Life

The Lockyer Valley knows only too well just what the impact of a severe weather event can look like – physically, mentally and emotionally. Following two severe flood events in 2022 alone, after bushfires and years of drought, Lockyer Valley Regional Council has forged important new partnerships to bring tangible benefits to the community.

Friday 12 May is Do It For Dolly Day, a national day dedicated to bringing the community together, spreading kindness and uniting in taking a stand against bullying. One in four Australian school students between years 4 and 9 are being bullied. One in seven of them won’t tell anyone. That’s over 340,000 young people staying silent.

As he proudly stepped up to the microphone to deliver his inaugural speech as the Member for Clarence on May 10 in the NSW Legislative Assembly, Richie Williamson revealed that despite earlier presumptions, he wasn’t as nervous as he thought he would be ... Mr Williamson told the Clarence Valley Independent it was a great honour to stand at the podium to deliver his first speech as he acknowledged his loved ones and the people of the Clarence electorate for their support, and pledged to be their advocate in parliament.

Dr Shaun Kanowski has announced his intention to retire at the end of the School Term. We put some questions to him ... "Since arriving in Allora, I have noticed significant changes in the last 22 years ... Something that has never changed in my time at Allora, is the strong sense of community that is instantly apparent when you come to the best little town on the downs."

Fifty pairs of helping hands restored the McCormacks’ prize winning garden at Swan Bay. In 2018, Jenny and Jim McCormack won the North Coast Champion Garden. In 2022, that garden was under water with only the tops of the tallest trees poking out of the floodwaters.

In Ukraine, participants in the flower business are three times heroes. In 2014, the war with Russia began. Then, in 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic began. And in 2022, Russia invaded the territory of Ukraine. Over eight years, the business industry has experienced a catastrophic recession three times. Even so, the flower business continues to thrive. The love of Ukrainians for flowers is stronger than any problem.

CFA is asking regional Victorians to “Give Us a Hand” in an effort to recruit new volunteers to join its 52,000 community-minded members in protecting lives and property across the state.  The call out is part of a new volunteer recruitment campaign, which aims to encourage selfless Victorians to take up a firefighting, or support role with their local CFA brigade.

Shirley Gordon is well known in the nursery and gardening trade. For many years she held her own as a popular female business owner on Wycheproof’s Broadway streetscape ... On Wednesday morning in the sunshine, Shirley was at home preparing buckets of flowers and greenery to create bespoke bunches of blooms for Mother’s Day.

Community Bank Maldon & District is partnering with The Good Op Shop in Castlemaine and Haven; Home Safe (the regional housing support service in Bendigo) to run The Good Coat Drive throughout May and June. We are inviting the public to donate their old but good-condition coats to The Good Coat Drive so that those sleeping rough or struggling to keep warm this winter will have a little bit of extra help.

Women in the region will have access to extra maternity care following the launch of Cohuna District Hospital’s Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) service. The MGP was launched at the hospital on Friday, May 5 – the International Day of the Midwife – to an audience of community members, officials and hospital staff.

On Sunday the Upper Murray Historical Society conducted a Corryong Pioneer Cemetery Walk, the first since 2018. The society was well-pleased with the community support with attendance estimated in the high 40s. Six early pioneers were remembered on the walk. The first grave visited was that of Elizabeth Playle, one of the founding members of Corryong.

Up at 6:00, today we’re ‘helping’ Richard move a ‘small’ mob of 200 sheep, from one paddock to another the other side of the track ... they turn sharp right, and hare off down the track towards who knows where. All but one, that is. Apparently every mob has one, a totally contrary animal determined to do its own thing.

Jordan Bryon has won a British Academy Film Award for the documentary ‘Children of The Taliban’. The documentary follows the lives of four children growing up in Kabul under Taliban rule and was recognised for the unique story telling as well as for its cinematography.

NT Health is urging Territorians and visitors to the Northern Territory (NT) to protect themselves and children from mosquito bites following a recent death from Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) in the Big Rivers region. This follows another MVE death recorded in February in a person in the Top End region.

The Classic is being held at the Toowoomba Aerodrome on Sunday 21 May ... The day attracts some 400 vehicles and 30 to 40 aircrafts with some 4,000 people attending. The mix of classic vehicles and warbirds make for a unique atmosphere and this year the Jensen Car Club will hold its Club National Rally.

Charlotte Harris, formerly of Nhill who now resides in Wodonga recently competed for the title of Miss Teen Galaxy Australia for Australia Galaxy Pageants, and represented Victoria in Sydney on Saturday ... Charlotte was the only one chosen from Victoria.

Clarence Valley pharmacist Michael Troy from Southside Pharmacy has voiced his concerns surrounding the Federal Government’s proposed changes to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), which will allow Australians to purchase two months’ worth of medications for the price of a single prescription from September 1 ... “There is nothing about this proposal which makes logical sense for our local community, or for us as a small regional business”: Clarence Valley pharmacist Michael Troy.

NSW Farmers’ Association is disappointed the federal government has missed key opportunities in the federal budget to strengthen Australian agriculture and rural communities. President of NSW Farmers Xavier Martin said the federal budget has “fallen short” of expectations, particularly around the significant biosecurity threats Australian farmers face.

Fin Hansen. People sleeping rough could soon have access to a temporary homeless shelter on the Copper Coast. Salvation Army Copper Coast Corps has expressed its desire to open a shelter during SA Housing Authority’s Code Red or Blue extreme weather responses.