Hearing young Riverlanders speak on current challenges
Madison Eastmond. The South Australian Youth Forum (SAYF) All Voices Tour made its most-recent stop in the Riverland last weekend, with their local workshop hoping to further understand the shared passions, hopes, and struggles of regional youth ... the afternoon workshop hosting conversations on climate resilience, mental health resources, and the importance of agricultural wellbeing.
What a day for changing the game
Hugh Schuitemaker. Riverland sporting volunteers had the chance to learn new skills and hear from an Olympic gold medallist in Renmark. More than 100 local sporting enthusiasts and local government representatives attended last Saturday’s Gamechanger event, held at St Francis of Assisi College, in Renmark.
Community podcasting
A small group of enthusiastic participants from Charlton, Donald, Wycheproof, and Birchip recently came together to trial podcasting and broadcasting equipment in a hands-on, skills-sharing session designed to support future community storytelling and fundraising.
CLP puts agriculture industry front and centre at Food Futures: Maley
Food Futures is Australia's leading event on agricultural development in the north. The biennial conference is being held today and tomorrow (8-9 April 2025) at the Darwin Convention Centre, bringing together industry leaders, researchers, and government representatives to explore new opportunities for northern agriculture.
Braidwood turns to tiny homes amid housing crisis: Adapt Homes
Agritourism and tiny home stays could be key to securing the future of Braidwood, a heritage-listed rural town near Canberra, which is grappling with housing shortages and the growing impact of climate change on farming. Home to 1,700 people, Braidwood became NSW’s first heritage-listed town in 2006, a status that locals say brings charm and challenges.
Yorke Peninsula’s native orchids
Chris Davey. Through this semi-regular column, I hope to share insights into the beauty and rarity of our local orchids — some of which are found nowhere else. Four species exist only on YP and are classified as endangered, with fewer than 100 plants remaining.
Working bee at the Warrali St garden
Paddie and Cliodhna held a community working bee at the Warrali St garden. Adults and children planted out seedlings, weeded, built up the compost piles and celebrated the healthy soil that’s been created from the old compost piles ... we learnt how to create an Indigenous Microorganism soil trap ...
RFDS shares its visions and aims as election draws closer
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) has a long and proud history of delivering vital healthcare to Australians living in rural and remote areas for over 95 years. However, despite this enduring commitment, significant disparities in healthcare access persist, leading to worrying health outcomes for those living outside major cities.
From the Outback to the ring: Western Plains wrestling duo chase WWE dreams
After moving hundreds of kilometres from NSW 2835 and 2830 to attend university, Scott Green and The Tuckman found themselves unfulfilled. Instead of following a traditional path, they made the bold decision to pursue their childhood dream of becoming professional wrestlers ... Watch out for The Dropouts from the Outback. ARR.News caught up with Scott and Tuck ...
100 years! What a day for Maldon Croquet
It has been through the hoops, weathered every challenge that the century could roll at it and come out the other side to celebrate its one hundredth birthday; congratulations to Maldon Croquet Club!
Many voices at community forum
A community forum at Baringhup Hall on Wednesday 26 March attracted close to 50 attendees, many with comments and questions about the State Government's proposed Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund (ESVF). Arranged and hosted by local campaigner Brian Fitzgerald, the forum featured representatives from local and state government plus the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF).
Rural Aid delivers urgent lifeline to farmers amidst devasting floods
Major flood warnings have been issued for multiple rivers, including the Thomson, Barcoo, Bulloo, Paroo, and Warrego ... Stock losses are expected to reach into the hundreds of thousands, compounding the already difficult conditions caused by ongoing droughts.
RFDS aeromedical simulator visits Allora
Allora P-10 Students enjoyed the visit by the RFDS with their Aeromedical Simulator which was fully equipped with flight controls, indicators, communication headsets and two stretcher beds. Once onboard, students undertook an immersive experience as a patient and they could see how the crew operates these units in the sky.
Alistair’s flying visit
Squadron Leader Alistair Smith, from 2 Operational Conversion Unit, has been in Victoria for the past two weeks for the Australian International Airshow held at Avalon as the AIA25 Detachment Commander and one of the F-35 Lightning II pilots ... Alistair is the son of former Birchip residents Eileen and Ian Smith and completed his primary and secondary schooling at Birchip P-12 School.
Letters from Home: The lazy loquat
Memories of my youth way back in time in the Riverina. Riding my pony bareback round the roads, one of my favourite things to do was to reach out from his back and raid a neighbour’s loquat tree. Loquats are a small fruit, golden in colour, and have a sweet tangy taste, a large seed and are delicious.
Street works impact bakery
The small profits achieved by the Upper Murray Community Bakery in January and February have been offset by a decrease in custom caused by the streetscape project. "The bakery is currently operating at deficit of approximately $4000 per week, which is completely unsustainable,"...
Mayor tells of family tragedy
Towong mayor, Cr Andrew Whitehead, was front and centre when 500 people gathered at Albury's QEII Square on Saturday to rally for a new single site, greenfield hospital on the border ... Speaking at the rally, Cr Whitehead said that "a broken system" had contributed to his father's death ...
Sculpture launch precedes lunch
Khancoban came alive on Saturday with the highly anticipated Khancoban Long Lunch event and the opening of the local leg of the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail and Snowy Hydro monument. Held at the town's community hall, the event was an afternoon filled with fine food, live music and a warm community atmosphere.
Jordan’s “Our Land” film debuted on Sunday
Debut in the UK on Channel 4 on Sunday night was former Narrandera woman Jordan Bryon's latest film Our Land ... The film is produced by the Emmy and BAFTA-winning Hardcash Productions, and made by the BAFTA-winning filmmaker Jordan Bryon for the ITV Exposure strand.
Lucy heading home to share her South American adventures
Serena Kirby. Surfer, activist, writer and filmmaker Lucy Small will return to Denmark this month for the screening of her new film, Ceibo. Lucy grew up in Denmark and says that even though she lives on the East Coast she still calls Denmark home.
Floods devastate rural NSW & Queensland, cities to feel ripple effect: NRHA
The soul-destroying floods in rural New South Wales and Queensland are affecting rural people who matter to Australia’s very existence and who are the backbone of Australia’s economy ... this flood is an eye-opener for all political parties to make a commitment to the health of the economic powerhouse that rural Australia is for the rest of the country.
A fresh start for Queensland – adult crime, adult time expands to 33 offences: Crisafulli, Frecklington, Purdie, Gerber
The Crisafulli Government is expanding its landmark Adult Crime, Adult Time laws to 33 youth crime offences, with new laws introduced to the Queensland Parliament ... The Making Queensland Safer (Adult Crime, Adult Time) Amendment Bill 2025 provides for an additional 20 Adult Crime, Adult Time offences, including attempted murder...

