WA’s best deckhand works out of Two Rocks marina
Deckhand Thomas Breeze has worked on an octopus fishing boat operating out of the Two Rocks marina for about nine months now. It is physically demanding work because even though the pots used to catch octopus are smaller than the ones used to catch western rock lobster they still weigh 30kg each.
“Doin’ it for Holly” round a big success
Angie Day. Grafton Hockey Association recently hosted a highly successful “Doin’ it for Holly” Round on Saturday August 14. The day is named in honour of Holly Butcher, a local Graftonian and hockey player who sadly passed away in 2018 at the age of 27 after a battle with Ewings Sarcoma. In her final days, Holly wrote a very moving letter titled “A bit of life advice from Hol” ... One of Holly’s final requests in her letter was to encourage people to become blood donors, so one of the big focuses of the “Doin’ it for Holly” day was the “100 lives Challenge”.
Sowing seeds, growing community
Geoff Helisma. Not too long ago, the space behind the Anglican church building in Wharf Street, Maclean, was used as a place for vehicles to turn around; nowadays it’s a vibrant vegie garden, with each raised bed’s name inspired by ‘Gifts of the Spirit’ (Galatians 5:22-23) and the garden, itself, christened ‘Fruits of the Spirit’ ... “It’s worthwhile, viable, beneficial to the community and marvellous for those of any age who want to get out and share life with others.”
Film review – Disclosure
When a 4-year-old girl, Natasha, makes a serious allegation against a politician’s 9-year-old son, an attempt by the children’s parents to tackle the issue in a cooperative way soon degenerates into a vicious confrontation.
Lockdown lunacy leaves lasting legacy
Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, said the Victorian Government clearly neither cares about, nor comprehends, the damage it is doing. “If anyone could imagine what hitting a panic button looked like, then Saturday was it ... Put quite simply, there is little or no coronavirus in our part of Victoria, and even if there was, there are systems in place to deal with it. And if the systems are not working, heads should roll. It makes a farce of QR codes and quarantine processes. Either they are there for a reason, or they’re not."
Open for business – milestone for Torres Strait Islanders
In a major milestone for Torres Strait Islanders, Queensland has progressed legal recognition of Torres Strait Islander traditional child rearing practice with the opening of the Office of the Commissioner (Meriba Omasker Kaziw Kazipa) in Cairns ... Meriba Omasker Kaziw Kazipa Commissioner C’Zarke Maza said the office would support life-long aspirations among many Torres Strait Islanders by improving access to support, services and opportunities.
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.
