A win for Aussie battler
Peter Hibberd. Victorian harness racing hobby trainer, Paul Castle, and his wife, Fiona, didn’t hold back their emotions when ten-year-old gelding Touchandgo (Down Under Muscles) got the money at his 49th race attempt. The victory at the Wedderburn Cup meeting ... had added significance, as it was the first training success for Castle, of Swan Marsh, 20 minutes from Colac.
Our Erin: `I’m proud to call Lucindale and Australia home’
Australia Day was a time to reflect, respect and celebrate for around 100 people who gathered at Lucindale last Friday ... Lucindale’s 2024 Citizen of the Year, Erin McWaters, was praised for her outstanding contribution to the community “particularly her volunteer work and fundraising contributions”.
UK author now local
Wayne Hawthorne. A UK author of more than 10 books, Gill Tee led an interesting life before moving recently to the Naracoorte district. Gill told Naracoorte Men’s Probus Club members how she spent most of her life living in England, but that she has also lived in Spain and now Australia.
Reconciling our past
We would have been so much better if we had reconciled our past with the First Nations people of this land. This was the message delivered by James Darling AM, a South Australian conversationalist ... Mr Darling congratulated those in Naracoorte who were granted Australian citizenship and thanked them for their loyalty towards the country.
Hot shot
The Cambooya Australia Day committee landed a bull’s-eye when it selected hard-working Cambooya Rural Fire Brigade volunteer John Archer as the Citizen of the Year. Marking 236 years since the European colonisation of Australia began, last Friday, 26 January, residents of Cambooya and surrounds attended the local Australia Day event.
MP diverts to make special visit to truckers
After learning that the Need for Feed Australia convey of donated hay was heading to Ardlethan Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke made a special diversion from her scheduled route to meet up with the inspiring team ... the 26-truck convoy ...
This year have a fulfilled diary rather than a full diary
The start of another year provides a good opportunity to take a little time out to reflect on the past year and assess what matters to you. This is not about setting huge new year resolutions, but more about identifying and pursuing what matters to you. A 3 x 3 x 3 framework is a useful approach, something for yourself daily, targets to achieve by the first quarter, and some goals for the year.
Bonza marks milestone of first year making air travel more affordable and saving Aussies millions: Bonza
Australia’s only independent low-cost carrier Bonza is celebrating a year since taking to Aussie skies to democratise air travel across the country. Bonza revealed that during the past year it has saved Aussie travellers over $125 million by delivering upon its mission of making air travel more affordable and accessible to travellers…
Hindmarsh Australia Day
Monica Revell. Australia Day started early in Hindmarsh Shire on Friday 26 January 2024, commencing with a BBQ breakfast in Rainbow at 7:30am, followed by ceremonies in Jeparit, Dimboola, and finally Nhill. Hindmarsh Shire Council Mayor, Cr Brett Ireland, attended all four events on the day where he addressed the crowd and presented Hindmarsh Shire’s 2024 Australia Day Awards.
Aussie Hay Runners make hay-raising return
More than 60 heavy vehicles transporting 2144 bales of premium hay arrived in Grafton and Ulmarra on January 26 after completing an incredible 98860km journey from regional Victoria to the Clarence Valley. It was the third time the Aussie Hay Runners had returned to the region...
Citizen of the Year, Aneika Kapeen – Mudyala Aboriginal Corporation founder and CEO
When Mudyala Aboriginal Corporation founder and CEO, Aneika Kapeen was announced as 2024 Clarence Valley Citizen of the Year, a loud cheer erupted from the crowd in acknowledgment of more than a decade of dedication to the community.
Free fish for all at festival
The 10th annual Gynburra festival was held at Port Victoria on Friday and Saturday, January 26-27. The festival is named after the Gynburra fish, also known as butterfish or dusky morwong, which has cultural significance for the Narungga people.
Only in Aus
Australia Day was celebrated with barbecues, award presentations, citizenship ceremonies and more across Yorke Peninsula.
Celebrating Buloke’s banner bearers
Buloke came together in Sea Lake on Australia Day Eve to mark a year of achievement and dedication at its annual awards ceremony. Trevor Emonson was named Citizen of the Year, Blake Lee awarded Young Citizen of the Year and the Buloke Collectable Vehicle Club’s “Show and Shine” was unveiled as Community Event of the Year ...
Australia Day volunteers serve about 700 breakfasts
At the Australia Day breakfast in Two Rocks yesterday volunteers served about 700 breakfasts with assembly-line precision to community members and families. Organised and run by the Yanchep Two Rocks Community Recreation Association (YTRCRA) the breakfast has been held since 1991 when it started as a sausage sizzle in the park.
Lifesaving volunteer our Ambassador
Australia Day Ambassador and surf lifesaving volunteer Doug Hawkins will join the Narrandera Shire community and offer inspiration and share his optimistic messages and stories. For 23 years, Doug has been a proud surf-lifesaving volunteer whose visionary approach has helped Coogee SLSC and other NSW Clubs implement inclusive training programs ...
Visual notes on life & nature
Nancy Whittaker. My first encounter with Carolyn Vickers was in the MANet Arts Focus Gallery a few months ago when we played ‘duelling camera phones’ ... Carolyn is the next featured artist in the aforesaid gallery ... Carolyn said that her works are her visual notes.
A new heatwave safety campaign
Sweltering Cities. This year on January 27, the deadliest day for heat-related deaths in Australia, we’re calling on people to help keep their loved ones and community safe. Sweltering Cities’ new heat safety campaign is calling on people to check-in on friends, family and other people who might be at risk this summer. Heatwaves are Australia’s deadliest environmental disaster and they’re expected to get worse
Special flight
Naracoorte will host an event of the popular Tasting Australia program in May 2024. And for the first time ever, the festival will bring visitors from interstate direct to regional South Australia, with a charter plane flying from Melbourne direct to Naracoorte as part of a new Tasting Australia Airlines experience.
Australia Day quiz
Test your Aussie general knowledge with the inaugural Australian Rural & Regional News Quiz, coming to you each week - or so - from Australia Day 2024 on.
58 new intern doctors commencing
Darling Downs Health hospitals will have 58 medical interns begin this month, marking the largest cohort of interns that have started since the program commenced. The 12-month graduate program will see the medical interns experience the demands of urban, rural and remote medicine.
