Life

The 2021 Population Statement looks at population change over the past year and includes projections of the population over the next decade. It describes and analyses the role of the different drivers of population change – overseas migration, natural increase and internal migration. The analysis spans states and territories, capital cities and rest of state areas, age and gender.

Water Corporation is reminding Perth and Peel residents not to rely on scheme water supply during a bushfire, as another challenging southern fire season is forecast for coastal WA. Power outage, heat-damaged infrastructure and high demand can all result in a rapid loss of water pressure or supply.

Flinders Shire recently held its annual Christmas Street Party in Hughenden, with more than 400 people attending and getting into the festive spirit. Attendees enjoyed more than 18 market stalls and all Brodie Street shops were open for business to help celebrate the event, while Santa also made a special appearance.

Warwick O'Neill. In England a young lady by the name of Florence Nightingale read of the conditions and wanted to do something about it. As a high-bred lady of Victorian England, society’s expectations of her was to marry well, breed well, and produce many little upper-class mud-magnets for her husband. Fortunately for the world at large she said, in what I assume was a well-educated and well-enunciated voice “Bugger that. You can shove your Victorian standards up your Kyber. I’m off to the Crimea.” Or words to that effect.

A well-respected Warumungu elder was bestowed the Fitzgerald Justice Award in the 2021 Northern Territory Human Rights Awards recently. John Fitz Jakamarra was nominated for his dedication to being a community mentor to the welfare, wellbeing and reintegration of local people in the Barkly community ... An NT Shelter spokesperson said John is committed to supporting to those who have been impacted or at risk of being impacted by the justice system.

Samuel Bush-Blanasi. The Northern Land Council supports the call by AMSANT that urgent steps are needed to contain the COVID-19 outbreak in Katherine and the Big Rivers region of the NT. For everyone in the Katherine and Big Rivers region the CHO has given us all clear messages – get vaccinated; use the Territory Check In App; if you feel no good, stay away from work and other people and get tested for COVID-19; wash your hands and use hand sanitiser regularly and maintain social distancing where possible.

A specialist CFA brigade has been called out to two incidents within a week, both involving the rescue of a dog from a mine shaft. Bendigo-based Oscar1 Brigade helped rescue Bruno the Bull-Arab on Sunday 5 December after he’d fallen down a mine shaft at Castlemaine Diggings National Park. Captain Daniel McMahon said it was quite unusual and surprising to receive another call less than six days later, this time to rescue Terry the Kelpie-cross from a mine shaft at Woodend.

It's worth reflecting on what-just-was: wave after wave of pandemania. Snap lockdowns and travel restrictions were for some, a form of forced minimalism ... The antidote of course is to find our social focus again, re-acquaint ourselves with community activities, get out of forced hibernation and meet the real world ... ranked up there with hidden Hinterland beauty spots is the spring fed waterhole of the old Bexhill Quarry.

Mike Berry. At the time of writing for the last Gazette edition the landscape was becoming quite dry and the fire risk was increasing. Ironically by the time that edition hit the streets the rain had arrived and has been pretty persistent since. Whilst the outlook at the moment is for rain to continue, once the hot weather arrives and if the rain stops, long grass will quickly dry out and become a fire hazard.

Lismore Theatre Company is keen to hear proposals from directors interested in staging a play for 2022. The company has some productions scheduled for the new year but is keen to open the 2022 program to new shows including some more traditional theatre options with a comedic flavour.

Tuesday, December 14 saw the official opening of the Koondrook All Abilities Playground. A dream of former councillor, Steve Tasker, to provide joy for children with limited mobility has resulted in the $592,000 Koondrook All Abilities Playground.

Ali Bohn. “I wanted to make the bathrooms a nice, bright space to go when you’re feeling flat and I thought a nice mural of flowers would look really good": Barham Public School Captain, Shaylah Carter.

It was an exciting day for Moulamein as officials and locals celebrated the opening of the Moulamein Heritage Village. Situated on the corner of Cedar Avenue and Paterson Street, the former vacant land is now home to some of the district’s historical gems. Locals pursued a vision to construct the historical village for visitors and locals to enjoy with the added benefit of doubling as a venue space for events, weddings and music concerts.

South Australian based group ‘The Headstone Project’ recently dedicated the graves of 18 veterans of WWI who lay in the Port Pirie cemetery in unmarked graves with a dedication ceremony held on 20 November 2021.

Australians are urged to put locally-grown oysters on their Christmas table this year and support an industry that has been hit hard recently. NSW Farmers Oyster Committee Chair Todd Graham said the industry was still grappling with the impacts of bushfires, floods, and a COVID-19 induced downturn in hospitality and tourism.

With her brother John Bligh and Allan Michael, nine years ago Mary Bligh had her sights set on turning the Commercial into a true local pub with no pokies, “bloody good food” and live music featuring local talent. And she did.

Geoff Helisma. There may be fewer than 50 coastal emus left in existence, but the efforts of  Lions Club of Clarence – Environmental  (LCC-E) and its proactive relationships with government departments and Clarence Valley Council (CVC) have resulted in measures to protect the endangered bird. The speed limit along a 7.2km section of Brooms Head Road, Taloumbi, has been reduced from 100km/h to 80km/h and warning signs have been painted on the road.

Emma Pritchard. The delicious smell of sizzling sausages, fried eggs and fresh bread attracted a long queue of people to the 2GF and The Independent free breakfast in Grafton’s Market Square last week. One of the most popular events on the Jacaranda Festival program, the free breakfast is traditionally held on Jacaranda Thursday and serves plenty of community spirit, as well as yummy food.

Lieutenant Sebastian Jingle has become the first known Indigenous Australian from the western Cape to commission as an officer in the Australian Army Reserve. The proud Traditional Owner from the Yupangathi and Teppethiggi lands graduated in November through the Army Part-Time Officer Commissioning Program.

A towering moving sculpture, light shows and late night trading in the heart of Castlemaine, lead Mount Alexander Shire Council’s invitation to residents to step out and celebrate the year’s end ... From Wednesday 8 December until Tuesday 4 January Taradale artist, Alex Sanson’s towering kinetic sculpture Spherophyte, will fold and unfold in hypnotic motion in Victory Park, Castlemaine.

Yesterday representatives of the local soccer club, Lions Club and the CWA were each presented with $800 cheques from the IGA Community Chest to assist them with their activities, and all recipients were very thankful for the gift.