CATEGORY

Family

New youth mental health service

Serena Kirby. An increase in children experiencing mental health crises and presenting at the region’s emergency departments has led to a new crisis response service. Run by the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, the acute care response team will be based in Albany but will cover Denmark and the Great Southern.

Flight of fancy

‘Flight of Fancy’ essentially refers to an idea that is out of reach, impractical and implausible. So for the Kaniva Lions Club in late 2023 and early 2024, the idea of hosting a Debutante Ball was just that…A Flight of Fancy.

Rural life is the foundation of the Ukrainian people

Urbanisation has a negative impact on the Ukrainian family and the renewal of the population of Ukraine. In the conditions of catastrophic population decline, Ukraine needs to renew the ancient family values ​​laid down by rural residents hundreds of years ago.

Farmers unite to fight stress

Serena Kirby. David Wright was named as the Inaugural Denmark Cattle Farmer of the Year at the recent Drought Muster Buster held at The Dam ... The award was part of a broader event organised by Raintree Farm owner Steve Birkbeck, who wanted to create ‘a reason to celebrate in a time of stress and trouble for the farming industry’ ... An integral part of the event was the discussion of issues surrounding bushfires by a panel of local experts.

Fatherhood – the most challenging and difficult yet rewarding leadership role of them all

Over the Father's Day weekend I was out having a family lunch at a restaurant full of families celebrating father’s day, recognising their fathers and grandfathers. It got me thinking about my dear Dad, and how I have fathered my children and now grandchildren.   Being a dad is the most rewarding – challenging – difficult – all-consuming leadership role any father undertakes - There is no rule book. There is no greater leadership challenge than parenting.

Mayoral chain returns to Hay

A mayoral chain worn by the late OJ Smith has been returned to Hay. “It needed to come back home,” former Hay resident Noelene Martin said ... Noelene and her husband, Rod brought the chain to Hay over the weekend after having it framed, and presented it to Council on Monday morning.

A true bush battler: Bree Wakefield

Bree Wakefield was on the panel of speakers who appeared at the recent event, Hatfield Happenings. Her story is one of varied hardships, and the beauty of overcoming these hardships and elevating yourself.

Oasis in Grey’s childcare desert

Rachel Hagan. Minlaton's time to celebrate arrived with the official opening of the long-awaited Minlaton Family Centre ...The ribbon was cut by Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey, and the three women who started it all: Katie Hughes, Anna Phasey and Amy Honner ... The centre has created 120 childcare places in the region, which is an incredible increase from a few years earlier when there were only 14.

Vital services continue for vulnerable women

Warwick – Killarney Uniting Church will carry on Protea Place’s work with at risk women in the Southern Downs. New name, new beginning. Now called Willow Tree 37, operating hours will be 10am to 2pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 37 Guy Street Warwick (look for the beautiful house next to the church) ... "We’re committed to continuing this legacy of care and support for women in need in our community": Sue Campbell, Uniting Church Communications leader.

Whooping cough cases surge

The Darling Downs is currently experiencing a significant surge in whooping cough cases, posing a health risk to the community, particularly vulnerable infants. In babies and infants this highly contagious respiratory infection, also known as pertussis, can lead to severe complications, including hospitalisation and even death. There have been 755 reported cases on the Darling Downs so far in 2024, compared to 49 for the entirety of 2023.

Rhoda Roberts ‘My Cousin Frank’ – the story of the first Aboriginal Olympian: NORPA

Powerful, enlightening and entertaining,  My Cousin Frank  is a storytelling experience with one of Australia’s greatest artistic and cultural leaders, Rhoda Roberts AO. Join Rhoda in a special evening as she shares  tales of her first cousin Frank Roberts, a boxing champion who was the first Aboriginal Olympian.  

Mossman’s after-school care is back in action following six-month flood recovery: Centacare FNQ

Reopening its doors this week with colourful, fresh new surroundings, Mossman families are celebrating the reopening of St Augustine’s Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) after a six-month flood recovery program.  With extensive damage caused by flood inundation following Tropical Cyclone Jasper,  Catholic Early Learning and Care—Diocese of Cairns Director Alison Forster said it is great to be back delivering outside-hours care for Mossman families and carers...

Youth crime: Parents need to act, says Yan

It’s time parents of delinquent young people took control of their offspring, and if they don’t, laws need to be brought in to oblige them to do so. CLP Member for Namatjira Bill Yan said this in an interview with the  Alice Springs News  on Show Day, two days before “about 20 male youths” allegedly assaulted, at 2.15am, four off-duty police officers, including three women, walking home at the end of night on the town.

Phoebe fights back from injury to be part of team representing Australia

Phoebe Roche has been chosen as part of the eight-person team to compete at the 2024 Virtus Open European Equestrian Championships in the UK ... It's been a long road for Phoebe and her mother, Shaneen ... Shaneen sold her car and organised sausage sizzles and garage sales meaning Phoebe will be able to compete.

Like father, like grandfather

It’s most likely the most celebrated number in Donald’s list for current and past players. First, number 7 was on the guernsey of Gary Young, winner of North-Central’s Feeny Medal. In the next generation, Gary’s son, Ross, won both the Feeny Medal and the Sandover Medal, the latter as the best player in the Western Australian Football League.

Donald Deb set dazzles

Donald Memorial Hall was at capacity on Friday, June 28, as what seemed to be the whole town and district gathered to witness the return of the Debutante Ball. Sixteen debutantes, plus their partners filled the stage, enhanced by the addition Pippa Pearse and Renner Tait in the traditional roles of flower girl and page boy...

Candle vigil for domestic violence

On Sunday evening, June 9, the group known as ‘Allora Churches Together’ assembled at St. David’s Anglican Church for a candlelight vigil to acknowledge and support sufferers of domestic and family violence and to lament the environment that had permitted it to happen.

Local maternity service makes history

Dhelkaya Health has made history by welcoming the very first baby born via a planned caesarean through their midwifery group practice model. Eloise and Peter welcomed their daughter Asta Nicole Batten into the world via planned caesarean on 16 April.

Community comes together, holding candlelight vigil for Molly

An emotional candlelight vigil was held at Hay Lions Park on Wednesday evening, bringing together a group of more than 30, who each took a stand against family violence. National vigils are held annual on the first Wednesday of May to remember and honour those who have been killed by domestic or family violence.  

New mums welcomed to Denmark CWA centenary celebrations

Serena Kirby. This year marks 100 years since the Country Women’s Association of WA was established and the Denmark branch held a special gathering to celebrate the occasion ... "more younger women are joining as they’re making it work for them by meeting in the evenings and weekends instead of during weekdays": CWA State treasurer, Carolyn Cover.

Preschool dream comes true for Lord Howe Island kids

Natassia Soper. After years of delays due to the pandemic and its remote location, families are finally benefiting from the establishment of Lord Howe Island’s first preschool ... Director of the volunteer group and local mother Rachel McFayden spearheaded the push for a preschool, after seeing kids would start primary school without access to play-based early childhood education and care.

The fight against family violence

The deaths of 26 women in the first 114 days of 2024 is equivalent to one every 4.38 days ... In the Buloke Shire for the year end September 2023, 58 incidents of family violence were reported to Victoria Police and 75 per cent of all reported victims – survivors of family violence in the Buloke region – were female.

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