Life

Douglas Draeger. In 2021 Spirits are high for those who made it across the borders in to the Northern Territory. More than 140 genuine World War II vehicles and over 15 post war support vehicles would normally be making their way to Alice Springs from all over Australia for the official start of Back to the Track on 1 August.

Catherine Grimley. Tennant Creek’s NAIDOC festivities ended on a high note on Saturday with a community gathering at Nyinkka Nyunyu. Tjupi Band played their hearts out for the crowd, even being joined on stage by Mayor Jeffrey McLaughlin, who got a reminder of how long it has been since he played hand drums, and what muscles he needs to use to play them.

Sunshine Coast Council is joining outreach providers to shine a light on the challenges faced by vulnerable community members and provide support information across the region. An outreach program will deliver a range of services, support and information from next week, highlighting the help that is available to Sunshine Coast people experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless.

The COVID-19 pandemic risks having a deep and lasting impact on Australia’s first responder community. New research highlighting alarming rates of anxiety, depression and burnout potentially leaves Australia with a scar that’s harder to heal that the disease itself.

Ali Bohn. Each week we are profiling local business owners who have made the decision to invest back into their business during a time when making any such financial decisions may seem very risky. With investments big or small, from undertaking a major renovation to adding a fresh coat of paint, these business owners are doing their bit to improve their productivity, services and availability so that our towns will continue to be the place locals love to call home and for tourists to refer to as their second home.

Kirstin Nicholson. Georgia Sieben will represent Victoria at the 2021 Agricultural Shows Australia National Young Judges finals. The 18-year-old, who grew up on a farm in Torrumbarry, has been showing and parading at the Cohuna Show with her family from a young age.

Site works have begun on a medicinal cannabis facility delivering job opportunities for local trade contractors. Cannaponics Limited is building a new commercial cultivation, extraction, processing and distribution facility to compete in the rapidly growing medicinal cannabis industry.

The National Farmers' Federation is seeing red at the United Nations Food Systems Summit and has urged the Government to do its best to stop uninformed and alarmist outcomes being supported. The NFF, on behalf of Australia’s livestock sector is working closely with the Global Meat Alliance, the Global Dairy Platform and other nations, who share our concerns, in responding to the UNFSS.

In a tall shed at Fairy Hill, Andy Pleasance and Anette Hammat have big dreams as they build their first tiny house on wheels. “It’s all about wanting to help people live lighter and providing a house without a million-dollar mortgage,” Anette said.

Barbara Winters. The Ashby Nature Discovery team and the Clarence Valley Koala Working Group proved recently that we can still enjoy Covid-safe community events in the outdoors. The Ashby Hall Reserve is the perfect location to make new connections and go for a walk and learn more about nature while social distancing.

Emma Pritchard. “I don’t know how much time I’ve got left, but I just want to do whatever I can to help and encourage other people who are experiencing difficulties and mental illness to not be afraid to speak up and ask for help, and to also raise awareness of MSA-P" (Multiple System Atrophy): Jason Williams

You've heard of toasting marshmallows over the fire, but have you tried nougat? Bettenay’s in Margaret River has launched a new winter experience, Toasty Tastings by the Fire that includes a guided tasting of four estate wines, a nougat-inspired liqueur and toasting French-style nougat over an open fire.

Life is short, so eat truffles. If you're currently in lockdown or as free as a bird, you can enjoy freshly harvested black truffles in the comfort of your own home. Located in the heart of Australian truffle country in Manjimup in Western Australia's south west, Australian Truffle Traders ships nuggets of 'black gold' to some of the world's best restaurants, and you can enjoy them too.

About half the number of small metropolitan businesses the McGowan Government said would be eligible for assistance due to the Anzac weekend lockdown have missed out on financial assistance ... In a statement on July 19 the government said more than 15,400 businesses in Perth and Peel and 2300 businesses in regional WA could be eligible for support for the lockdown between June 29 and July 2 and the associated restriction period from July 3 to July 6. But Dr Thomas said the government’s small business Covid compensation eligibility criteria were too restrictive and not consistent.

Cape York’s tourism operators have been hit by a number of cancellations due to southern lockdowns, but have largely been able to fill the void with travellers already on the road. Bramwell Tourist Park’s Ken Godfrey said he was surprised with the amount of people still in the Cape.

Patrick Mills sunk his first basket on Thursday Island, but his journey to international stardom has rarely been in the Torres Strait. Over the next two weeks, he will attempt to lead the Boomers to a historic medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

In 1809, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote: None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free. On 24 July 2021, in Sydney, the NSW Deputy Health Officer, Jeremy McNulty, was asked at a press conference why approved rapid antigen Covid-19 tests were not used.

Catherine Grimley. It may have been two weeks late, but our local NAIDOC Committee was determined that the events they had planned would go ahead as soon as it was safe to do so, so Monday morning marchers gathered outside the NLC office for the walk to Nyinkka Nyunyu to celebrate NAIDOC Week. The weather was kind to the marchers with little wind and beautiful sunshine as they made their way down Paterson Street, even the police vehicle that led the march was carrying Aboriginal flags on the bonnet, in keeping with the day.