Life

More than 190 graduate nurses and midwives will commence work throughout the Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) in 2024. They are among more than 3400 graduate nurses and midwives to begin work across the state this year.

The Hush Foundation, whose mission is to transform healthcare cultures with kindness and the arts, is delighted to launch its inaugural Kindness in Healthcare Writing Prize, in memory of the late author and doctor Kath O’Connor. Kath was a General Practitioner in Central Victoria and had just finished the second draft of her beautifully crafted novel, Inheritance (Affirm Press, 2023) when she died of Ovarian Cancer in 2019 at the age of 48.

Jenny Pollard. After four days of full-on activity, Charlton has surely earned a place in the spotlight for community endeavour as both a host and in partnership with the burgeoning OK Motels Contemporary Music and Arts Small Town Festival, which played out last weekend ... with the fun and innovative  activities like “Marry Your Friends – A Celebration of Holy Mate-rimony”...

“I’m surrounded by a thriving arts community and a number of really good potters. I think artists here are inspired by the environment and pottery allows you to literally be in touch with the elements. Being in a community that appreciates, fosters and values artistic pursuits gives you courage to express yourself artistically; it lifts you up and celebrates what you do without the hindrance of competition": Rachel Falls Williams.

Just when you thought it was safe to do quizzes again, here comes this week’s ...

A New South Wales musician has expressed his love for Warumungu country in a recently released song titled Threeways ... "We had travelled over 170,000 kilometres and performed more than 270 shows, and we had come to a fork in the road. We were nearly broke, busted and there was nothing for miles": Kevin Sullivan.

Around a year ago Donna Murphy and Dave Rowe bought their house on the corner of Templeton and Adair Streets in Maldon. It’s an old-time shop-plus-residence building with bay windows either side of the front door – which they use regularly for displays commemorating significant days in the calendar year.

Dr Lyn Rabbetts recently graduated at a ceremony held at the Convention Centre ... hosted by the Flinders University after successfully completing her PhD in Palliative Care Nursing. Lyn’s thesis was titled, Finding Balance as an invited guest: Registered Nurses lived experience of providing home-based palliative care in rural communities.

So - I was given a lovely barrel fountain some time back. It has a top half with what looks like an old hand pump that runs by solar and trickles water into the larger lower cask. I love it and the sounds of the water. Recently, for some totally unknown reason, I decided I might like some fish in it...  

Last Saturday Hike to Heal Australia launched its flagship event, the Hike to Heal Scavenger Hike, at the Mount Peel Bushland Park between Westbrook and Drayton ... to support the cause of suicide prevention and mental health awareness.

A section of Wilson Inlet between 107-109 Minsterly Road has been named Hart Cove in honour of the late James (Jim) Hart ... Namings, such as the cove after Mr Hart, would be a lasting reminder of remarkable contributions and legacies.

Patricia Gill. Denmark Arts founder Andre Steyl, who died at 78 two weeks short of his 79 birthday, had estimated that he had clocked up ‘roughly’ 40 years involvement in community arts. The South African-born and raised life member and a ‘legend’ of Denmark Arts suffered and survived poliomyelitis in his adolescence, and was left with partial paralysis.

Kate Holland. Being a chef means juggling a multitude of demands. So, is inviting a fellow foodie into the kitchen to interpret your menu an act of generosity or insanity? Alana Brabin, head chef at Kangaroos Island’s majestic dining venue The Enchanted Fig Tree, is all for it ... Sarah Turner (Chef of the Year 2007) and Rocky Oliver (Pirate Life) will enter the fig tree fold on  Sunday February 25  and  Saturday March 23  respectively.

I always picture the empowerment process as a bit like teaching someone to drive (or a farmer teaching a working dog). Initially you are very direct, controlling, and provide clear and implicit rules for what you want the learner driver to obey and do. Then as their capability and confidence improves, you relax some of the rules, and allow them to make their own decisions ...

Kaniva hosted a successful day for Pink Stumps Day and Ladies Day, raising vital funds for breast cancer research, raising over $4,000, as well as winning the day’s game against Western Flat 129-7-131. This is Kaniva’s 3rd time hosting the event and first back since covid restrictions.

Thinking caps on and good luck!

Well that’s what it feels like. Twenty five years at Mickleham, on top of a granite, rock covered hill made me learn which plants could cope, thumb their leafy noses at the wind and rocky soil and grow, and which took one horrified look at what they were expected to cope with and turned their toes up. The roses showed me just how tough they really are by not only surviving but flourishing, and they did well. Many even survived parts of the house falling on them in the blaze, others laughed it off and kept flowering.

Six communities across Buloke, Loddon and Gannawarra Shires will soon have new Healthcare Hubs to complement existing GP services, with nurse practitioner and allied health services much closer to home. The first four Hubs will be located in the communities of Kerang, Quambatook, Pyramid Hill and Boort.  

The Maldon footy ground is looking good and green, all 125 stallholder sites are booked out, good weather for the weekend was booked in advance, and around 3,500 visitors are eager to experience a warm Maldon welcome. Gates open to the public from 8am tomorrow (Saturday) to around 2pm Sunday for this weekend’s mighty Maldon Antique Fair.

The community is much safer thanks to the tireless efforts of the Clifton Local Ambulance Committee (LAC), which has installed automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in Greenmount and Nobby. Anne Glasheen, President of Clifton LAC, said the defibrillators have been paid for by not-for-profit organisations and businesses.