Charity

After 165 days at sea, British adventurers Jess Rowe (28) and Miriam Payne (26) arrived in Cairns last night, completing their extraordinary non-stop, unsupported 8,000-plus-mile (15,200 km) Pacific Ocean crossing from Lima, Peru to Cairns, Australia. Their 9-metre rowing boat, Velocity, crossed the finish line off Cairns Yacht Club at 6.42 pm (local time in Cairns, Australia)...

With less than 350 nautical miles to row, and the lure of hot pizza on their minds, British adventurers Jess Rowe (28) and Miriam Payne (25) are closing in on the finish line of their extraordinary 8,000-mile, non-stop and unsupported Pacific Ocean crossing.

When the ferocious winds and torrential rain of former tropical cyclone Alfred hit town in March 2025, a Yamba icon was left battered and sodden. Now, through community generosity, and the determination to continue the family’s legacy, the Yamba Cinema will reopen before Christmas.

Ahead of its complete restoration, an event will be held on Saturday, 11 October to acknowledge the move of the Nobby Gaol to its new site in the centre of town ... Over the past six years, Rudd’s Pub owners Evan and Gayle Jones with the help of the community have been on a mission to move and restore the gaol.

David Cliff. Denmark Classic Boat Show on Sunday was a big community success with locals and visitors enjoying the boat displays and the on-water activities despite the showers. Denmark Rowers volunteers pulled off their third biennial Classic Boat Show with a laid-back atmosphere that offered something for boating enthusiasts and the community.

Madison Eastmond. A large group of Australian-outback explorers made their way to the Riverland last week, with more than 140 caravan enthusiasts spending their time enjoying the region and donating locally where it is needed most. The Bushtracker Owners Groups arrived at the Barmera Field Days site, last Friday, for their annual general meeting — the National Muster...

Michelle Daw. Thousands of people began pouring through the gates at the Yorke Peninsula Field Days site near Paskeville ... not only one of the region's largest events but also Australia's oldest field days, dating back to trials held near Bute in 1895. This year's event is expected to inject between $5 million and $8 million into the local economy ...

Maldon Heritage Network has found a new home for the horse trough that sat for many years in front of what is now the hardware shop ... trough is marked 'Donated by Annis & George Bills Australia' which means it has an interesting history. The Bills were successful in business in the late 1800s and ahead of their time as compassionate campaigners for animal rights.

Rural Aid is proud to announce the winners of its sixth annual Spirit of the Bush Photography Competition, a celebration of the resilience, beauty and community spirit that define rural Australia. This year’s competition saw a record breaking response, with 201 entrants submitting 429 photos...

The Limestone Coast is facing a worsening homelessness crisis, with Naracoorte among the towns where families, young people, and older residents are being pushed to the brink by rising housing costs and limited rental availability ... The [Naracoorte] News caught up with ac.care’s Homelessness and Community Services senior manager, Trish Spark, to discuss the issue...

They love being Australians – and they loved being at Donald’s Foletti Caravan Park for a five-day break, despite the early Spring weather. Pictured are members of the “Humpy Club”, whose caravans, “Aussie by Design”, are the product of “Humpback Caravans”, of Wallaroo, South Australia.

Gunbower Racing Club is taking a big punt on itself – and the payoff would be huge. But more for Gunbower Lions Club and Echuca Regional Health’s Wellbeing Centre, because there’s $50,000 up for grabs as part of the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour National Sweep.

Rural Aid is encouraging farmers across Outback Queensland to register early for assistance, as locust outbreaks continue to damage pasture and raise serious concerns about the potential for a major plague - the first in Queensland in more than two decades. Millions of locusts have already been reported across parts of western Queensland.

The Mundi Mundi Plains were shaking today as 6,779 festival-goers lined up in formation for the final ever Nutbush Dance World Record Attempt at the Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash – smashing the previous record - held by the event - of 6,594 dancers.

The Wedderburn Historical Engine and Machinery Society is busy getting ready for its annual rally. The rally is held over two days and welcomes exhibitors from all over Victoria and Interstate.

Madison Eastmon. Two Riverland firefighters are preparing to ascend 28 floors of Melbourne's Crown Metropol Hotel next month, with the charity climb to raise funds for crisis support services and cancer research … SA Barmera Country Fire Service (CFS) members Brodie Batty, and Beatrice Walladge, will soon be making the trek to the 12th Annual Firefighter Stair Climb…

Last week young students at St Patrick's School were treated to an entertaining session on campdrafting. The idea was to educate and obviously amuse the students in readiness for the Pacific Seeds 88 to Educate Charity Campdraft to be held on 23 and 24 August at the Allora Showgrounds.

If you ask members of the Grafton Vintage Motor Vehicle Club how special Holdens are, you’ll be told a variety of different answers, each one overflowing with praise, pride, and passion ... A popular annual attraction which features a huge line-up of classic and vintage vehicles including race cars, motorcycles, trucks, and vans...

Check out the powerful exhibition Scars of Fire by photographer Liam Cuce, now showing at the Purple Starfish in Kaniva. With ancestral ties to Kaniva dating back to the 1800s, Liam returned not to retrace old footsteps but to document the impact of the present.

It was a busy weekend for members of the Rotary Club of Nhill and the A&P Society with 107 cars and 350 crew from the Variety Bash visiting Nhill. The Rotary Club has been communicating and planning with event organisers for the past few months in readiness for the arrival of the 'Bash'.

Australian health promotion charity, Gotcha4Life Foundation, has today launched a powerful new podcast series centred on First Nations voices, exploring what truly shapes and sustains mental fitness – in culture, in community, and in individuals. The inaugural series is hosted by award-winning Indigenous businesswoman and Gotcha4Life Board Member Mundanara Bayles and produced in partnership with award-winning Black Magic Woman podcast. 

As Australia marks DonateLife Week, and local neighbourhood houses in Buloke encourage everyone over the age of 16 to sign up, the Hogan family from Birchip have shared their life-changing moment and the gift of a kidney from father to son.