Lindsey Sesin – Serving up bowls of kindness
"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.
Suspected Avian Botulism outbreak
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.
Ash Wednesday – 40 years
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.
Firefighters survived burn overs
Lucindale CFS brigade captain Andy Cane recalls being 18 on Ash Wednesday ... “There was scrub everywhere, and the fire was going that fast. We didn't even see it until it came over the top of us”: Lucindale CFS brigade captain Andy Cane.
Recycled Fashion Pop-Up
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.
Locals headed to the foot of Everest
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.
Locals ride for a cancer cure
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.
New graduate registered nurses welcomed to MLHD
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.
Ardlethan astronomer shares his passion for the stars
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.
Ganmain Triathlon proves as popular as ever
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.
Marigold madness at Caroona Yamba
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.
The city country health divide: Life expectancy, suicide and avoidable death significantly worse for Far West NSW than Sydney: TAI
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.
First angiogram procedure at Toowoomba Hospital
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.
Welcoming Central School’s new principal
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 coming to live in Wilcannia
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.
Meet Melissa, the new teacher at St Therese’s
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.
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.
