John grows a gourd champ for giant pumpkin festival
John Leadbeatter has been growing giant pumpkins for so long he can’t remember when he started. He has several pumpkin patches in his garden in Rukenvale … to increase the chances of growing the heaviest pumpkin to enter at the Summerland Giant Pumpkin and Watermelon Festival...
It’s Mallee Bull calendar time
Once again “Big Red”, Birchip’s famous Mallee Bull, adorns the cover of the annual calendar, prepared for his yearly trip to places and countries around the world, while showing off the many aspects of life in Birchip and district.
Fixing GP crisis
Why is our general practitioner system broken, and how do we fix it? Rural communities in the South East continue to face GP shortages, and the closure of many small-town medical clinics because of our failure to attract and retain specialist doctors is putting rural patients at risk.
Minister visits Tim Hughes room
Visiting a room in honour of Tim Hughes MBE at the Lucindale Museum was a highlight for senior government minister Kyam Maher during the recent SA Country Cabinet visit.
Behind the eyes of a carer
Resthaven Manager Service Development, Tam Henwood, is passionate about the Staying at Home in Regional South Australia Program. As the primary carer of her mother, Tam’s involvement with the initiative is not exclusive to the office, having participated in a retreat earlier this year with her mother who lives with dementia.
Parkinson’s disease research collaboration to improve lives in regional, rural, and remote Australia: Charles Sturt University
A collaborative research project led by Charles Sturt University in Port Macquarie has the potential to improve the health and care services for people living with Parkinson’s disease in rural, regional, and remote Australia ... Parkinson’s disease is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder globally, after Alzheimer’s disease...
Queenslanders left confused by health department statistics
The Queensland Government has recently released positive statistical information on Health Department outcomes on the Darling Downs, while this week the Opposition’s M.P. and Shadow Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Ros Bates has released statistical data showing negative Health Services outcomes for the twelve months to the end of June across the state.
Park is a testament to resilience
The culmination of hundreds of hours of volunteer contributions was recognised at the official opening of Playles Park in Corryong on Sunday. Project co-ordinator, Cathy Ross, acknowledged everyone who has played a part in the project which was a collaboration of many organisations and individuals.
Polymath celebrated this weekend
October 6th marked the 150th anniversary of the death of a remarkable man in Paul Edmund de Strzelecki - scientist, explorer, geographer, writer, humanist and an all-round ‘universal man’ of his time ... He is recognised as the first known European to ascend Mount Kosciuszko and his feat will be celebrated in Corryong this weekend.
From Denbigh to Cohuna
At the beginning of October, two ‘international’ cricketers arrived in Cohuna to spend the season playing for Nondies Cohuna Cricket Club. Archie Sussex and Karim Marcelle have both come from the UK and are settling into our little patch nicely.
Golden day for domestic tourism as Bonza launches its newest base in time for Christmas
The Gold Coast just got closer to more of Australia with Bonza launching operations there ... Australia’s newest low-cost carrier will progressively introduce 14 routes over November and December to have wheels up on its newest base before the peak summer travel season.
Early childhood roundtable forum
“By Five WSM” and the North Central LLEN recently brought together rural leaders from across the region for a special Forum to discuss some of the well-documented barriers to early childhood education and care in small rural communities.
A&E shutdown
Michelle Daw. Ardrossan Community Hospital has temporarily shut its accident and emergency service and acute care in response to ongoing financial losses and workforce challenges ... Increased costs include governance and compliance, employment of agency staff to fill staff shortages, and on-call retainer payments for doctors. The hospital’s income has been impacted by a decrease in the number of people with private health insurance and workforce shortages.
Rex cabin crew best in South Pacific
Rex Airlines has been recognised as having the South Pacific’s Best Cabin Service in the 2024 Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) Awards. The award was presented in Singapore last night where Rex’s Executive Chairman, Lim Kim Hai, accepted it on behalf of the airline.
Birchip Probus visits our wonderful Sharp’s bakery
From Maureen Donnellon, Birchip Probus Member. Friday, October 13, was a day 22 Birchip Probus members will remember forever as one of the best outings they have ever had, when they visited our own Sharp’s Bakery for a crash course in what a day in the life of the bakers could involve and to learn about some of the methods and machines involved and the sheer huge scale of the local business.
Affordable housing in Maldon and Newstead
The TT attended a Consultation meeting at Maldon Neighbourhood Centre last week and met Mount Alexander Shire Council’s Housing Solutions Broker Clare Richards ... Council is currently considering allocating 49-year leases on land owned at Steele Street in Maldon and Canrobert Street Newstead to Wintringham Housing.
Tony Pasin visit to Longridge
Longridge Board of Governance … have become increasingly concerned about the forecast of intermittent power outages … Given that Longridge does not have a generator ... Bill Vine, recently contacted Tony Pasin … asking the question “why should Longridge need to go to the market to fund a generator?”
Cost blowout
When will the Bordertown community get a new medical hub? That’s the million-dollar question ratepayers are asking the Tatiara District Council that’s battling a “developer crisis”. Plans for a multi-million-dollar medical clinic on the land next to the Bordertown Hospital … have been scrapped as the developer faces a cost blowout of over $2million.
BRADAAG workshop to promote enhanced AOD service
The Barkly Regional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Advisory Group (BRADAAG) is inviting the community to an information workshop about the development of an enhanced local service working to reduce the impacts of the harmful use of alcohol and other drugs (AOD) ... Professor Dennis Gray ... will present on BRADAAG’s response to his report into the organisation...
Queensland beef sizzles in Shanghai: Palaszczuk
The best of Queensland beef has been showcased in Shanghai at the China International Import Expo (CIIE), the world’s largest import trade fair. Choice cuts were prepared for canapes, sirloin beef rolls and mini wagyu burgers by world class chefs for close to 80 guests...
Charity ramps up services
A local food pantry provider for needy and disadvantaged people is now able to offer more support services now that it has found a permanent home.
Torch honour for Geoff
The Legacy Centenary Torch Relay had a local touch when Cohuna’s Geoff Hall was chosen to be one of 1,500 torch bearers to participate in the 50,000km 6-month journey. The relay commemorates Legacy’s centenary and recognises the sacrifices of families and the efforts of volunteers who have provided support in that time.
