Life

Holidaymakers hunting for accommodation over the Easter long weekend and school holidays are urged to book in Lismore and Nimbin for their stay ... “We have a great range of accommodation available around Lismore and Nimbin over the Easter holiday period, ranging from country cottages right through to motel rooms and camping grounds”: Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg.

The end of term 1 and Easter is fast approaching, and the local children in Birchip are enjoying a number of Easter traditions that make this time of year all the more fun and exciting ... The Birchip playgroup children had lots of fun on Friday in the park scavenging for eggs and were delighted with their results, as they devoured the chocolate and played in the ever-popular Morton Bay Fig trees and on the playground equipment.

Are you looking for a novel idea this Easter? How about hunting for a literary gem among more than 200,000 offerings at Lifeline Bookfest Sunshine Coast at Nambour Showgrounds. Division 10 Councillor David Law said a massive range of bargain books would be on sale at the four-day event from Friday, April 7, to Monday, April 10, being held from 9am to 4pm each day. 

Rural residents in the Gannawarra Shire are reminded to secure all livestock on their properties following several recent collisions between roaming animals and vehicles. Council’s Local Laws officers have attended a higher number of incidents involving collisions between roaming animals and vehicles compared to previous years.

It was a lifelong dream of a lifelong sailor and though it was to be a solo journey, his waking and sleeping hours were spent in the ‘company’ of his memories and erstwhile companions and friends ... When at his lowest ebb, along came the ghost of Sam, a friendly old sailor who kept Peter entertained through the long, lonely hours of the dog watch.

A petition led by Naracoorte’s Lachlan Haynes calling for radiotherapy services in the South East is likely to trigger an SA Parliamentary review ... A single petition with over 10,000 signatures must be referred to the Legislative Review Committee for investigation.

Igniting Resilience, hosted by BCG at the Lower Mallee Inn at Swan Hill recently, lived up to its name. Young farmers and agribusiness professionals heard from guest speakers The Unbreakable Farmer Warren Davies, farmers Simone Murdoch (Swan Hill), Jarrod Kemp (Nullawil) and Will Simpson (Berriwillock), who shared how they navigate the challenges of life and farming. 

“My whole life journey is in my music and music is my way of letting things out. We cover up too many things and I’m not into sugar coating serious topics. My track ‘Don’t Give Up’ is about depression and like many people I’ve suffered dark times but the best way to deal with it is to talk about it, not bottle it up."

Here’s a heads-up for an imaginative art installation being presented by Maldon Inc. Twelve 1.5 metre high kangaroos, along with some joeys, will be showcased in shop windows during the 2023 Maldon In Winter Festival, which will be running from 23 June to 9 July.

Ambulance Victoria (AV) is looking for more recruits to join the Maldon Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Maldon’s CERT is made up of members who provide support to the Maldon township 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Maldon and Harcourt Fire Brigade members, Maldon Community Response Team (CERT) volunteers and Ambulance Victoria paramedics came together last Friday night at the Maldon Fire Station for a two-and-a-half-hour training session. The CFA volunteers were instructed in CPR and in manual lifting techniques for moving patients safely.

The Tennant Creek Fishing Club’s annual Family Fun Fishing Day made a comeback at Lake Mary Ann last weekend. The weather co-operated wonderfully, with little wind, warm and sunny as around ninety people came out to the lake to discover the joys of fishing.

Most people in town would be familiar with the huge personality and smiling face that is Amy James and see her frequently at events like Do it for Dolly, RU OK, and Women’s Health Week events ... Amy’s contributions have earned her a nomination for the NT Young Achiever Awards in the Somerville Community Service Award People’s Choice category...

Outback Arts, the Regional Arts Development Organisation for Far West NSW, has launched a brand new interactive website, Creative Country, to showcase and assist travellers and locals discover the art, culture and heritage the region has to offer ... “It’s truly remarkable what this wide, wild outback place has to offer, and Creative Country is the perfect tool to gather this information together": Jamie-Lea Trindall, Executive Director, Outback Arts.

After a 43-year hiatus, the 209 team of the Leitchville Fire Brigade has fired up again. Sporting shirts in the original team colours, the team entered its first competition after just six weeks of training.

A four-day charity walk from Bonegilla to Corryong last week has raised more than $25,000 to date to promote awareness of veterans’ mental health isssues. Corryong cafè owner, Stuart Spratt, started the ‘March On’ walk three years ago and was accompanied by nine supporters who finished the trek with him at the Corryong cenotaph last Friday afternoon.

A Garden Party celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA) at "Marinya", the former home of Mrs Ruth Fairfax, the founding president of the organisation, drew a large crowd of branch members from a wide area along with local and visiting dignitaries.

A huge crowd of members, friends and invited guests attended the celebrations at the historic homstead, Marinya, Cambooya on Saturday. Marinya was the home of founding president Ruth Fairfax who hosted meetings and garden parties for the QCWA.

Yamba locals Cheryl and Bill Randall hit the road for the greater good when Variety – the Children’s Charity NSW/ACT’s feel-good 4WD Adventure kicked off in Coffs Harbour on Sunday ... Variety’s feel-good 4WD Adventure raises funds for children who are sick, experiencing disadvantage or living with a disability.

Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) has confirmed an impeccable line up of 15 Indigenous fashion designers and wearable art makers from across Queensland whose collective response to the 2023 theme ‘Woven’ will tell a powerful story marking 10 years of fashion performances.

Last week, Harmony celebrations all over Australia reminded us that everyone is different, everyone belongs and we all bring something unique to our communities.