Life

There are many ways for people to escape life’s often mundane activities, some hook the van on and head to warmer climates, others traverse the globe to far flung destinations. These three couples decided to do it in style, sailing down the mighty Murray.

Dr M K Turner OAM, a woman with profound influence in the complex society of Central Australia, and respected and loved by it, was laid to rest in a state funeral ... More than 1000 mourners were at the Old Telegraph Station, Atherreyurre by its Arrernte name, to hear the eulogy presented by family members Jenny Kroker and Janet Turner ...

Communities across Tasmania are being encouraged to complete registrations for the Tasmania Fire Service’s Community Bushfire-Ready Challenge … “The Community Bushfire-Ready Challenge is a 6-week immersive online experience that kicks off on Friday, 1 September”: Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management, Felix Ellis.

The man credited with inventing the modern hang glider, John Dickenson, was honoured by Clarence Valley Council Mayor Ian Tiley at the August council meeting after he passed away aged 89. In the early 1960s Mr Dickenson and a group of water-skiing enthusiasts were working on a ‘kite’ as a stunt to promote the Grafton Water Ski Club’s Jacaranda Festival carnival.

On Monday evening, Nhill CFA hosted a social event, inviting representatives from Nhill SES, Nhill Ambulance, and the Nhill Leo's Club ... During the gathering, the Nhill Leos and their mentors presented Trauma Teddies to the CFA, SES, and Ambulance Service.

Margaret Millington OAM. Every year, hundreds die around the world from the curse of addiction, but no one can ever really understand what it is like to lose a family member or see a loved one caught in the web of addiction until it happens to them. It is a hideous 'disease' that occurs so easily to unsuspecting victims, but it is so hard to escape from once caught up in it.

Cars were parked along every street in Donald, with the Memorial Hall packed to capacity.  This remarkable scene was testimony to the love and respect that poured forth on Friday for the late Gregory William (Greg) Godkin, who died on August 8, 2023, at the age of 75.

Birchip lawn bowler Natasha Hogan has been selected in Australia’s deaf bowls team to compete on the international stage ... Natasha is one of 12 players from around Australia who will compete in the ninth iteration of the world event, hosted in Colinton BC, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Spring is in the air and for many of us that’s a good enough reason to feel happy. But what really is Happiness and how do we get more of one of life’s most desirable emotions? Regional psychologist and Happiness Coach, Mahsa Anderson, gives us the lowdown on this uplifting feeling.

A quick lesson anyone learns when travelling regional and rural Australia is how quickly you must adapt to the unpredictable and ever-changing circumstances regional communities find themselves in. If you cannot adapt – you cannot survive! This requires a special mindset ... “The important thing is to never stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing”: Albert Einstein.

More Australians have a better quality of life because they are bravely confronting the reality of death, according to a documentary filmmaker. All About Me Films founder Dan Thomas says after scores of interviews with people dealing with grief one thing has become increasingly clear - the more open to the reality of the end of life, the more likely we are to make the most of it.

A new Qantas flight schedule and the addition of one extra return flight per week to the Bendigo to Sydney route starts from Monday October 30. Following feedback provided to the airline, the new schedule allows passengers to travel Bendigo to Sydney return in a day, Monday to Friday.

More than 120 members of the Rochester community attended Campaspe Shire Council’s flood recovery community information session held at the Rochester Shire Hall ... Campaspe Shire Mayor Cr Rob Amos opened the event which brought together major stakeholders involved in the flood recovery process ... This is the first large-scale community information session organised by Campaspe Shire Council’s new Flood Recovery Team ...

Housing, health, education, training and employment pathways, infrastructure, economic diversification, and the Q2032 Procurement Strategy will be part of the conversation for the members of the Darling Downs South West Queensland Regional Community Forum who meet at Charleville ...

Resthaven has launched a new government-funded program which aims to support older South Australians living with dementia to stay at home for as long as possible. The ‘Staying at Home in Regional South Australia’ ... aims to provide vital education and support to carers whilst their loved one is cared for in the same location by experienced staff.

Nancy Whittaker. For someone who didn’t start painting until her fifties, Tricia Migdoll has certainly made up for lost time. Her exhibition titled ‘It's Like Singing in Silence’ at the MANet Arts Focus Gallery ... Tricia’s vibrant realism is the outcome of her major influences and years of learning and practice.

Felicity Howard. The reach of the Kangaroo Art Auction which closed on Monday 31 July as part of the Maldon Inc Maldon In Winter Festival, was far and wide ... The lovely June Kiff of Reservoir Melbourne was the highest bidder of ‘Goldie’ created by the Mount Alexander Girl Guides.

A labour hire company has come to the rescue to help with essential services in the Ampilatwatja community. A struggle to hire locally has meant the Barkly Regional Council team has had to think outside the box by engaging the labour-hire company to fill the gaps to provide municipal services.

Corryong Health welcomed community members to its first public Town Hall meeting last week which provided the opportunity to submit questions regarding the health service and hear directly from board directors and the interim CEO, Nicole Martin ... This is the busiest time of the year with flu and Covid still present and yet there are not enough doctors. Who is responsible for organising this and why hasn’t it been?

A group of men who set off on a raft affectionately known as ‘Shed down the Murray’ to raise money for prostate cancer earlier this month have now successfully completed their journey. The group stopped in at various towns along the way, including Narrandera, to rest as well as raise awareness around prostate cancer.

Top Camp’s Damian McAleer is taking part in the first ever Toowoomba Studio Art Trail, a celebration of local artists that will take place over the four weekends of September. In just five years, Damian has transformed from someone who hadn’t picked up a paint brush since his youth to someone running out of space in his house for all his paintings.