Life

The installation of a series of colourful storyboards in parks at Boonah and Beaudesert has marked  a new chapter for Scenic Rim libraries ... the Story Walks at Springleigh Park, Boonah, and Jubilee Park, Beaudesert, aim to encourage children’s early literacy through play while strengthening family connections and the Scenic Rim’s links to its Indigenous heritage.

Minister for Environment and Climate Action Lily D’Ambrosio visited a business in Werribee South which is turning surplus vegetables into powders ready for supermarket shelves ... The powders – on shelves soon under the label Nutri V - can be added to smoothies, sauces, soups and used in muffins, cakes, breads and other baked goods to boost vegetable intake.

Ten Territory nurses will spend the next 12 months building their skills and providing services to remote communities under the Transition to Remote Practice Program. This year is the first time the program recruited a second cohort of participants. They will join the 12 nurses who commenced the program at the beginning of 2022.

Thorpdale, the hamlet nestled in the Strzelecki Ranges famous for its potato growing, has become the beating heart of Gippsland journalism. Three journalists who grew up in Thorpdale, which has a population of 400-plus, are driving the local news received by thousands of Gippslanders from the Latrobe Valley to West Gippsland, and into East and South Gippsland.

Yesterday, at my indi-butcher, I was talking with a millennial server about old-time rhyming slang – he looked at me like I was possessed. I braved it out and said, “Cheese and Kisses = missus and Bag of Fruit = suit!” and he still looked blankly at me; an older bloke next to me came to my rescue, “oh yeah and Joe Blakes...you know, snakes.”

Kate Foran. Dogs make fantastic companions and provide such unconditional love, many believing that they exist solely to protect us, be loyal to us, and comfort us. It’s hard to find a better friend than a good loyal dog! They intuitively know our moods, and make the most enthusiastic welcome-home fuss at the end of a long day! ... Being responsible for your dog in Tennant Creek involves a few priorities.

Last week Maldon Primary School received the first of four visits from two very special guests: therapy dogs Archie and Mo, two members of the PAWS in Schools Program ... Evidence shows that the use of therapy dogs in a school setting can contribute towards improving the overall well-being of students.

Guide Dogs Queensland have received a warm welcome in Mount Isa as it looks to pilot an accessibility program in the region. The program will allow organisations and community services to reach the one in six people who have a disability ... Accessibility allows everyone equal opportunity and access to the same information, said Client engagement and collection dog officer, Jonathan Hall.

Wyreema State School is lucky enough to have access to its own Story Dog, Lady, on a weekly basis and the students love reading to her. Lady is directly sponsored by the Toowoomba West Lions Club but the program itself is run by the charity, Story Dog Australia, which covers the training and insurance of the dog.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has reported a surge in Aussies dying. In 2022, there were 75,593 deaths that occurred by May 31 and were registered by July 31, which is 10,757 (16.6 per cent) more than the historical average. May alone saw 16,124 deaths, 1,922 (13.5 per cent) above the historical average. Of those deaths, 4,465 were attributed to Covid-19, though it is hard to distinguish died ‘with’ from died ‘from’ Covid-19.

The Friends of Lord Howe Island ran their 93rd weeding ecotour 20 to 27 August. Twenty-two people came from Sydney, Brisbane and Victoria to participate. On this trip, the Friends again assisted the Lord Howe Island Board weed team with projects. One was a visit to Blackburn Island to plant out more small trees as part of the revegetation program there.

We know the Melbourne Cup is visiting Allora on Wednesday 14th September but what we didn’t know is the Melbourne Cup will be here for the whole day - not just an hour or so. This is wonderful news as everyone will get a chance to see and maybe have a photo taken with the Cup ... Touring with the Cup will be well-known Champion Jockey John Letts who rode two winners in the Melbourne Cup.

Robert Johnston’s dogs wait for their master’s call – all 20 of them. Every afternoon, Robert would take the dogs on a run across the paddocks of his Tatham property. He’d be on the quad bike and the dogs would run behind, tongues hanging out as they followed their master ... The dogs are waiting for their run. Waiting for Robert. There’s no way to tell them he isn’t coming.

Emma Pritchard. Oliver Waite from Grafton was thrilled to win first place in the Quilts Across Australia section at EKKA earlier this month with a stunning creation he has been working on for the past eight months. Measuring 180cm x 200cm, the perfect size for his single bed, Oliver’s award-winning masterpiece encapsulates the bright colours of fire and heat and caught the attention of the judges with his precision and skill.

CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, has outlined how Australia can improve its resilience to future pandemics, reduce their economic impact and protect the community. The  Strengthening Australia’s Pandemic Preparedness  report released, highlights six science and technology areas critical to minimising the impact of pandemics in Australia.

As of NCC 2022, new residential dwellings will need to achieve the equivalent of “7  stars”  NatHERS thermal performance. New homes will also have a new annual energy use budget applicable to the home’s major appliances such as space conditioning, hot water, lighting, pool and spa pumps, and any on-site renewable energy generation.

Tourism in regional South Australia has not been dampened this winter, with the state celebrating its best July regional occupancy on record. Latest data shows July 2022 saw average occupancy for regional accommodation of 57 per cent, the best result for a July yet to be recorded. It was up from pre-Covid winter occupancy levels, of 50 per cent (July 2019).

Queensland Minister for Energy and Public Works Mick de Brenni said the changes to the National Construction Code 2022, covered making homes more accessible for people with mobility challenges, and increased the energy efficiency and electric vehicle readiness of new homes.

Artworks from three Indigenous artists are featured in the latest exhibition, Our Stories, Our Culture, Our Country, which is on display at Crows Nest Gallery until September 18, 2022. The exhibition explores narratives relating to spiritual connectivity, place-making, traditional knowledge, healing and teachings of the participating artists, Cheryl Moggs (from the Bigambul First Nation people), Barbara Walker (from the Wiradjuri First Nation people) and Aaron Blades (from the Mandandanji First Nation people).