Life

National Rural Health Alliance Chief Executive Susi Tegen said mental health in women is 'an enormous issue in rural and remote Australia' and called for action to improve rural healthcare accessibility. Ms Tegan was a guest on the first episode of Brainstorm, the new mental health podcast hosted by Guy Rowlison and produced by Plus Communications.

Volunteer-based not-for-profit organisations have received vital support through the Early Needs Recovery Program to help re-build, repair and clear fences in flood-affected areas ... "By providing this funding to ShoreTrack, BlazeAid and Rotary Australia to help with the fence rebuilding process, it is hoped to take some of the pressure off farmers to get this done so they can concentrate on other parts of their businesses and recover production quicker": Peta Holcombe, Early Needs Recovery Project Manager.

Castlemaine is set to become the Scrabble capital of the world, thanks to the Giant Scrabble Battle event which took place during the Castlemaine Fringe Festival. This year marked the 30th year of the festival, and the Scrabble Battle is quickly becoming one of the most popular events on the bill.

To ensure that the emu population receives appropriate funding and care, a recent on-country meeting was held on Mount Wycheproof, with participation from Council, Traditional Owners, State Government agencies, Friends of Mount Wycheproof, Landcare, and community members. The group collectively resolved to establish a team representative of all stakeholders to oversee the welfare of the emus.

330 primary school students participated in the successful hip hop dance program run by Stomp Dance Company after a $9,000 donation by cluBarham ... The program included the Cohuna, Kerang and Koondrook schools after Cohuna Consolidated School teacher Michelle Howard saw a need to bring students, families and the community back together in a fun and interactive way...

It has been a whirlwind ride to the top for former Cohuna lad, Jamie Harrison. The 22-year-old competed in the Australian Track & Field Championships in Brisbane at the weekend making it through to the finals of the 800m event ... Jamie has advice for Cohuna and district youngsters who are keen on athletics.

Lachie Allen is just four and his big sister Milla is six. When Mila led Lachie to a win on the little white pony Pixie at the recent Equestrian Festival at Warragul, there was hardly a dry eye in the house ... “On the day Milla kept saying how proud of Lachie she was and kept reminding him to sit straight like a soldier, point his toes to the stars and look up."

Daphne and Archie met in the Spring of 1945 at the Spring Creek Hall Dance. The two were enjoying their night dancing away with alternating partners to the Jolly Miller Waltz.

Holidaymakers hunting for accommodation over the Easter long weekend and school holidays are urged to book in Lismore and Nimbin for their stay ... “We have a great range of accommodation available around Lismore and Nimbin over the Easter holiday period, ranging from country cottages right through to motel rooms and camping grounds”: Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg.

The end of term 1 and Easter is fast approaching, and the local children in Birchip are enjoying a number of Easter traditions that make this time of year all the more fun and exciting ... The Birchip playgroup children had lots of fun on Friday in the park scavenging for eggs and were delighted with their results, as they devoured the chocolate and played in the ever-popular Morton Bay Fig trees and on the playground equipment.

Are you looking for a novel idea this Easter? How about hunting for a literary gem among more than 200,000 offerings at Lifeline Bookfest Sunshine Coast at Nambour Showgrounds. Division 10 Councillor David Law said a massive range of bargain books would be on sale at the four-day event from Friday, April 7, to Monday, April 10, being held from 9am to 4pm each day.  

Rural residents in the Gannawarra Shire are reminded to secure all livestock on their properties following several recent collisions between roaming animals and vehicles. Council’s Local Laws officers have attended a higher number of incidents involving collisions between roaming animals and vehicles compared to previous years.

It was a lifelong dream of a lifelong sailor and though it was to be a solo journey, his waking and sleeping hours were spent in the ‘company’ of his memories and erstwhile companions and friends ... When at his lowest ebb, along came the ghost of Sam, a friendly old sailor who kept Peter entertained through the long, lonely hours of the dog watch.

A petition led by Naracoorte’s Lachlan Haynes calling for radiotherapy services in the South East is likely to trigger an SA Parliamentary review ... A single petition with over 10,000 signatures must be referred to the Legislative Review Committee for investigation.

Igniting Resilience, hosted by BCG at the Lower Mallee Inn at Swan Hill recently, lived up to its name.  Young farmers and agribusiness professionals heard from guest speakers The Unbreakable Farmer Warren Davies, farmers Simone Murdoch (Swan Hill), Jarrod Kemp (Nullawil) and Will Simpson (Berriwillock), who shared how they navigate the challenges of life and farming.  

“My whole life journey is in my music and music is my way of letting things out. We cover up too many things and I’m not into sugar coating serious topics. My track ‘Don’t Give Up’ is about depression and like many people I’ve suffered dark times but the best way to deal with it is to talk about it, not bottle it up."

Here’s a heads-up for an imaginative art installation being presented by Maldon Inc. Twelve 1.5 metre high kangaroos, along with some joeys, will be showcased in shop windows during the 2023 Maldon In Winter Festival, which will be running from 23 June to 9 July.

Ambulance Victoria (AV) is looking for more recruits to join the Maldon Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Maldon’s CERT is made up of members who provide support to the Maldon township 24 hours a day, seven days a week.