Time to have your say – pool closure
Kristin Nicholson. Community discussion has centred on the concern for the safety of the town’s youth who will seek out local alternative swimming locations such as creeks and channels, lack of leisure opportunities (including the water slide), lack of, or reduction of, swimming lessons and other organised aquatic-based lessons, and the cost of travelling to other towns or shires to access aquatic facilities.
Festival of Small Halls
Clarence Valley Council's Resilient Clarence project proudly sponsored the Festival of Small Halls at the Wooloweyah Hall on the 26 May and the Dundurrabin Community Centre on the 27 May as part of the Woodfordia Inc Resilience Tour 2022. Using storytelling and music to connect people, the Resilience Tour is travelling to small halls in bushfire impacted communities.
Maldonites are Maldon’s biggest asset
Mark Blythe. This Sunday will see another Maldon Swap Meet held at the Maldon Racecourse Reserve; the resurgence of events post COVID speaks volumes for the resilience and dedication of Maldon’s army of organisers and volunteers. A lot of rural and regional towns are very busy trying to pick up the pieces of their event industries after the wilderness years of COVID, but Maldon has managed to keep all of their events ticking over during the last two years, in one form or another, even if they were just on life support.
Forget Me Nots always remember to have fun
Four years ago, a local group was established to offer support, social interaction, and plenty of fun, laughter and friendship, to Clarence Valley residents living with dementia ... it expanded to include locals affected by memory impairment, and senior citizens with limited opportunities to socialise. Together, they sing, they dance, and they enjoy being in each other’s company.
Blast from the past: The Chinese concert
On Monday, 22 April 1901, Maldon’s Chinese community gave a concert at the Temperance Hall (now the Community Centre) to help raise funds for the Maldon Hospital ... A highlight of the evening was the Chinese dragon, worked by Tow Yin, Ah Chong and George Ah Mi. The dragon performed an elaborate dance before miming the actions of eating a meal and bathing and then settling down and going to sleep. The performance was greeted with loud applause.
‘Zero to fabulous in a couple of months’
Serena Kirby. Every second Saturday a big group of locals gather at the Denmark Scout Hall to swap excess fruit and vegetables, seedlings and flowers they have grown ... “I got the idea from my daughter who had started one in Manjimup”: produce swap organiser, Bobbie Batten.
Locals patrol their own community to deter looters as town rebuilds after floods
When Woodburn resident Melanie Connell heard that looters were taking what little people had left, she decided to do something about it ... Melanie wanted residents to know that if they see torches shining into empty backyards, it is the community group looking out for them.
Happy crowds, town-wide earnings and welcome tips
Maldon’s annual Town-Wide Garage Sale made for a busy Saturday in and across town. With just shy of 70 households opening their gates and putting their unwanted treasures out for sale, the cash was flowing, and visitors and locals alike enjoyed wandering amongst the diverse collection of stuff on show.
New mining exploration licence
A number of local residents have expressed their concern regarding an application for a new mining exploration licence. One resident told the Times, “I am concerned about the size of the exploration licence that has been applied for, especially in relation to the historic and scientific significant mining landscape that may be damaged.
Tantanoola gymnasium relocation plan
Sheryl Lowe. The small regional community of Tantanoola in the South East of South Australia has big plans to move their almost one-million-dollar school gymnasium a few hundred metres across a couple of country roads to the town’s sporting complex. We have the skills in our community to do this, Tantanoola local Mr. Peter Altschwager told The News, we just need permission ... Local students were educated at the once vibrant school for 139 years but with recent declining numbers, the Education Minister John Gardner decided to close the school in 2020.
Library open to all
Gabrielle Duykers. Members of the public can now step foot inside the Naracoorte library following the opening of its doors last week. The $2.38 million library, located at 93 Smith Street, has seen the former Naracoorte Herald building transform into a much-needed central community space.
New LHI brewery opening
Timmy Maxwell. We are open! What a journey it’s been up until the point we poured our first beer four weeks ago! As with many great things on this island, it all started with a simple idea. We wanted to brew fresh beer and a create a great place to enjoy it in.
Support ‘humbling’
Patricia Gill. Rob and Sally Seminara tell of how a ‘ï¬rey’, overcome with emotion, had wept while presenting them with a cake after the couple had returned to their burnt out house. The show of emotion and gesture touched the hearts of the devastated couple whose home of 30 years at Parryville was razed overnight on February 4.
Breakfast meeting offers plenty of food for thought
Emma Pritchard. The Grafton Chamber of Commerce hosted its first breakfast meeting of the year at the Clocktower Hotel last week ... In assuming his new role with the Chamber, Mr Jablonski, a passionate advocate for local youths, spoke to the crowd about encouraging mentorships for young people and getting them actively involved in entrepreneurships and business.
Castlemaine family loses everything
Kelly and Dustin’s rental property in Castlemaine became unliveable after the floods last Friday ... Many other locals and businesses in Castlemaine experienced loss and damage due to the severe weather front last Friday and local council has been working closely with affected residents and local emergency service team to assist.
Let’s float
Ali Bohn. The river was decorated with an array of wildlife and household replicas last Wednesday as the annual (and now iconic) Lilo Race took place for Australia Day. Flamingos, swans, lounge chairs, traditional lilos, and even thongs floated down the mighty Murray River; quite a sight to see from the banks on a stunning January morning.
Community achievers recognised at Australia Day celebrations
Sean Cunningham. “Our future really does start today, we can all help make it a better place in the future.We can all live as equals because we are all equal and our visions can help Australia to become a better nation” : Warren Potent, five-time Olympian and Olympic medallist for prone rifle shooting and 2022 Australia Day Ambassador.
Country music star aiming to win $100000 for Grafton
Emma Pritchard. She is one of the most charismatic entertainers in Australia and a self-described proud Graftonian, and now, Brooke McClymont has entered the jungle to try and win $100000 for her local community.
Top honour for national park volunteers
William Bay National Parks Association has been recognised as the community group that only downs tools in driving hailstorms in the depths of winter ... WBNPA is believed to be Denmark’s most active and longest-serving community group in contributing towards a nationally and internationally recognised national park.
Christmas Carols in Maldon
The sun was still burning hot as the annual Christmas Carols began at 7pm last Saturday at the Bill Woodfull Reserve. Families watched with anticipation as the shadows across the oval became longer, bringing relief from the heat as they settled on the their picnic rugs to enjoy the festivities.
Maldon Village Quilters
D Buck. The Maldon Village Quilters group has a history spanning decades and continues to thrive ... at the request of Maldon Hospital, we made and donated two quilts to be used for palliative care patients, and have made three Healing Quilts for members facing serious illness as well as one for another much loved member of the Maldon community. Some of our members also make Hero Quilts for Australian service personnel, especially those serving abroad, and others make caring quilts for neonatal units and other worthy causes.
Christmas and community spirit soars in Ulmarra
Emma Pritchard. The streets of Ulmarra were filled with seasonal festivities, joviality and plenty of community spirit over the weekend when the riverside village hosted a special Christmas evening ... President of the Ulmarra Village Inc Steve Pickering, who also owns the Coldstream Gallery in Ulmarra, said local business owners were thrilled to be involved with the event and he estimated upwards of 500 people attended throughout the evening.
