Life

Balranald Shire Mayor Louie Zaffina is actively balancing regional advocacy with local infrastructure progress. The Mayor recently toured the regional meeting circuit to tackle challenging policy issues while simultaneously overseeing significant developments across the Shire. ... The Bidgee Haven Retirement Hostel received a new wheelchair-enabled van ....

As October arrives, so too does the first flush of mauve from Australia’s beloved jacaranda trees. I trace the jacaranda’s journey from the dry slopes of the Andes to its spectacular springtime display in towns like Grafton, where more than 1,700 trees transform the streets into rivers of purple. With the bloom set to reach its dazzling peak in just a fortnight, it’s the perfect moment to celebrate this fleeting spring spectacle.

Sharp's country baking excellence and their recent win in Australia's Best Vanilla Slice competition is proving a winning recipe for Birchip's tourism economy, with recent visitors arriving by rail, road and even by air to sample the town's famous treat.

The new library is part of the greater Allora Community Precinct project, which has seen the Allora Library move into the old Allora Senior Citizens Centre and the Allora Regional Sports Museum moved into the building where the library used to be ... Member for Southern Downs James Lister said the Allora Precinct would become a hub for the local community and improve the town’s liveability.

The 116th Corryong Show proved once again to be a highlight on the Upper Murray calendar, drawing a strong crowd on Saturday and showcasing the best of local agriculture, entertainment, and community spirit. The event also included the Upper Murray Machinery Club rally which has only added to the spectacle.

Hugh Schuitemaker. Last week's Riverland visit by the State Opposition Leader has highlighted Labor's indifference towards the region, Tim Whetstone says. Alternative premier Vincent Tarzia made his first trip to the Riverland since taking over from disgraced former Liberal leader David Speirs in August 2024, and Mr. Whetstone said the continued absence of Peter Malinauskas – who last visited during the flood, in November 2022 – says plenty about the two parties.

The new season of swimming pool happiness has commenced. The tired old pool has had a remarkable makeover. Greg, the new manager with a history of managing swimming pools, recognised the work required to bring the pool up to standard.

Eight community representatives have been appointed to sit on the newly formed Community Consultation Committee (CCC) for Australian Rare Earths’ (AR3) controversial Koppamurra Project, a move the company says will strengthen local input. According to AR3, this is the beginning of formal consultation on the proposed rare earths mine as the exploration company moves towards a mining licence application.

A Country Universities Centre for Hay is now one step closer, with local Jessie Armstrong appointed as the Centre Manager of the eagerly anticipated Rural University Study Hub (RUSH). Jessie comes from a rural background with a passion for agriculture extension and advisory services, and experience in project management, communications and community education.

On Saturday, the health promotion team at West Wimmera Health Service hosted the fourth Grow Local, Eat Local cooking competition. Three home cooks from across the Wimmera—Warracknabeal, Horsham and Natimuk—each prepared a plant-based dish for the crowd, with television cook Tim Bone judging the entries and choosing the winner.

When the ferocious winds and torrential rain of former tropical cyclone Alfred hit town in March 2025, a Yamba icon was left battered and sodden. Now, through community generosity, and the determination to continue the family’s legacy, the Yamba Cinema will reopen before Christmas.

The Cook Government has set new standards to strengthen the health and welfare of horses in Western Australia. The Standards and Guidelines for the Health and Welfare of Horses details the minimum standards and recommended practices to optimise the health and welfare of horses, backed by scientific evidence and industry knowledge.

The Charlton Courthouse Gallery was abuzz with visitors on Sunday, October 5, for the opening of Birds in Focus, the latest exhibition by local farmer and keen photographer, Stuart Giles ... When asked if there was one bird he found especially elusive, Stuart pointed to the Red-capped Robin.

Mildura Rural City Council CEO Martin Hawson. We’ve received fresh assurances ... from Qantas, Mildura Airport Chief Executive Officer Andrew Elliott and Chair Marcus Guthrie that the airline remains committed to Mildura for the long term ... So to be clear, Qantas have confirmed with me there will be no impact to flights to and from Mildura as a result of the decision, which is reassuring for our community.

From 29 August 2025, the NSW Government will commence negotiations with landowners to secure flood easements along the Murrumbidgee River, between Darlington Point and Balranald, under its Reconnecting River Country Program ... “If landowners fail to negotiate an easement interest, their land could be compulsorily acquired": Bobbie Pannowitz.

More than 3000 people may have had their personal information comprised in a data breach of applications made to the Northern Rivers Resilient Homes Program. The breach happened when a former contractor of the NSW Reconstruction Authority uploaded data containing personal information to an unsecured AI tool which was not authorised by the department.

Barrel Farm is one of Albany’s newest food and beverage venues and its creation was just a labour of love and very much a family affair. Owned and operated by the Buxton family, Barrel Farm has been the decades-long dream of parents, Peter and Peg Buxton ... Situated on one of Albany’s old dairy farms, it is a creative blend of old and new.

Regional businesses can win the race for talent by pairing lifestyle advantages with authentic storytelling and people-first workplace cultures that make the move irresistible.

This week's unseasonably hot weather and fast-moving fires in neighbouring council areas are a timely reminder to Scenic Rim residents to prepare their properties and develop a Bushfire Survival Plan. 

As part of efforts to prepare the Gannawarra for the fire season, Gannawarra Shire Council’s annual fire hazard property inspections have started. Council’s Local Laws team are travelling throughout the municipality, identifying properties which need to be cleared of fire risks and issuing Fire Prevention Notices to landowners, instructing them to carry out works to reduce fire risks.

The Minns Labor Government aims to release a further 42 homes for sale across the Northern Rivers by Christmas, following an overwhelming community response to the first four home relocation auctions. To date, 83 flood-affected properties, bought by the Government through the $880 million Resilient Homes Program, have been offered for sale to be relocated to flood-free land by the new owner. 

Ken holds the current titles of Australia’s oldest living person and the oldest man ever, as verified by the global authority on supercentenarians, LongeviQuest. He’s lived through two World Wars, the Great Depression, five global pandemics, the arrival of television, the internet, and even AI—and now Kenneth (Ken) Weeks is set to celebrate his 112th birthday on Sunday, 5 October 2025.