Yamba Doctors welcomes Dr Julia Fortes
The doors on their Treelands Drive premises have been open more than three weeks and now Yamba Doctors are proud to welcome well known female GP Julia Fortes to the practice. ... Dr Fortes grew up in the UK and went to medical school in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Raising dam wall issue raises ire of councillors not ‘on the same page’
Councillor Danielle Mulholland’s report on her meeting with Deputy Premier Paul Toole was followed by a stir among some councillors at the Kyogle Council meeting ... She listed the issues discussed at the meeting with Mr Toole. The most contentious one was the raising of the Toonumbar Dam wall.
Neergabby firefighter awarded an Australian fire service medal
George Grant of Neergabby has been recognised for his years of volunteer firefighting and his mentoring of other bushfire brigade volunteers with an Australian fire service medal. Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said Mr Grant joined the Gingin West Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade in 1963, clocking up 60 years of firefighting and along the way using his knowledge to mentor those around him.
Violet Town honoured to win national street art award
The people of the small Victorian town of Violet Town are quietly celebrating after being awarded a national art award ... The Southern Aurora Memorial project commenced in 2018 after many chats between Gary Abley and Bruce Cumming about the need to better remember the Southern Aurora Disaster in February 1969 and its significant impact on many people, and to clearly acknowledge the amazing voluntary efforts at the time.
JEV vaccine stash could be up for grabs as mosquito threat looms: Hurn
The SA Opposition has been advised that there could be a precious stockpile of the Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) vaccine up for grabs – but will soon expire – that could be used to protect South Australians from the disease as the flood recovery in the Riverland officially begins. Chairman of the Immunisation Coalition in Australia, Dr Rod Pearce, has indicated that the New South Wales Government is in possession of a surplus of JEV vaccines, with doctors based in the state telling him “they can’t give them away”.
Bonza shares the love with first ever Sunshine Coast to Mackay flight on Valentine’s Day
New Aussie airline Bonza continues its launch with its first-ever direct flight from the Sunshine Coast to Mackay with customers travelling or reconnecting with loved ones this Valentine's Day. Proving love is in the air, a local Sunshine Coast couple who share the same nicknames as Bonza’s aircraft (Shazza and Bazza) renewed their wedding vows airside at Sunshine Coast Airport.
Fjords stand out from a crowd for both looks and temperament
Brenda Renison and her Fjord pony, Irene, attract attention whenever they go to competitions ... Brenda has four Fjords. She fell in love with the breed many years ago when there was a fire in Kinglake in Victoria and her family opened up their property for people to bring their horses to a safe area.
From fly and flop to outback adventure: Tourism on the move
The fabric of our tourism needs to be like a patchwork quilt, with many patterns, “a big fabric which defines itself” in the world of competition ... And the national news reporting of the latest crime wave in The Alice is unlikely to make much of a difference, says Brendan McKenna, COO for Australia and New Zealand of the JUCY Group, a camper car hire business from across the ditch that’s been in Australia for 12 years.
Naracoorte Lucindale Council to help Lifeline
Lifeline South East has received the thumbs up from councillors to be the new tenant at the back of the Town Hall on Ormerod St, but not as a shop front or office. Essentially, it will operate as a call centre for local volunteers and be linked as part of the national service’s 24-hour suicide prevention help line – 13 11 14.
A call for new members from local Aboriginal Alliance
The Barkly Aboriginal Alliance, a self-governing body which gives a voice to all Indigenous people in the Barkly, is looking for new members to join them. The Alliance seeks to create a better future for all communities in the region with their vision being that "Homelands and Communities in the Barkly are self-determining and thriving".
Council’s community managers in town for training conference
Barkly Regional Council’s community area managers were in Tennant Creek this week for a two-day training and information conference. Council Area and Department Managers from Ali Curung, Alpurrurulam, Alparra and Elliott met with Tennant Creek managers, department heads and new and existing staff to talk about what’s happening in their communities and receive updates what’s happening at the Tennant Creek head office.
