New Toowoomba Hospital enabling works complete
One of the key steps ahead of construction of the new Toowoomba Hospital build is now complete, with enabling works recently concluding. Darling Downs Health Chief Executive, Annette Scott PSM said the completion of the $20 million enabling works package ... is an important milestone.
Barham High School student has dux in a row
There is a saying that when we work hard, we will reap the rewards later; like an athlete training before a marathon, or practicing something until it’s perfected … Barham High School student Ella Lodge has kept her head down during her six years of secondary school and her commitment has paid dividends.
Rare occurrence in Allora
This year a Combined Church Service was held at St David’s ... It was a night time Carols Service, which rarely happens in Allora ... The four Churches in Allora - Presbyterian, Catholic, Uniting and Anglican participated in the Service ...
Food in demand from charities this Christmas
While Christmas is a time for excitement, celebration, food and family for many Clarence Valley locals, with the financial crisis continuing to hit the region ... it can be a time of loneliness and despair. Charities from both the Lower Clarence and Grafton reported increased demand over past years, especially for food...
Another successful event for Nhill Town Committee
A crowd of more than 300 people enjoyed Nhill’s Community Carols last Saturday evening. Perfect weather and an idyllic setting amongst the gum trees at Jaypex Park set the scene for some wonderful music and performances...
A New Year’s celebration with a difference
Many countries from around the world celebrate the beginning of the New Year at different times, in many different ways for many different reasons. So, it is in our Karen Community! Since coming to Nhill in 2010, we, the Karen have continued to celebrate our New Year in the traditional way, on the first day of Pyathoe, which is the tenth month in the traditional Burmese calendar.
It’s voting time: What’s the best pub stay in Australia?
We’re on the hunt for the best country pub that provides a cracker experience for mature-age RV travellers. That’s why we’ve worked with other organisations to identify and short-list 16 top pubs that are now up with a chance of being named the Best Grey Nomad Pub Stay in Australia.
Klynton Kitto’s 10/36 and other sporting highlights
Peter Argent. Klynton Kitto has recorded numerous sporting highlights throughout his lifetime, perhaps the most notable is taking 10/36 in a single innings playing for YP in the 1960 SA Cricket Association Country Carnival.
The twelve words of Christmas
Bruce Stewart. On Christmas Eve, 1906, Reginald Fessenden made the first radio broadcast in history … "A Saviour has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord". Luke 2: 11. These are the first words spoken on radio in human history.
Gath legend continues
Peter Hibberd. At Charlton last Friday, Brian Gath at the tender age of 79 years drove another winner. And in a career spanning over 60 years and over 3,500 winners, this is an amazing feat.
Bush Poetry – Tangmalangaloo
Michael Darby, Bush Poetry Champion of Australia (2023), recites the famous Australian Christmas poem, Tangmalangaloo, by John O'Brien (Msg Patrick Hartigan). Audio produced by audio engineer, Peter Kukura.
Carols capture Christmas cheer
Jenny Pollard. A mix of the traditional and the contemporary had Carols at The Rex hitting the right notes as Charlton celebrated the lead up to Christmas with a message of hope and a whole lot of fun and colour at last Sunday night’s “glowing” event.
Narrandera’s festive season begins with Lions big weekend
It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas with the Narrandera Lions Club gearing up for their usual festivities to help residents and visitors celebrate the festive season. Lions will be hosting the annual Narrandera Carols in the Park...
Grong Grong netballer selected in NSW side
Netball NSW has unveiled the netballers who will represent the State at the 2024 National Netball Championships and among them is Grong Grong’s Emily McPherson, who plays for Wagga Wagga. Emily has been chosen in the 2024 NSW 17U team...
Mighty Murray
The Murray River holds a special place in many hearts and minds of locals. The river brings life to the landscape and the people who live and rely on her. After a trip down the Murray River from Barham to Wellington in South Australia and back, retired land surveyor David Laughlin was left with reflections of natural beauty, lessons from the past and current management by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.
Six leadership lessons I learnt climbing a mountain
It’s not every day you have the opportunity of trekking up Africa’s highest peak with your daughter ... The six lessons I learnt climbing Mt Kilimanjaro (whilst obvious in the cool light of day) were acquired and reinforced through experience. Learning by doing is the most effective and powerful teacher of life’s lessons. These lessons have application in everyday team scenarios.
Carols in the Park
In a balmy atmosphere, both weather and spirit, a good crowd of locals gathered to enjoy and share in the blessings of Carols in the Park. It has been many years since this event was last held at Baker Park, and the traditions of those earlier years were honoured.
Regions’ race towards VAD a damning indictment on Qld Govt: Katter
Regional and rural Queenslanders are seeking access to voluntary assisted dying (VAD) services at a rate that is almost double their inner-city counterparts – a revelation that should send a shiver down the spine of anyone who cares about the equitable delivery of healthcare, Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Leader and Traeger MP Robbie Katter has said.
Isi Campbell – Making waves
Isi Campbell is doing what most teenagers only dream of… she’s travelling the world to go surfing ... Isi’s wins have been many including being named as last year’s WA Junior Surfer of the Year and collecting the 2022 Under-18 Girls State Championship Title. She has also achieved a silver medal as part of Team Australia at the International Surfing Association’s World Junior Surfing Championships in El Salvador.
Lucindale Survivors survive and conquer Shitbox Rally
Erin McWaters. In November 2022, Shannon and Erin were handed the keys to the Autumn 2021 Shitbox Rally AU Falcon of local Lucindale Survivors Rohan Giles and Andrew Wilks, and began their fundraising campaign to get the face-lifted Sherlee the Shitbox off the Port Douglas start-line on October 13th 2023 for the Spring 2023 Rally, bound for Adelaide via Birdsville.
No staff
The opening of a new daycare facility in Naracoorte has hit a speed bump. There are no qualified staff to man the facility ready to open at the old TAFE site in the township. The new daycare centre, with a capacity to accommodate up to 80 children, has been developed by Tony Dawson of Robe.
Health tax “fatal” for some GP”ˆclinics
The State Government’s new health tax is another hit for rural and regional communities, with many GP clinics facing the risk of closure. Labor recently reclassified tenanted medical professionals as employees, not contractors, for payroll tax. This move has left clinics grappling with debts often in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, as the tax has been backdated up to five years in many instances.

