Life

We continue with our 'Messy Church' programme which happens on the first Saturday of the month. Messy Church is church for families who may not find other forms of church appealing and who do not yet belong to a church. It is held once a month, and it includes hands-on creative experiences, a celebration, and a meal. It does not prioritise either the needs of children or adults but intentionally welcomes and provides for all ages.

Blockade Australia activities which stopped Sydney peak hour traffic on 27 June 2022 is an experience which timber harvesting contractors have been confronting for years. In the week ended August 5, 2022, on five successive days, protestors entered timber harvesting sites in Northern NSW and placed their personal safety in danger to such an extent that work ceased.

... We’ve received so much positive feedback on John’s story; many readers know this amazing, flamboyant man from around town and were excited to hear more about his life. If you are one of those people who has been fortunate enough to encounter John, you will know he is so incredibly full of life. He brings joy to those around him with his varied accents, his mannerisms and his larger-than-life personality.

The Tarrangower Australia Day Committee has made the difficult decision to disband. In recent years, committee numbers have been dwindling, and efforts to recruit new members have had little or no results. The three remaining members have made the difficult decision to cease operations.

Following its public campaign to get a child care director in Julia Creek, McKinlay Shire Council is now trying to get a new GP to live in the community. The otherwise burgeoning town is emphatically seeking a new doctor at its brand-new health facility.

Days don’t get much better for a trainer than last Thursday for someone like Tanya Parry. The Julia Creek trainer had a career-best day, producing four winners on the TAB program in front of a national audience.

Hughenden and the Flinders Shire region attracted a record number of tourists in the last financial year, according to new data released by the council. A total of 27,467 visitors came through Flinders Discovery Centre from July 2021 to June 2022, an 11 per cent increase on the previous year and a huge 42 per cent increase on 2019-20 during the travel restrictions of the pandemic.

Patricia Gill. The Shire of Denmark is reviewing local laws concerning the keeping of cats with a limit of two animals older-than-six months per household being considered in an effort to curb the feral population. The Shire will also have more power to restrict the movement of cats and those that cause a nuisance ... consultation is underway on the proposed rules which the Denmark Shire Council will likely consider in September.

Serena Kirby. The Denmark Art Club has breathed new life into the old Murphy’s workshop since it opened for classes earlier this year. Bought by art teacher Kendel Lynam, and her husband Nick in 2020, the once dilapidated shed has undergone a major transformation and created an artistic hub for young and old students.

Jeff Hanson. It was a day of firsts for Teighan Wornsop at Narrandera on Saturday, with the young jockey riding her first winning double. Teaming up with Cowra trainer Maree Hopkins - who was coincidently celebrating her birthday - the 22-year-old booted home a double, winning the 1200m Benchmark 50 Handicap aboard Mystic Flame ($2.90) and the 1400m Benchmark 50 Handicap aboard Gloraya ($17).

Established in 1977 the Garden Circle will be 45 years old next month. To celebrate this milestone there will be a Pot Plant Show ... The Pot Plant Show will put you in the gardening moods so be sure to take a walk around Allora’s spring gardens that are looking blooming great.

Nowadays, as a Vietnam Vet, I have come to notice that more people are acknowledging us for what we did as Australian soldiers representing our country ... Coming up is Vietnam Vets Day 2022 and even if your local RSL is not being involved, you can always contribute to this special day by saying g’day to a Vet. You know you know one, don’t do?

Developer wants seniors to take root on land that used to be farmed. A 2.5ha property at Geneva on the edge of Kyogle may be rezoned to allow six units for seniors to live in ... The proposal includes keeping the existing house as a hub and creating six residential lots targeted towards seniors.

Being cancer-free is something to shout about. Or in 11 year old Millie Trustum’s case, something to inspire you to draw a rainbow ... Millie’s awareness rainbows were selected by the Kids Cancer Project to be included on a whale tail statue as part of the Waterfront Whale Tales sculpture exhibition in Sydney.

Emma Pritchard. A project team has been appointed to oversee the $263.8 million redevelopment of Grafton Base Hospital (GBH), after the Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor, and NSW Deputy Premier Paul Toole met with Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis and members of the Grafton Base Hospital Community Committee (GBHCC) earlier this month. Mr Gulaptis said the NSW Government’s investment in the major redevelopment of GBH will provide new facilities and upgraded clinical services to transform health outcomes and experiences for patients, their families, and staff into the future.

Samuel Davis. Megastar athletes are nice but meat pies, roadhouse burgers and hugs from daughter Talei are what really fuel this truckie ... The hardest working man in Australian basketball is finally taking a break ... Junior Virantuleo, the Cooktown truckie, who swapped the cabin for courtside at some of the biggest arenas in the world, returned home this month.

We are very excited to be holding a classic car show for all of Yass Valley.

Agricultural industry leaders have taken a tour behind the scenes at Sydney International Airport to scope out Australia’s biosecurity measures. Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and Australia's Director of Biosecurity, Andrew Metcalfe AO said the visit was a chance for industry leaders to see biosecurity protections in action.

It took a recent Freedom of Information request for documents to be released from the EPA stating that dangerous lead levels in wild ducks have been found in tests at four of 23 Victorian shooting waterways across Victoria. The documents were obtained by a not-for-profit group called Regional Victorians Opposed to Duck Shooting.

The last two and a half years have taken so much from so many, and so Mardi Brown and Pete Gurrie, owners of Sunday House, wanting to find a meaningful way to contribute to the community, have launched an initiative to donate fresh meals for every direct booking made. The money raised will go towards assisting vulnerable people across the country via the superheroes at SecondBite, one of Australia’s largest food rescue organisations.

Following George Walker is inspired by the life of Adelaide actor Rory Walker’s great grandfather George W Walker: a vaudevillian and impresario who toured Australia in the early 20th century, including the Limestone Coast, alongside some of the biggest theatrical stars of the day. It is a story of family, community, love and legacy – and laughter.

Mount Isa might be the rodeo capital of the southern hemisphere, but Donovan Rutherfurd has his heart set on conquering the north in the not-too-distant future. The Australian champion is in superb form, having ridden time in two of his three rides at the Curry Merry Muster on the weekend and is well placed to pick up a buckle at his hometown event.