Community

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank has continued its assault on its community bank network, forcing the closure of 28 agencies run by community franchises. All the agencies are in regional Australia and 17 of the affected towns will be left with no banking services after the closures. Bendigo Bank made no mention that the agencies were all operated by the owners of community banks when making the announcement last week that it was “retiring” its agency network.

So, after more than a year without a resident police officer, Katamatite's single-member station is about to spring back to life. Detective Senior Constable Charles Ryall is trading his role with Cobram's Crime Investigation Unit for something entirely different – becoming Katamatite's first live-in police officer in about 12 months.

Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation has renewed calls as a matter of urgency for a new government approach to address high lead levels in Aboriginal children in far west New South Wales. The call comes after the Far West Local Health District released the latest report into lead levels in Broken Hill children.

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has reacted with concern following recent comments from Victorian Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio, warning that the State Government’s energy transition risks alienating the very communities it needs most.

The Barkly Regional Council today issued a strong call to action, urging the Northern Territory Government, Infrastructure Australia, and all stakeholders to reinstate Tennant Creek as a core component of the Territory Energy Link (TEL) corridor. The Council asserts that bypassing Tennant Creek risks squandering decades of strategic planning and undermining critical regional development.

Mount Alexander Shire Council (MASC) has been keeping play a priority; it has featured as a key agenda item at its recent council meeting and in the recently released budget. It comes as school starts back again, after a holiday period that saw local children and visitors looking for wintry activities in regional small towns.

The final days of the Maldon in Winter Festival and the school holidays resulted in some interesting sights around Maldon ... On Thursday 17 July, the mythical Knight in Shining Armour became a reality for participants in a drawing session with Greg Nash, who is a professional jouster from Kryall Castle (one of only two in Australia, guess where the other one works?).

The comments today from the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) Acting CEO, Anthony Beven, are not only irresponsible, they are utterly absurd. To suggest that the Commonwealth should pull funding from the NT Police Force until a meeting takes place is reckless and inflammatory. These kinds of outbursts do nothing but create confusion and fear in remote communities who rely on police for safety and protection.

Towong Council workers have launched historic industrial action over what they consider an "unfair" pay offer and rising charges for residents. For the first time in the council's history, its workers have commenced are taking protected industrial action in response to a wage proposal that workers say fails both staff and the local community.

Corryong's 150th anniversary celebrations began on Sunday with a well attended Proclamation High Tea with many guests decked out in period dress. Corryong & District Memorial Hall committee member, Sheril Wilson, reports on the event...

Narrandera District Community Radio Spirit FM 91.1 prides itself on prioritising community needs and strong connections ensuring listeners are well-entertained and are up-to-date and informed about district and community events. Spirit FM volunteers, for nearly 21 years, have enjoyed working hard to deliver quality uninterrupted radio listening. 91.1 is on-air 24-hours and can be streamed from anywhere in the world playing tunes from an over 80,000 song library.

Sebastian Calderon. A Loxton-born news presenter has been awarded one of the most important journalism accolades in Australia, for his work on the true-crime podcast 'Just Married: The Anthea Bradshaw Mystery'. 9News Adelaide's Ben Avery has been named the Journalist of the Year at the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance 2025 South Australian Media Awards.

Police officer Ashley Sterchow, from Hay Police Station, stars in the most recent social media campaign of Country Change. Country Change is a project of Riverina RDA (Regional Development Australia).

Nhill's Mervyn Schneider – fondly known as Merv – marked an extraordinary milestone last week, celebrating his 100th birthday surrounded by family, friends, and well-wishers. A celebration was held at the Nhill Bowling Club on Saturday, with more than 150 people in attendance.

A minimum of two Town Hall meetings a year will be held in the upper and lower Clarence Valley after a motion to introduce the concept was carried in a split vote at the July Council meeting ... Cr Yager said the motion was aimed at holding a forum for open dialogue and community connection.

The Grafton Chamber of Commerce welcomed 200 guests to the Grafton District Golf Club on July 19 when they hosted the 2025 Clarence Valley Business Awards ... “You are awarded in public for what you practice in private,” Hayley Talbot said to the finalists in acknowledgement of the “many late nights and overflowing inboxes” many business owners and their teams experience on a weekly basis, describing their commitment to their professionalism as being encoded in the DNA of their businesses.

Wandering around the Wilcannia cemetery, you would have seen the unique mosaic headstones. Colourful and creative, they give special tribute to our loved ones who have passed away. It takes care and time to make each headstone, and the work continues on with Uncle Steven (Stevie) Harris.

We're proud to announce Marnpi Festival, a significant First Nations-led arts and community festival co-designed by Badger Bates and Slag Heap Projects with Anthony Hayward and Nancy Bates, in partnership with The Old Vic Gallery Studio and Premier Automotive Tyres.

It’s Millie Trustum’s 14th birthday on Saturday, July 26. After being cancer-free for six years, Millie has been diagnosed with an incurable high grade glioma ... Millie’s parents Erica and Kevin said they weren’t sure what to get her for her birthday.

Farmsafe Australia ... launched its 2025 National Farm Safety Week campaign, centred around the theme “Second Chances – Who Knows How Many You’ll Get?” with a national call to action: if you’ve had a near miss on farm, don’t just move on; learn from it, share it safely, and use it to protect those around you.

INEOS Automotive has announced a new partnership with independent charity, Rural Aid, that is set to bolster the organisation’s critical support capability in regional Australia ... Through the partnership, INEOS will offer financial assistance and provide a fleet of nine (9) of its Quartermaster utes to Rural Aid’s counsellors and disaster support personnel...