Community

The May Budget delivered by Treasurer Jim Chalmers has elicited criticism, and some praise, from many quarters, as illustrated by the following statements from the National Party, Beyond Zero Emissions, National Farmers' Federation and the NFF Horticulture Council, National Seniors Australia, Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals, TasFarmers, Grain Producers Australia and NSW Farmers.

Eight months after the death of 46-year-old Naracoorte man Cody Williams, his family says they are still searching for answers - and demanding accountability so no other family experiences the same heartbreak. In a confronting and deeply personal letter to The [Naracoorte] News, local resident Donna Armoogum details the final days of her brother’s life...

Madison Eastmond. A Riverland out of school hours care (OSHC) program has recently celebrated one year of success. The Monash Primary and Preschool OSHC program has now been offering their service to the local community for over a year, with the initiative recording double the numbers of enrolments during the last school-holiday period since they opened their doors.

More than 500,000 Australian children were placed into institutional or out-of-home care during the last century, with many experiencing neglect, abuse and a loss of identity that continues to shape their lives today. Often referred to as Forgotten Australians and Care Leavers, this cohort includes Stolen Generations, former child migrants, and former Wards of the State, including more than 400,000 non-Indigenous children.

Residents are invited to take part in an upcoming Fire Wise Planting Bus Tour Workshop, designed to provide practical tips on landscaping in fire-prone areas. The workshop is one of four initiatives being delivered by Council in partnership with community organisations, funded through the Victorian Government’s Safer Together Program – Strengthening Local Government Partnerships.

The Gatton Library will host this year’s 26th National Simultaneous Storytime – and you’re invited to come along. National Simultaneous Storytime will once again see a picture book – written and illustrated by an Australian author – read simultaneously in libraries, schools, homes, children’s facilities and early childhood education and care services all over the country. 

Gippsland Critical Minerals has launched live weather monitoring on its website, giving the East Gippsland community real-time access to on-site conditions at the Fingerboards Project. Available now via the Monitoring and Studies page, the live feed draws data from two on-site weather stations: one south-west of the Fingerboards intersection and a second on the Mitchell River plateau, installed in response to feedback from landholders and community.  

The town's embracing of the family struck by tragedy came to its culmination at a sunset vigil yesterday to say farewell to Kumanjayi Little Baby, dead at just five years old. There were no less than 1500 locals on Anzac Oval, the 20-80 black-white mix about the same as the whole town’s. The pain of the recent events had united them.

Danny the leak detection dog and his handler set to arrive in the region this May, bringing technology typically used in major city networks to remote communities. “This is the kind of technology you’d usually see in large urban networks, and we’re now trialling it here in Cook Shire,” Mayor Holmes said.

AusNet has formally applied to the Victorian Government to compulsorily acquire easements from Victorian farmers to build the Western Renewables Link (WRL) transmission line before the Environmental Effects Statement (EES) is completed.

Following considerable community pressure and lobbying by Towong Shire Council, the Victorian Parliament’s summer fires inquiry decided to hold a dedicated ‘open mic’ session for Towong residents. "While this session will be held online and not physically in the shire, it will at least provide an opportunity for the inquiry to hear the voices of our communities directly," said Towong mayor, Cr Peter Tolsher.

On TikTok, an overwhelming 92 per cent of [young] respondents said social bullying - exclusion, rumour-spreading and being left out - is what they witness most often. Over 1,500 schools, workplaces, sporting clubs, community groups and individuals have so far signed up to fundraise in the lead-up to Friday...

The North Central LLEN is celebrating a major milestone since partnering with the Department of Education to support sixty local students to commence school-based apprenticeships and traineeships through the Head Start program over the past three years. 

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has labelled AusNet’s application for compulsory land acquisition powers for the Western Renewables Link (WRL) as a disgrace, warning it represents a huge escalation in pressure tactics against regional landholders. 

Denice Barnes. Central Coast Councillor Doug Eaton has called on the State Government to help with the growing problem of people camping illegally at public parks and reserves. His call comes as Toukley and Norah Head residents continue to raise concerns over people camped illegally at Wallarah Point Peace Park at Gorokan...

Chris Elliott. To help the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) celebrate their 90th Anniversary, local member Roy Butler rode a small motor bike, towing a message board trailer from Sydney, via Bourke to Broken Hill. Roy was in Wilcannia on Friday 1st for lunch in the park to catch up with locals and get them to write a message on the trailer.

The Riverland’s Indigenous community is needing "practical outcomes" from bureaucratic processes that benefit all involved, according to a senior local politician. Riverland-based MLC, and SA Liberal leader in the Legislative Council, Nicola Centofanti last week met with numerous senior local Indigenous community representatives at the Berri riverfront.

A vintage caravan packed with interactive exhibits, real historical objects and immersive storytelling is setting off from Murwillumbah ... bound for some of the most remote classrooms in NSW. Connected: Signal to the Stars, created by Tweed Regional Museum...

The community was out in force on Saturday to recognise the brave men and women who served and continue to serve Australia in defence of our freedom.

A respectful silence fell across the Grafton Showground on the weekend as the Grafton Show Society commemorated Anzac Day with a small ceremony in the main arena ... a moving tribute to the Northern Rivers Lancers 15th Light Horse Regiment and the unique bonds shared between soldiers and their horses...

Brian Fitzgerald. This year was the 20th anniversary of the ANZAC Day Service at the Nuggetty Peace Cairn in Nuggetty School Road ... The Peace Cairn was erected on the site of the old Nuggetty School by the Moss family to celebrate the end of World War I and their son’s safe return from the Western Front.

Koala monitoring on a tree planting site beside the Moorabool River, Victoria has shown an unexpected growth in koala observations in just one year. More than 11,300 koala trees and shrubs were planted on the site by Koala Clancy Foundation and the International Fund for Animal Welfare in the winter of 2023 and 2024 ... audio recorders were set up to monitor the koala population ... See the super video of the koalas nearby.