Life

They did it. Organisers of the World’s Biggest Happy Dance were thrilled to see 468 people groovin’ to the song Dancing in the Street at Kyogle Showground yesterday, Saturday, June 14. The previous record for a happy dance in Singapore was 448.

A large number of people from Lajamanu and from Yuendumu, the home town of Kumanjayi White who died in custody on May 27, came to Alice Springs to attend a vigil, to march and mourn ... Coles staff welcomed into the store several small groups of men and women to aisle four – “chocolate, juice, lollies” – where the confrontation had taken place a short time before Kumanjayi’s death.

Richmond Landcare Inc. held a Science in the Pub event at The Channon Tavern on Thursday 27th March, with over one hundred people filling the venue, despite the dreary weather. This event was the first opportunity for the broader community to hear about Richmond Landcare's Nature Based Solutions Project: Building Flood Resilience in the Lismore Catchment.

Ross McDougall. Last year the Dorrobbee Grass Reserve Trust approached the Dunoon Men's Shed to assist them with making a sign to be placed on the roadside of Dunoon Road to highlight the location of the significant ecological grassland site. Long time resident John Pirlo generously donated a two metre long slab of red ash timber for the project.

The movement to protect our starry night skies – along with our landscape and character, environment and wellbeing – is taking the next step. Sunshine Coast Council is proposing to establish a Dark Sky Reserve in the hinterland, encompassing almost 900 square kilometres in the Mary River Catchment and adjoining national parks in our local government area.

With a renewed mandate in hand, the Albanese Government and its new Cabinet will have no barriers for further delay to implement the many health, disability and ageing sector reviews, reforms and recommendations it worked on with stakeholders in its first term of government ... The 7.3 million Australians living in rural and remote areas don’t need more consultations. They need a government that will implement the solutions that have already been developed, debated, and recommended.

Patricia Gill. Denmark artist Melissa Boughey's painting, State of Flux, Symbiosis, won the 2025 Omnia Art Prize announced in Toorak, Victoria recently. Melissa, who heard about the win while at home, said she had felt overwhelmed: "There were long distance tears over the phone. I'm touched and surprised."

Yorke Peninsula was left behind by the 2025-26 state budget, with no specific funding announcements for the region. The budget invested $1.9 billion in health, but none was specifically earmarked for Yorke Peninsula, despite the recent parliamentary inquiry into health services in the area.

Despite contacting the usual suspects who may have owned this panel van in the local area, no-one seems to know ... Back in 2002 this Morris Mini Panel Van was discovered by RACQ in Allora and was purchased from a private owner.

Madison Eastmon. A Riverland student has been awarded during this year's National Reconciliation Week for receiving one of the highest Australian Tertiary Admission Ranks (ATAR) in the state. Scoring 86.75 — one of the highest ATARS received among South Australia's Aboriginal students — Berri Regional Secondary College alumni Nicholas Harris was awarded with a Chief Executive's Reconciliation Award last month.

Have you heard about Kaniva's newest wellness experience — a Japanese Head Spa? Chelsey Merrett has called Kaniva home for the past seven years. Two years ago, she launched Chelsey Merrett – Head Spa + Scalp Care...

The community of Birchip, an epicentre of three wind farm proposals and four significant mineral sands mining retention licences, played host to a community meeting addressing turbines, lines, mines and property rights ... Three key speakers addressed an audience exceeding three hundred people from across Western Victoria, who filled the Birchip Leisure Centre to capacity.

The Minns Labor Government is rolling out a new ‘Find Your Path on a NSW Great Walk’ campaign that highlights seven spectacular multi-day walks across the state to address the growing interest in nature-based visitor experiences. The new campaign highlights an impressive 275km of walking tracks in regional NSW that have opened to the public within the last two years.

Debbie McQueen and Rebecca Scott. Have you heard of the Bibbulmun Track? It is one of the world’s great long distance walk trails. It stretches more than 1000km from Kalamunda in the Perth Hills to Albany on the south coast, winding through the heart of the scenic southwest of Western Australia.

A series of short films titled Adaptation Stories will be screened at Kyogle Cinema on Sunday, June 29 at Kyogle Cinemas ... The films highlight how people are adapting to climate change and includes farmers, First Nations leaders and young changemakers.

In the wake of devastating floods, Rural Aid is rallying around Western Queensland’s farming communities with a powerful message: you are not alone. From 10–17 June, Rural Aid will be on the ground in Thargomindah, offering hands-on mental health support, meaningful connection, and a good dose of joy—reminding families that brighter days are ahead.

More than 200 tonnes of donated hay will be delivered to farmers on the Fleurieu Peninsula this long weekend ... Charitable organisation Need for Feed is working with local Lions Clubs in Goolwa, Victor Harbor and Port Elliot to deliver about 10 truckloads of hay to 16 registered primary producers across the Fleurieu on Monday 9 June.

Seventeen workers at Southern Cross Care facilities in Broken Hill have lost their jobs following the organisation's acquisition by its Queensland counterpart, with the takeover finalised this month. Southern Cross Care Queensland confirmed the completion of its buyout of Southern Cross Care Broken Hill operations, with affected positions described as administrative…

On Friday May 30, a group of ten passionate individuals came together to tackle a topic close to the heart of every community: volunteerism. Held in Barham, the roundtable brought together volunteers, committee members, and community leaders from Koondrook and Barham to reflect on what volunteering looks like today—and what it could become.

The Barham Koondrook Pastoral, Agricultural, and Horticultural Show Society is sounding the alarm: without a dedicated secretary and additional volunteers, this year’s iconic community show faces cancellation. Time is running out, and we need your help to keep this beloved tradition alive!

There was a large crowd gathered in Victoria Street, at the Kerang Council Building, last Wednesday May 28 to mark National Reconciliation Week 2025. It has been estimated a record 350 people attended the flag raising with Gannawarra Shire Deputy Mayor, Cr Ross Stanton joining Ray Davis in raising the Aboriginal flag.