Life

National Farmers Federation President, Hamish McIntyre, responds to questions from Australian Rural & Regional News asked in the light of the pending decision on paraquat by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority and recent media drawing a connection between paraquat and Parkinson’s disease.

South Australian volunteers delivered $45 billion in value to the local economy last year with younger South Australians leading the way and volunteer numbers surpassing one million for the first time. According to the 2025 State of Volunteering report, released today by Volunteering SA&NT, volunteers created $45 billion in gross social and economic value across 294.8 million hours.

It seems that compost is a subject that is exercising the minds of many across the shire, and Maldon resident Oliver Messenger is one of them. He has invented a composting system that has been granted an Australian patent with an international patent in the works.

A special confirmation service was held at St David’s Anglican Church on Sunday with Bishop Cam Venables attending. Fifteen people were confirmed with the Bishop believing this may be very close to a record in the Anglican Church Southern Queensland Diocese!

In light of the pending decision on paraquat by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority and recent media drawing a connection between paraquat and Parkinson's disease, Australian Rural & Regional News has sought responses from industry bodies.

Colleen Krestensen. New estimates of brumby numbers in Kosciuszko National Park imply a dramatic and biologically impossible increase of up to 315 per cent over a 12 month period ... The concern for the community is the government is accepting this alleged increase without question as a basis to resume aerial culling of brumbies, commencing in the coming days.

Key government and private sector organisations have come together to test how they respond to crisis scenarios, such as natural disasters, health and biosecurity incidents, supply chain shortages and disruptions to critical infrastructure.

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.

Blake Lee. Justin McNamara never thought he'd own a pub. On Saturday, he and his husband Jayden will reopen the Watchem Hotel after a three-year closure ... the venue will launch as the first-ever permanent Driver Reviver site.

Round 7 of the Central Coast Rugby Union season delivered one of the most memorable weekends in recent memory, with the inaugural Festival of Rugby taking centre stage at Tuggerah Sports Complex on May 30. Despite wet weather causing widespread sporting disruptions across the region, CCRU stood alone as the only major sporting competition on the Central Coast to complete its full schedule.

The Australian Reptile Park's crocodiles and alligators were the big winners as Central Coast Council's 2026 Carp to Croc fishing event wrapped up recently. The community came together to help tackle one of Australia's most damaging invasive species.

Patricia Gill. Denmark Arts' new general manager Annette Drenth has worked with the organisation for the past eight months in a ‘passion project' as a mentor ... "I have also engaged with Denmark Arts and its programs for more than two decades, as a visitor regularly holidaying in Denmark with my small family," Annette said.

Patricia Gill. Abbie Pedersen hands over the directorship of Denmark Arts to Annette Drenth confident in the future of the organisation.

The local festival, which has gained immense popularity over recent years, continues to celebrate creativity, community, and connection through the love of words. Shifting the event to June invites bibliophiles to indulge in the cosy winter pastime: stay indoors, keep warm with a cuppa, and be inspired by some of their favourite authors.

Sebastian Calderon. Riverland families are set to farewell one of the region's longest-serving doctors, who is retiring after almost 38 years of caring and supporting local patients ... Dr Kevin Stanton said being a true country GP meant far more than clinic consultations, with doctors heavily involved in hospital care, emergency treatment and palliative support throughout the region.

The Nhill and district community has raised $4,319 for the Cancer Council through four days of fundraising organised by the Nhill Cancer Group. The group thanked everyone who supported the effort, which included a raffle, donations and the sale of Cancer Council merchandise at Nhill IGA over three days.

Uncle Sunno, a proud Paakantji man, has been working tirelessly for 20 years, to support the learning of children and young people in Wilcannia ... His deep knowledge of Paakantji culture supports the school staff to develop the cultural competence required to be effective educators.

A week after the May Federal Budget, the Government published changes to the visa category allocations ... Most surprising in the subsequent announcement was the decision to more than halve a skilled migration program reserved exclusively for regional areas from 33,000 to 14,110.

For decades, much of Nharangga warra Narungga language existed in fragments. Today, those fragments are being put back together. Across three generations of the Wanganeen family, the language is being recovered, taught and spoken once again, with a growing focus on returning it to everyday life.

A new and exciting tourism initiative, Retirees on the River – Seniors' Celebrations Echuca Moama, will bring a vibrant 12-day program of offers and activities to the Echuca Moama region from Monday 7 to Friday 18 September 2026.

It has been more than a labour of love – artist Sally Joyce has transformed an upright piano into a work of art … “I wanted this piano to be a gift of unexpected beauty and a work beyond what was expected of me,” Sally said.