Life

At the April Richmond Valley Council meeting, councillor Lyndall Murray had the questions she posed to the NSW Reconstruction Authority and council answered ... Councillors had a confidential meeting on Tuesday, April 8 with the Reconstruction Authority and the responses below are based on the information provided at that meeting.

The oldest man in Australia lives close to Richmond Valley – in Grafton. Ken Weeks has been officially confirmed as the oldest Australian man ever – he is 111 years and 189 days old.

Saskia Jain. There’s something almost magical about pressing your nose against an aeroplane window as your destination comes into view. That moment when the seatbelt sign chimes, and the aircraft begins its graceful descent offers front-row seats to some of Earth’s most spectacular vistas.

On Sunday 30 March, 2025, Pixie Hanson won the 2km Beach Run (U14 Female) at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships on the Gold Coast. Pixie raced some of the best track, cross-country and beach running athletes in the country, and stormed home to a convincing 12 second win.

The winners of Netball Victoria’s 2024 Community Awards were announced last week, celebrating the contributions of individuals, clubs, and associations to the sport across the state ... The prestigious accolade was accepted by NCNA’s 2024 Board of Management President, Kylie Walsh, on behalf of the Board and its members.

ANZAC Day in a small town still feels personal, over a century after the events at Gallipoli. We just need to look around to see how a small community would be impacted by the absence or loss of a large proportion of its men and young people.

In tune with the rest of Australia, Allora citizens gathered on Anzac Day to commemorate the immense service given by our Defence personnel past and present across more than a century. As the Allora service drew to a close a few random rain drops fell like tears.

Sean Cunningham. Although skies threatened rain and the school holidays pulled numbers down, Narrandera's ANZAC spirit was still alive and well at last Friday's commemorations to mark the 110th anniversary of ANZAC Day to honour Australia's fallen. About 140 early risers gathered for the solemn Dawn Service, while 20 made their way to the War Graves for a quiet moment of reflection.

On Anzac Day ceremonies across the region were again well attended as we recognised the service of those brave men and women who served and continue to serve Australia in defence of our freedom, and despite it being a long weekend this year, attendance at local commemorations were as strong as ever.

In regional and rural areas, where mental health issues are higher and professional services are lower, digital-only self-help tools can only go so far. Researchers are recruiting young participants and their parents to test an innovative new program specifically designed for young Australians in rural and regional communities who experience anxiety.

It is 30 years since they last hung in the Upper Murray but now portraits of two brothers have found a new home at the Corryong RSL Hall. William Malcolm Chisholm and Colin John Chisholm both served in WWI and were wounded in action.

Patricia Gill. Community leader Roger Seeney called on attendees at the Anzac ceremony in Denmark last Friday to reflect on the concepts of courage and community. The 2017 Denmark Citizen of the Year and 45-year national service medal recipient was guest speaker at the service.

Inflation ticked higher across the majority of food categories the latest quarterly Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, has shown. On a year-on-year basis, food and beverage inflation rose 3.2 per cent in the March 2025 quarter data...

Ordinary and Extraordinary Meetings of Clarence Valley Council (CVC) could proceed in the future with limited public attendance after CVC Mayor Ray Smith spoke of his plans to contact the Office of Local Government this week ... The decision was made at the conclusion of another 15-minute adjournment while members of the public and Clarence Valley Independent journalist Emma Pritchard were outside the Grafton Council Chambers.

Standing proudly alongside one another, thousands of Clarence Valley residents attended Dawn Services and Commemoration Services across the region on Anzac Day to pay tribute on the 110th anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli in 1915 during WWI while also remembering the countless Australians who served, and sadly lost their lives, in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations through the years.

The Nhill community came together in strong numbers to commemorate ANZAC Day, with around 300 people attending the Dawn Service and approximately 200 at the 11am service. The Dawn Service began with a reflection on the Gallipoli campaign and the spirit of the ANZACs, delivered by Nhill RSL President John Dunbar.

When we vote, we vote for 2 things. 1. Someone to speak for our electorate. (House of Representatives - small green paper) 2. People to speak for NSW. (Senate - the long piece of paper). The person voted in represents our local area in Federal Parliament … the Wilcannia News talked about the PARKES electorate. It’s big. It looks like this….

In what is now custom, the Dawn Service began with the War Memorial highlighted by 21 candles, one for each of the Wilcannia men who died during the World War One ... There were between 50-60 at the morning service, including a larger than normal number of tourists, many commenting that it is the small country towns who seem to put on the most moving and meaningful services and are the most welcoming.

When Savannah and Lane Mohr lived in Darwin they attended ANZAC Day services to represent their schools in Humpty Doo and Darwin. They also attended Adelaide River's dawn service before beginning their education ... This year they did something special ...