Too many mozzies? Learn from Rentokil’s Mark Kendall
The data of pest control expert, Rentokil indicates that mosquito activity is up right across Australia, increasing 216 per cent in November, compared to October recordings ... Rentokil has a database on pest activity across Australia. ARR.News asked a few questions of Mark Kendall from Rentokil Initial.
Gold Fish Race honours Sophie
An amazing figure of $9,675 was raised at the Get Chopped Pub in Greenmount on Australia Day, which hosted the inaugural Sophie’s Gold Fish Race in the memory of Sophie Grace Patch ... Sophie, daughter of Todd and Tamara Patch of East Greenmount, tragically passed away in November 2022 at the young age of 11 months.
Take a fresh look at our future
An innovative project will be launched next week to identify economic opportunities for development in the Upper Murray. Led by Dr Juliette Milbank, ‘The Future of the Upper Murray’ will cover an area on both sides of the Murray River ... It seeks to develop strategic and innovative long-term projects that take advantage of local regional strengths.
Inclusively divided
I have vivid memories of Monday mornings from my childhood at Eureka Street Primary School, standing out on the asphalt for assembly in the freezing cold as we joined in singing the Australian National Anthem as the flag monitors rose the Australian flag ... As cold and miserable as it was, I do not once recall any of us complaining about the anthem containing lyrics that offended or made us feel excluded. We students were from all walks of life ... The thing is we were all part of the same thing and nobody even considered the thought of needing their own title. Sexual orientation or preference was irrelevant ...
Wazza’s tribe gathers for fond farewell
Serena Kirby. Renowned surfboard shaper, big wave rider and local identity, Warren (Wazza) Thompson was farewelled with a heartfelt tribute at Ocean Beach last month ... Organised by long time friend and fellow board shaper, Patrick McCarthy, the tribute included a paddle-out and the forming of a circle of surfers in the water.
Water restrictions set to continue in Clarence Valley
Clarence Valley Council (CVC) General Manager Laura Black has revealed she is unsure how long Level 4 (Severe) water restrictions introduced last week for the whole Clarence Valley water supply system due to a prolonged dirty water event following recent rainfall in the Nymboida River will remain in place but said council should have “a better idea later this week.” The restrictions were issued by council on January 30 to avoid the need to call a Boil Water Alert.
Flood observers sought: Gannawarra Shire Council
Residents who would like to provide local knowledge and support planning for future flood events are encouraged to consider becoming a volunteer flood observer. Gannawarra Shire Council, Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) and the North Central Catchment Management Authority are seeking new flood observers, especially from residents in the Pyramid and Wandella Creek areas.
Families face another cost of living threat under Labor
Member for Maranoa and Nationals leader David Littleproud is backing calls for Labor to rule out scrapping the Fuel Tax Credit (FTC) scheme. Mr Littleproud said dumping the FTC scheme was another cost of living threat under Labor and would hurt families and businesses.
Get tested: Increase in syphilis cases cause for concern
A sharp rise in syphilis cases across the Northern Rivers has prompted health authorities to advise people to get tested for the disease ... North Coast Population and Public Health director Dr Valerie Delpech said since 2020, infectious syphilis cases increased each year with 29 cases in 2020, 41 cases in 2021 and 85 in 2022.
One million fishy stories, all of them true: Furner
Australia’s volunteer tagging database Infofish recently became the first citizen science tagging program in the world to tag 1 million fish since its inception in 1986 ... “Community-based fish tagging has made a significant contribution to our understanding of the movement patterns and growth rates of many fish species, and the Infofish program is recognised as a world leader in this space": Mark Furner, Qld Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries.
Aussie grains harvest complete but Ukraine war’s not over: GPA
Australian grain leaders are calling on other growers and farm businesses to show generosity and donate a tonne of grain or more, to help support Ukraine farmers and rural communities. The #AUSSIEGRAIN4UKRAINE initiative was established last year in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, to give Australian grain producers a way of supporting their farming colleagues and communities facing the continuing challenges and horrors of war.
