Kaniva Community Carols: A celebration of Christmas spirit
Kaniva’s Community Hub came alive for the annual Christmas Carols last Friday, welcoming young families and people of all ages. Despite the inclement weather, the event saw a full house, preceded by Santa photos, face painting and a meet and greet with Santa on the oval.
Growing celebrations as Yamba Community Garden set to expand
It isn’t just the trees, blossoming shrubs, and well tendered to veggie patches which are growing in the Yamba Community Garden. After applying for and subsequently receiving a grant of close to $14000 through the Northern Rivers Community Foundation (NRCF) last month, the popular recreational area in Wattle Park is set to expand by 200m2, creating additional space for more Clarence Valley residents to enjoy outdoor activities while fostering an inclusive environment and promoting sustainability within the Lower Clarence.
Shop and celebrate locally, and …. win big this Christmas
Birchip is aglow with holiday cheer as the town sparkles under dazzling Christmas lights and festive decorations ... There is another exciting reason to keep it local this festive season, with over $3000 worth of Big Bucks and prizes up for grabs in the annual Birchip Big Bucks Promotion.
Shop local and win big with Groom’s Gifts
This Christmas, the spotlight is on the 17,390 local businesses across the Toowoomba region, as Groom’s Gifts, spearheaded by Groom MP Garth Hamilton, returns for 2024. Groom’s Gifts supports small businesses and rewards shoppers in the lead-up to Christmas.
Harp strikes a chord with an early music fan
Patricia Gill. Shamara de Tissera began to play the harp as a young woman when pregnant with her son and no longer able to do eurythmia ... With her move to Denmark and ï¬rst performance directing the Hildegard Harp Meditation at the Brave New Works Festival in January, she brought a wave of interest in the instrument.
The Upper Murray men and their mounts. They rode through the hills to war
Honor Auchinleck. Artist Simon White’s mural ‘The Men and their Mounts’ in Corryong tells the story of the bush horses or brumbies and the stockmen who mustered and brought them down from the High Country and the bush-covered hills surrounding the Upper Murray before the First World War. The breeders of the Remounts and Walers often turned the young horses out into the bush to toughen them up and then brought them back in as four-year-olds for sale to buyers for the British Army in India.
Iluka turns purple to say no to domestic and family violence
Making every step count, close to 100 Clarence Valley residents joined members of the Iluka-Woombah Rotary Club on November 29 for a twilight walk to raise awareness of domestic and family violence and the devastating impact it has on communities around Australia. Organised as part of the global campaign 16 Days of Activism, an annual event aimed at eliminating violence against women and young girls while promoting respectful relationships, the initiative received an outpouring of support throughout the coastal village.
Building community and town pride
Rachel Hagan. Price is a town with a deep history and has been a key part of Yorke Peninsula, but one key feature it has been missing is a museum — that is until now. By mid to late January, the Price Museum will be structurally ready to go ... Price Progress Association secretary Karen Newbold says it all needs to be finished by April 20, 2025, and she is confident all the work can be achieved by that deadline.
One butcher shop + six moustaches = $5000
The butchers at Metcalf Quality Meats in Evans Head, Tom Karry, Jacob Lane, Mark Simeoni, Riley Stothard, Nathan Scully and Wade Goldthorpe, grew moustaches to raise money for men’s mental health. Wade said the young fellas didn’t stand a chance in the moustache-growing race.
Total support for Matthew’s legacy
The remarkable achievements of 2024 Paris Olympian bronze medallist Matthew Denny will be celebrated with two significant legacy projects in Allora. The local community was invited to vote on two proposals. Naming the Allora Cricket Grounds discus ring after Matthew Denny, creating a walking path in Dalrymple Park, featuring markers that highlight the distance of the various records achieved by Matthew Denny.
Newstead solar: so far, so good
The Newstead solar project that was launched in August is rolling out and has been holding regular information sessions at the Newstead Rural Transfer Centre. The project, a partnership between Renewable Newstead and retailer Flow Power, centres around the newly operational Newstead Solar Farm.
