Life

Affectionately known as Dad’s Army, Peter Mears, Nick Reeve, John Higham, and Ken Maughan, are a familiar sight on the Clarence River each week ... And while they will tell you rowing is physically demanding for any athlete, regardless of their age, it’s also one of the reasons why this enthusiastic group of Clarence Valley octogenarians so readily participate in the sport.

A vibrant and decorative space has been created in Grafton’s Market Square as part of Clarence Valley Council’s (CVC) Rediscover Grafton project ... Between 6-11pm each night, attendees are welcome to bring their picnic blankets and deck chairs into Market Square and lie or sit below a pair of entwined trees, and engage with the extraordinary experience.

Bouncing back from the flood-enforced cancellation last October, Charlton's "OK Motels" Festival was back with a bigger and better impact as visitors soaked up the relaxed country lifestyle last weekend. With the focus firmly set on “community” and the town presenting an array of add-on activities, there was a tangible feeling of homecoming, as friendships were rekindled, new ones made, and former attendees introducing newcomers to what could viewed as a “lifestyle” event.

Firefighting volunteers are monitoring a sprinkler system set up due to the February 4 bushfire getting into peat, which means it will produce smoke for some time ... “Peat has a high carbon content and is naturally porous": Department of Health.

Murray Stevens, 91, has long had a yearning to feel the sand between his toes and the ocean lap on his feet once more, and on Wednesday this become a reality. Murray was the first person to use an aided beach-walker and Mobi-mat at the  U-Beach Community Beach Day  at Nielson Park.

"We feed an average of 80 people every week but we’ve also had nights when we’ve fed more than a 100 ... What I get out of it is far more than I give. It’s not a business; it’s a sense of service and with that comes incredible nourishment”: Lindsey Sesin, Denmark Soupy.    

A deadly disease that attacks water birds, known as Avian Botulism, is suspected to have struck at Bells Swamp on the Bridgewater-Maldon Road in Neereman, 10 or so kilometres from Maldon. Bird rescue teams, including Victorian Wildlife veterinarians and volunteer regional wildlife lovers, spent the weekend searching the swamp for dead and unwell birds.

It must never happen again. February 16, marks 40 years since Ash Wednesday when 120,000ha in the heart of the SE was destroyed by fire. The inferno was fanned by 110km winds in 44C temperatures and killed 14 South Easterners, including Lucindale’s Brian Nosworthy, Peter O’Leary and Andrew Lemke.

Janet Brodie. Penola’s Recycled Fashion Pop-Ups are fast becoming a must for updating your wardrobe at bargain prices ... The event is a fundraiser for the Penola Coonawarra Sub-Fund of the Stand Like Stone Foundation.

A contingent of local residents is in training in preparation for a trek to the Mount Everest Base Camp in Nepal as a fund-raising adventure for Toowoomba-based mental health service Momentum Mental Health ... The self-funded event has attracted 18 starters but there is room for two more people.

You are likely to have seen Towong Shire Councillor, Peter Dikschei, along with Corryong Health CEO, Dom Sandilands, training on local roads in preparation for the High Country Charity Ride ... over Mount Hotham and through North East townships - a distance of 550 kilometres.

Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) will this week see an additional 55 newly graduated Registered Nurses commence their careers across 17 sites, including Narrandera, Coolamon and Leeton. In 2023 the District will welcome a total of 134 graduates, who will begin the graduate program throughout the year with intakes in February, May, and August.

Big skies, free of light pollution were major factors that led quietly passionate amateur astronomer John Stevenson and his wife, Tracy to move to Ardlethan from Bribie Island a couple of years ago. And now he is sharing his interest and knowledge in Ardlethan Astronomy nights, with the first held last Saturday.

With 292 participants registered to take part in the Ganmain Triathlon on Sunday, the day was an astounding success. 101 triathletes took part in the Open Sprint race, with Ed Langdon first over the line with a time of 55:30, while he was closely followed by Jared Kahlefeldt finishing in 57:30.

When Ray Smith took it upon himself to grow flowers to beautify the dining room at the Uniting Caroona Yamba aged care home, he never imagined he’d be dealing with a ‘mutant’ Marigold. But in an extraordinary ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ esq case, that is exactly what happened, when a single Marigold plant grew to more than four times the size of the seedlings with which it was planted.

People in Far West NSW are dying earlier than they should, from avoidable causes, and while suicide rates have steadied in Sydney, they are on the rise in the most remote parts of the state. The report warns of serious and growing inequality in health outcomes between city and country residents and recommends immediate investment in the sector.

Allora man Ken was all smiles after being the first patient to receive a diagnostic angiogram at the Toowoomba Hospital earlier this month ... A coronary angiogram uses x-ray imaging and contrast dye to diagnose heart artery blockages.

Nadia Mills came to teach at Central School last year, and this year she accepted the position of Principal ... Nadia has been teaching Aboriginal kids all her life ... her first teaching position was in an Aboriginal community called Alekarenge, 400 km north of Alice Springs. 'I love teaching bush Aboriginal kids. They're so resilient, creative and engaged.'

Sister Elizabeth Young, who belongs to the Sisters of Mercy, is arriving on the 20th of this month, and will be living where Sister Maureen used to live and have her second-hand shop ... There has been a long tradition of Sisters of Mercy living and working in Wilcannia, and after much prayer and conversation, she is delighted to be sent here by the Bishop and her Mercy leadership.

Miss Melissa has joined the teaching staff at St. Therese’s, where she is teaching Kurrika class ... Since coming out here Melissa has also indulged in one of her passions, photography ... She said they could not believe the colour and beauty of the local natural environment, especially the river.