Life

How Tammy and Gavin Gilbert turned a simple idea into $4.38 million for Country Hope, and why, ten years on, it's still going strong. It started with a conversation. Gavin Gilbert had been on a couple of car rallies, loved them, genuinely loved them, but something about the way they were set up nagged at him ...

To help celebrate the 60th anniversary of Maldon receiving the title of 'Australia's First Notable Town', the Tarrangower Times and Maldon Heritage Network invites everyone to write a 'Love Note' to the town. It's a chance to reflect upon what makes Maldon special, whether that's a memorable festival or best bushwalking route or a favourite coffee spot. To get the ball rolling, here is a letter written by State Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards MP ...

More than 1,500 people gathered at Brooms Head last Saturday, drawn together by love, loss and shared memories, to celebrate the life of local legend Nathon "Wombat" Houghton. In just ten short days, a group of close friends rallied together to organise a farewell that truly reflected the man Wombat was — open-hearted, inclusive and deeply connected to the ocean.

Carol Lyall. On behalf of the Allora Show Society, I warmly invite our community and visitors to join us for the 148th Allora Show this February. Each year, our Show brings people together to celebrate the best of country life, and in 2026 we are excited to welcome you to a Show that honours tradition while delivering an unforgettable experience from day into night.

The Alliance is pleased to kick off 2026 by announcing that abstract submissions are now open for the 18th National Rural Health Conference, to be held 14–16 September 2026 in Adelaide (Tarntanya). 

The Murray Valley Highway was re-opened to the public on Monday following the completion of post fire repairs and hazardous tree works in the aftermath of the Walwa-Mt Lawson blaze. However, motorists are being urged to use caution when travelling on the road and to adhere to changed traffic conditions including speed restrictions ... Incident Controller, Tim Gazzard, said fire-affected trees continue to pose an ongoing risk to the community well after a fire has passed.

With a new year comes change, and one of the exciting changes that came to Donald was the new ownership for popular eatery Spud's Cafe. Kieran White and Julie Robinson are stepping into business owner shoes, with all the excitement and anticipation that follows.

Gus van Hart. Two Moulamein sisters are set to pull on New South Wales colours at Barastoc 2026 after both landed surprise representative call-ups in different squads. Barastoc is an annual three-day interstate polocrosse carnival featuring representative state teams from across the country.

Merilyn Vale. Central Coast Councillor Doug Eaton wants the Australian Government to introduce a system to incentivise retirees to rent out vacant rooms in their family home to alleviate the existing rental crisis.

Victoria’s regional shows celebrate the heart of their communities, showcasing everything from fresh produce and handmade craft, making them a must visit destination throughout the vibrant spring and summer seasons. The program supports projects and activities promoting agriculture, improving infrastructure and upgrading amenities for community use during annual agricultural shows and events...

Saleyards Australia has today announced The Mustering Yard Cafe at the Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange as the 2026 Saleyards Australia Canteen of the Year ...

Get ready for big excitement on little legs at the Inverleigh Dachshund Derby! This much-loved local event brings a whole lot of joy—and a fair bit of chaos—as dozens of determined sausage dogs line up to sprint, wobble and occasionally wander their way toward the finish line.

Stephen Balcombe was charged by Gingin Police in January with using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence ... 62-year-old Mr Balcombe, who is the husband of Shire of Gingin President Linda Balcombe, was remanded on bail to reappear in the Midland Magistrates Court ...

"I have never experienced fire behaviour like it on the ground," Jarrod said, and the weight of those decades of experience makes the statement hit harder. "The first day we experienced temperatures of about 62 degrees on the top of the hill, 108 kilometre an hour winds."

Nhill's Licensed Post Office is welcoming customers under new ownership, offering a broad range of postal, travel and retail services for the local community. Along with everyday post office services, the Nhill Licensed Post Office provides passport lodgements and photos, foreign exchange, travel cards, travel insurance and complete travel solutions, as well as TattsLotto services.

Madison Eastmond. Numerous new volunteer faces are needed at tonight's Riverland Rose and Garden Festival emergency meeting, in order to save the event from complete collapse. While the Riverland Rose and Garden Festival has been cancelled for 2026, organisers are encouraging locals to attend an emergency meeting ... "The facts still remain, if we don't get more members on the committee, particularly someone stepping into the role of chair, we won't be able to go ahead," former festival chair Michelle Dominic said.

What began as an initiative to promote the region’s thriving arts and culture sector through sustainable art practices has grown into a diverse program of metal focused workshops, creative activities and community events across the region ... This year’s events feature a vibrant metal art exhibition at the Emerald Art Gallery, an inspiring public metal art trail spanning the region, and an engaging lineup of flower making and blacksmithing workshops.

Campaspe Shire Council’s draft Campaspe Festivals & Events Strategy 2026-2031 has opened for comment. The draft strategy was developed following community consultation in 2024-25 and outlines social, cultural, economic, and environmental goals for festivals and events within Campaspe Shire that align with the broader aims of Council and the community.

Caitlin Menadue. A growing number of Australians are leaving capital cities for regional towns, with Yorke Peninsula among the areas seeing the shift ... Coastal towns such as Wallaroo continue to attract retirees and young families ... "It's spacious, you can have chickens and it's great exposure for kids," said Simone Walters.

The Cook Government's landmark free Full-time Kindergarten Pilot begins today, marking a major milestone in early childhood education in Western Australia. The pilot is commencing at Roleystone Community College, Halidon Primary School, and Banksia Grove Primary School in the metropolitan region, and South Kalgoorlie Primary School and Dalyellup Primary School in regional Western Australia.