Brass and a half
Q: What do Carols by Candlelight, the Easter Parade, Maldon and Baringhup Show and almost every other major event in town have in common? A: The fantastic musical presence of the Maldon Brass Band, that’s what!
Dedicated crew ensures ship runs smoothly
The president of the Corryong Show committee reported to the recent annual general meeting that an enthusastic band of helpers and improvements to the show site have ensured the future of a great community event. "We have ticked the boxes with what we had aimed and hoped to achieve with our Spring Show," Evan Nicholas said, "with great attendance from our community and also from afar.
Nhill Lions exchange student Bailee White
Bailee White, daughter of Steve and Sarah White will leave soon to enjoy a "White Christmas" in Canada as the Lions Club of Nhill Inc. Youth Exchange Student for 2024. Bailee will be hosted by Mark and Sherry Pettapiece in Ontario Canada ... Their daughter Mikaela was fortunate enough to visit Australia in July this year and had a wonderful time.
Move it or lose it
Rachel Hagan. Minlaton Family Centre is moving towards becoming the wellbeing hub of the lower Yorke Peninsula. However, these dreams may fall short if the community does not start using the new health services already available ... the family centre hosts GP Gaurang Prajapati and dietitian Bonnie Sanderson, who are currently not being utilised to their full capacity.
Festive fun for 2024 Gin Gin Christmas Parade
The Gin Gin Christmas Parade is back again on Sunday 22 December with the whole community invited to get into the festive spirit. Gin Gin Rural Fire Brigade’s Jack Daw gives an overview of the event: The event started in 2023 as a way to bring the community and the local emergency services closer together, and to spread some holiday joy.
Bringing them in by baring all at the Bowlo
When is a bowlo more than a bowlo – when it’s at Bonalbo and the bowling club is a place to meet, eat, have a drink and even get your kit off. Bonalbo Bowling & Recreation Club is making sure it’s doing what it can to thrive. Club board president David Whitney ... quoted a shocking statistic that one bowling club a week is closing.
Tchum Lake Aquatic Club: New leadership
The Tchum Lake Aquatic Club has ushered in a new era of leadership, with Alex Noonan taking the helm as president following Andrew Lee’s dedicated eight-year tenure ... One of the first challenges facing the new executive team is tackling the lake’s significant weed problem.
Leadership opportunities at Maldon Inc.
The local traders association Maldon Inc. held its annual general meeting (AGM) ... but has yet to attract a new president or secretary. Barry Robinson has served as president of the organisation since 2022 and Lindsay Calloway from Warral Maldon has been serving as secretary ... Barry acknowledged that there is reduced enthusiasm for joining committees in 2024 but said the organisation is considering the creation of an advisory board, so people can contribute to certain topics or on certain projects in which they specialise.
CWA intergenerational initiative a first for Denmark
Serena Kirby. Denmark's CWA is bridging the generational gap with its Nanna’s Next Door initiative. The intergenerational playgroup is the brainchild of local mum Megan Sutton who believes that the Denmark CWA is the only branch offering this type of program ... "Some of these women may not have held a baby in decades and there’s certainly something special that happens when they hold a baby."
Action Gerard’s ‘key to prosperity’?
Hugh Schuitemaker. The current Gerard Council will again appear before the Berri Court, in January, with a "reset" in its management needed to help the community, according to a wellknown local figure ... In response to last week's article, a State Government spokesperson said "the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (Kyam Maher) has been made aware of the concerns that have been raised by Mr Lindsay".
Gerard wants accountability
Hugh Schuitemaker. A senior member of the Gerard community says accountability for ongoing poor management of the area is needed to improve living conditions for its residents. Berri man Tyson Lindsay has raised concerns surrounding continued mismanagement of the Gerard Community Council and the resulting impact on community members.
