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation’s CEO, William (Billy) Walker

A new, updated edition of this bestselling title featuring stunning photography of the great mansions of the Western District.

On the 16th of August local, state and international heritage experts will come together at the Burra Town Hall to involve the community in a conversation about Burra's World Heritage bid. The panel will include renowned UK world heritage consultant Mr Barry Gamble who will be working with the Regional Council of Goyder, Copper Coast Council and National Trust on a joint World Heritage bid of the Cornish Mining sites in Burra and Moonta.

When I first visited Kalgoorlie last October, I read about the Great Western Woodlands. Based on their distribution and extent, they certainly are “Great”. The Woodlands cover nearly 16 million hectares south and west of Kalgoorlie ... Until recently, though, the woodlands were known as the Goldfields Woodlands. Why the name change?

The annual show is an important part of the cultural life in the small village of Woodstock and surrounds, and has been for decades now. The show provides the community with the opportunity to reflect on its values and aspirations; celebrate achievements ranging from excellence in prime lamb breeding to the beauty of a delicate piece of embroidery; and enjoy a break from the routine of everyday life.

In the lead up to the 150th Anniversary of the first telegraph being sent from Australia, the Royal Australian Mint has released a unique $1 coin that depicts the Overland Telegraph Line running through the centre of Australia, from Port Augusta to Darwin.

On the 15th November 1897, the first students rocked up to the new Nobby State School, signalling the start of one of the most successful small schools in the local area with students still achieving at the school in 2022. As well as having a good academic record, Nobby is a school that knows how to turn on a great event for its community so locals are looking forward to the celebration.

Emma Pritchard. After celebrating his 100th birthday earlier this year, Clarence Valley resident and World War II veteran George Smith enjoyed another distinguished occasion on July 29 when he was presented with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) commemorative memento to honour him as an RAAF centenarian. Born in Strathblane, Tasmania, on March 1, 1922, Mr Smith grew up on his family’s dairy farm and joined the RAAF as an 18-year-old following the outbreak of WWII.

Ian Hutton. As Curator of the museum, I get a lot of requests via email ... However, in May of this year, I received a most unusual email. A journalist from New Zealand contacted me asking if I considered the photo of a stuffed white bird seen in an antique shop there was the long-extinct flightless White gallinule of Lord Howe Island.

The Retired Railway Employees Association celebrated 100 years last week, with a visit to Maldon on the Victorian Goldfields Railway ... The group meets monthly and has regular social outings, but this year it was considered appropriate to celebrate the past 100 years by travelling on a steam train.

During Jumpers and Jazz the Allora and District Historical Society organised an amazing Military Display which was held in the Community Hall last Saturday. A piece of equipment that was exhibited created a lot of interest as it could not be identified.

Geoff Helisma. Translated from the Yaygirr dialect (historically spoken near the mouth of the Clarence River) these words are: ‘Hello there, how are you; this is Yaegl country. I remember my Elder men and Elder women.’ On Friday July 22, as part of the NAIDOC Week exhibition of Yaegl Elders portraits at the Yamba Museum, a book was launched, Keeping our Stories - Stories from Yaegl Country.

The countdown to the historic 140th anniversary edition of the Birdsville Races is on, with just over five weeks until the ‘Melbourne Cup of the outback’ reignites the tiny desert town on the edge of the Simpson Desert with thousands of revellers for an outback party and race carnival like no other ... From the Birdsville Cup’s’ first ever female winners and ambassadors to race-stopping outback deluges, horse flus, Prime Minister visits and a global pandemic – here are some memorable moments from 140 years of the Birdsville Races.

Wayne Winchester’s love of surfing began in his early teens and he’d live for the weekends when he could head to the coast to spend hours in the surf. He never dreamed that his hobby would lead to a lifetime career and the creation of a world class surfboard gallery. “I started fashioning my own boards when I was a teenager and I then started making them professionally in the mid 1970s,” Wayne says. “It was an exciting time as I shaped all sorts of boards just to see how they performed.”

As you drive on the Caves Road between Margaret River and Augusta, you will pass a magnificent forest of tall karri trees called the Boranup Forest. It is an extraordinary place – the furthest west that karri grows.

After a two year wait the Laura Geitz Statuette was finally unveiled on Saturday with the help of Tracy Dobie who was Mayor in 2020. A gust of wind arrived just as the unveiling was about to happen, hence the fun photo. The super coach and local Allora hero Wayne Bennett sat by in his comfortable arm chair.