Life

Serena Kirby. More than a dozen happy helpers have given Prawn Rock Channel a much-needed clean up organised by marine wildlife conservation group, Sea Shepherd. Sea Shepherd’s regional coordinator Rhedyn Dekker said she was always amazed at the quantity and diversity of objects they found.

Former Allora local and Australian champion netballer, Laura Geitz, is partnering with Rural Aid in the lead up to Mates Day on March 20 to urge Aussies to think about the farmers behind the food we eat under this year’s campaign theme ‘Every plate tells a story’.

Perth born Kirby Bentley, former player for the Fremantle and Carlton clubs in the AFL women’s comp, visited Wilcannia Central School on Thursday 22nd Feb., to socialise and throw a few balls with the students from both schools. Sponsored by Lifeline through a Regional NSW grant, Kirby’s aim was to promote "How’s Ya Mate?", mental first aid for kids.

Bailee White from Nhill College is one of two students representing Lions clubs from the West of Victoria to move up to the District Final of Lions Youth of the Year. Bailee is joined by Emily Eastman from Casterton Secondary College.

Peter Jones and Guy Knox. Vice Admiral Ian Knox died in Sydney on 14 January after a long illness. Ian Warren Knox was born in Wilcannia on the Darling River in western NSW on 9 February 1933 ... He was promoted Vice Admiral in July 1987 and became Vice Chief of the Defence Force ... He regularly returned to Wilcannia during his retirement and in 2016 attended its annual Field Fun Day, as one of its famous sons.

At the NSW State Land Council regional elections ... local candidate Walpa Thompson hosted a democracy BBQ. But instead of sausages, it was kangaroo rissoles on the menu ... Approximately 80 members of the local land councils came out to vote for the Western region’s representative.

The NSW Government’s pharmacy trial has this month surpassed 12,000 total consultations, relieving pressure on GPs and making it easier for people to access basic medications. The trial allows trained community pharmacists to manage urinary tract infections (UTI) and provide treatment medicines if needed, as well as resupply the oral contraceptive pill (the pill).

The March long weekend brings with it many entertaining events throughout the region. Just a hop, skip and a jump away, will be Beulah’s not-to-be-missed Wide Open Spaces Festival; a weekend of music, art, food and fun at the Beulah Recreation Reserve.

Over one thousand women in remote communities visited ‘Millie’ the bus last year to be screened for breast cancer, assisting women across the Territory to access early detection. Of the 6,000 Territorian women who were screened in 2023, Millie changed the lives of 49 women who were found to have breast cancer.

Nothing like a good quiz to stimulate the brain.

When you live, work, volunteer in a place like Wycheproof – it’s inevitable that the community becomes a strong knit working unit. Such strong knit working units, in the form of community clubs, are set to be on  display in abundance this forthcoming March long weekend.  

A dedicated committee of women have been working hard to deliver two fabulous International Women’s Day (IWD) events for Tennant Creek next week. Under the leadership of Barkly Regional Council and Tennant Creek Women’s Refuge, a diverse committee of women, along with the generous support of the Northern Territory Government’s Office of Gender Equity and Diversity and a multitude of local organisations, have come together to bring these events to life.

Newstead Open Studios art trail is a locally inspired and crafted event, held annually since 2015 and based in and around Newstead, in the heart of Victoria’s goldfields region. This, our tenth-year, features 10 studios with 17 artists participating.

Sick and waiting for hours to be seen by a doctor at the Naracoorte Health Service (public hospital). How does that feel? And if that’s not bad enough, how about waiting for four hours for an ambulance transfer?

The pandemic taught us many things, some good, some bad, and apart from the possible terrible damage to our health, it has done some bad things to our credit cards. We learned, first by necessity and then by total impulse, to buy things online. We began timidly.

Mark Blythe. Tomorrow (Saturday 2 March) at the Maldon Progress Hall you can attend the third biannual Maldon Classic Bike Show ... You will be privileged to see possibly the biggest and best display of classic pre-2000 road racing bikes anywhere in Australia.

I just phoned Bunnings;    I wanted some picture hanging strips so I don't have to stick nails in a wall... I spoke to a bewildered girl that eventually, after much explaining, found what I wanted, and she made me feel very old. I asked her to read out the directions on the pack, and she said to me - and I quote - "It says it holds up to a lub but I don't know what that means..."

Public waiting times for life-saving treatments at regional hospitals like Naracoorte are “creating real anxieties.” That’s the word from Shadow Minister for Regional Health Services Penny Pratt, who says it is concerning that people are losing confidence in country health systems.

How many hours a week do you think our district volunteers would ‘work’ collectively? ... I hold serious concerns for the sustainability of our groups ... Earlier this month, The [Koondrook and Barham] Bridge ran a small round table forum with representatives from local community groups and events.

A Supreme Court bombshell in Queensland this week as dozens of police and health workers, including paramedics, won a mammoth legal battle over mandatory vaccination, with the Supreme Court declaring they were unlawful ... It’s been nearly three years since Australian state premiers and chief medical officers forced Australians to choose between a novel Covid-19 vaccine within a phase three trial and feeding their families.

I am so, so happy to say that after multiple ultrasounds, CT scans, X-Rays, procedures, a biopsy, a major surgery, 4 months of living in Melbourne and separated from family, countless doctors appointments, hospital admissions, ER trips, blood tests, echocardiograms and 31 weeks of chemotherapy, my baby is finally in remission.

Figures suggest that there are as many as 800 Clarence Valley men diagnosed and currently living with prostate cancer. Yet there are virtually no specialised medical staff nor treatments available locally for the condition.