Firewood trial for residents and ratepayers
Hepburn Shire Council will soon hold a three-day trial to finalise the logistics of how best to distribute storm-related firewood to residents and ratepayers for free.
Freedom is the best reason to get vaccinated
There is a saying that goes like this: you can’t change the direction of the wind, but you can adjust your sails. It’s time to adjust our sails, Australia, because the wind blowing in the COVID-19 virus is going to keep blowing. We need our national mojo back: Bev McArthur, MP.
2021 Local Government Elections – Barkly candidates have their say
Hear from the candidates for the upcoming Barkly Regional Council elections: Brian Coleman; Hal Ruger; Jeffrey McLaughlin; Dianne Stokes; Greg Marlow; Karan Hayward; Kelly White; and Catherine Grimley.
Lack of childcare an ‘equity’ issue
Eliza Berlage. The struggle to secure childcare services in rural and regional areas has led some parents to sacriï¬ce their careers or move to bigger cities, according to a new study ... It found regional and rural areas lacked childcare services and staff to work at the centres, and that childcare was often not seen as profitable enough to attract new operators to the sector.
Stop Puppy Farming laws passed WA Lower House
Laws to end puppy farming in Western Australia have today passed the State Parliament's lower house ... The Stop Puppy Farming legislation, which also includes reforms to de-muzzle greyhounds, involves changes to the Dog Act 1976 that minimise the number of dogs suffering neglect and requiring rehoming by regulating the breeding and sale of dogs in WA.
Mobile Foodbank to visit Yanchep on a weekly basis
Uniting WA chief executive officer Amanda Hunt said a significant number of people in Yanchep and surrounding areas were living under food stress. “With the government’s Covid support removed, pressure on working families has never been greater, ‘’ she said.
Helen on tap update
It was an emotional night at the Royal Hotel in Barham as locals bared their souls to Member for Murray Helen Dalton. The continual tit for tat between New South Wales and Victoria has been a wrecking ball on businesses, families, local economy, and the wellbeing of our residents ... “For us, financially, we have just sold our house to keep the bank at bay. If things don’t ultimately change soon, it will be very detrimental to us”: Ben Watts, Barham Holiday Park
Business investing into business – The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper – Lloyd Polkinghorne
Ali Bohn. Tired of sitting in a mission brown office of cold, exposed brick, an axe-wielding statue that comes to life at night and partially chewed carpet (due to the castors on the swivel chairs, we didn’t have a plague of rats living in the office), The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper’s Lloyd Polkinghorne made the brave decision to do a full renovation of the office a couple of months ago.
Gurra Downs Date Company
"Out of every adversity lays the seed of equal or greater opportunity" ... "if you've got a passion for farming, grazing, cropping or whatever it is, just keep looking through your genetics and the way that you manage your farms and your businesses and your environments" : Dave Reilly
Beach wheelchairs on the move
Beach access just got a whole lot easier with the relocation of two Hippocamp Beach Access Wheelchairs to Champion Beach.
Dowerin Field Days, 25-26 August 2021
Dowerin Field Days, Media Release, 18 August 2021
Homelessness – making everyone count
Emma Pritchard. Momentum Collective, Social Futures and students from Grafton TAFE hosted an art installation at Market Square in Grafton on August 5 to raise awareness of the impact of homelessness in the local community. As they gathered alongside one another in a show of strength and unity, they proudly held up their signs and engaged with members of the public who walked by.
Awards for brave rescuers
Two years ago on Father’s Day, an accident at sea changed the lives of six men from Evans Head. Utah Chilcott was 18 at the time and said he had “never been so close to seeing someone die”. The men’s efforts on that day are being acknowledged by a bravery citation from the Governor-General scheduled for today.
First flight between Derby and Broome takes to the skies
The first air service between Broome and Derby took to the air on 16 August 2021, providing Derby travellers with air access to Perth for the first time since 2016 via connecting flights from Broome.
Two nights of bucking at Bullride
Weipa's new-look showgrounds facility will come to life on Friday night for the opening of the Weipa Bullride and committee chairman Russell Scikluna can’t wait ... The 2021 edition will be largely different to previous rodeos staged in Weipa. Instead of a cabaret on Friday night, there will be action from the chutes to complement the live band. The program will then expand on Saturday with even more events, followed by a second live band.
Council co-launches new mental health materials
Keeping Mentally Well, a set of mental health information resources being launched by the Central Goldfields Shire Council and Central Victorian Primary Care Partnership, is a timely response to one of the many pressing challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Picton backs country doctors
Chris Oldfield. SA Shadow Health Minister Chris Picton has thrown his weight behind Naracoorte's doctors and country GPs, calling for the State Government to negotiate contracts with them. Mr Picton has slammed the State Government for wasting taxpayers’ dollars on locums, failing to negotiate and throwing rural doctors and country hospitals into turmoil.
Local producers taste Food Forum success
Eliza Berlage and Gabrielle Duykers. More than 30 local producers gathered together last week for the inaugural Limestone Coast Food Forum. Hosted by the Limestone Coast Food and Agribusiness Cluster, food processors, and retailers met at Lucindale Country Club to hear from 16 guest speakers about opportunities in the local food and beverage industry.
After Midnight, all is safe and well
Claire Rankin. After almost three weeks living in her car in Evans Head with her dog, a 74-year-old widow is now safe and well at home. Barbara Williams is grateful to all the people in Evans Head who came to her aid while she was living in her car. She felt forced to leave her Baptist Community Centre unit in Lismore when she was told she could not keep her four-year-old part-kelpie called Midnight.
Olympic Games ‘surreal but awesome’
Geoff Helisma. When it comes to succeeding at sport, desire is a powerful motivator – and it often makes itself apparent during a human’s formative years. Grafton-born Olympian Ryan Maskelyne – one of only two swimmers who represented Papua New Guinea at the Olympic Games – first made his Olympics dream public at the 2009 Yamba Convent Beach to Main Beach Ocean Swim. “He told us he intended swimming for PNG at the Olympics,” his uncle, Eddy Durkan, says. “He was 11 and is now 22.”
Yamba’s oldest cottages
John McNamara. In March 1884, the lease and household effects of the “Ocean View” Boarding House in Pilot Street overlooking Yamba Beach was taken up by James and Hannah Ryall who later purchased the freehold from Kinnear in 1888. Ryall was a baker and established a bakery adjoining the boarding house.
Victoria’s Goldfields launch happiness survey as part of World Heritage bid
In a first for Australian heritage tourism management, residents in 13 local government areas in the Central Victoria Goldfields region have been taking an online survey to gauge their happiness, quality of life and well-being ... The survey forms an important part of the region’s bid to have the best of its gold-rush era heritage sites included on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
