Life

The Albanese Government has provided critical financial relief to 34 regional and remote airports through the Regional and Remote Airport Support Program. These relief payments will help airports, largely run by local councils, to manage any debts linked to the voluntary administration of Rex Airlines, and maintain the essential aviation services they provide for their communities.

The Ivanhoe painted water tower project has been completed and it is already capturing the imagination of local residents and visitors to the region. The artist, Krimsone, has been working hard over several weeks to successfully create the stand-out project.

The biggest diphtheria outbreak since national record keeping began now (21 May) stands at 230 cases this year, affecting mainly Aboriginal people and believed to have caused the death one person. Around 60 per cent of the cases are in the Northern Territory, with further outbreaks in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland.

How do you improve your painting skills if there's no one providing positive feedback? And how do you develop routine and rhythm to your art practice when life is a brilliant distractor? For emerging artist, Kat Lamb, the answer came in the form of a plein air painting group.

As part of National Volunteer Week, Dhelkaya Health is preparing to launch a new volunteering role in residential aged care. The new role is called Meal Mate ... "eating can remind them of times when meals were shared with family and friends."

Iluka Public School alumni Glen Braz has risen through the ranks of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) over the past 39 years and last Friday he was appointed Defence Force Chief of Joint Capabilities. Born at Grafton Base Hospital, Glen’s mother Sue told the Clarence Valley Independent her son says he had “the ideal childhood” growing up at Iluka with his elder brother Mark.

Murrindindi Shire Council has released a video highlighting the scale of devastation from the January 2026 bushfires, reinforcing its call for a more equitable and impact-based disaster recovery funding model that better reflects the needs of affected communities.

Residents looking to clear out unwanted household items are being reminded that there are practical alternatives to illegal dumping, with the annual Garage Sale Trail continuing to provide Whyalla households with an opportunity to reuse, recycle and earn extra money from pre-loved goods each year.

National Volunteer Week (May 18-24) is Australia's largest annual celebration of civic support and the Upper Murray community is a leading example of selflessness. National Volunteer Week recognises the contribution of millions of volunteers across the country and invites everyone to discover how giving their time and talents can create connection, purpose and stronger communities.

2026 Winter Olympics aerial skier Abbey Willcox returned to her graduating high school Henry Kendall to inspire students by sharing stories of her professional athlete journey so far, and the importance of never giving up.

In proud partnership with the Buloke Shire Council, the Wycheproof Community Resource Centre was delighted to facilitate the grand opening of the Wycheproof Library on May 3. Albeit a chilly morning forty-five participants gathered, and as the rain stopped, a blue sky welcomed guests to the beautifully painted doors of the new library for a ribbon cutting ceremony...

Three days a week, Janet Becker drives 30 minutes from her home to the ac.care Berri Community Centre, where she helps run cooking groups, supports art sessions and welcomes people into the space with warmth and humour. While she now volunteers regularly at the centre, Janet first connected with ac.care during a difficult period in her life when she was experiencing homelessness and social isolation.

At 21 years old, Luke Foggo is the youngest SES member across several units in the region, but you would never know it from the way he carries himself. He did not join the conventional way.

...Pictured is one of Kathy Koop’s amazing sunrises, captured during the week. National Volunteer Week is being celebrated this week, with the 2026 theme, Your Year To Volunteer.

Ned Thomas. The Southern Yorke Peninsula Show will pause in 2026 as organisers restructure the growing event behind the scenes and prepare for a more sustainable future. After several years of rapid expansion following the show's 2022 rebrand, SYP Agricultural Society president Kristy May said the workload had become too large for a small volunteer committee to manage sustainably.

In April 2026, Peter Garrett AM took over as chair of Landcare Australia from Doug Humann AM, marking another significant chapter in a notable career. Australian Rural & Regional News was interested to learn how Peter sees the potential of this enduring community environmental organisation and his role in it.

Less than 1 per cent of junior athletes go on to play sport at the highest levels. So, what is the role of a junior sports club, and how should its success be measured? The most premiership trophies with the highest number of junior dropouts is failure in my book.

The Commonwealth Government has formally issued a Native Title Determination for the White Cliffs opal fields, bringing to an end a period of administrative gridlock that had threatened the economic viability of the historic mining outpost. The declaration of the White Cliffs Main Field as an "Approved Opal or Gem Mining Area" under Section 26C of the Native Title Act 1993 now provides a legal framework for the granting and renewal of mineral claims.

Seeing the healthcare barriers faced by rural families inspired Armidale medical student Fleur Steen to pursue medicine, and now a national grant is helping support that goal ... Now studying medicine at the University of New England in Armidale, Fleur said growing up in rural communities made her aware from an early age of the challenges many people face when trying to access healthcare.

He flawlessly captures everyday life and nostalgic scenes of domestic and social euphoria perfectly in a variety of colours. And as he celebrated his 100th birthday on May 5, renowned Australian artist John Beeman is continuing to paint his own story.

Rhiannon Govier. Every property owner has a story. That is just one of the reasons why Lyn and Stan Rasmussen became coordinators for Blaze Aid. During the four months of coordinating the Blaze Aid camp in Maldon to support those impacted by the Harcourt fires, the camp has spent $11,000 in groceries and $6,000 in fuel...