Debt, crime, gallery make heavy lifting for Bill Yan
The debt exceeding $11 billion and growing, costing the taxpayer “a million bucks a day” in interest. The number of people in prison at an all time high. Crime exceeding the courts’ capacity to deal with it … Who would want to be a minister of the current Territory Government?
Major coalition – Urgent mental health help needed in agriculture: NFF
A major coalition has sent a powerful message calling for immediate action to address the mental health crisis in agriculture. More than 30 rural and healthcare organisations have joined forces for the first time to launch a joint statement to address the crisis disproportionally affecting people in agriculture.
Council crews from across the State help with tree clean up
Tweed Shire Council is actively tackling the widespread damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Alfred with vital support from intrastate crews. The storm has caused significant damage, with fallen trees and debris blocking roads, Council land and private properties.
Guerilla piano in Maldon for Castlemaine Fringe
An underground piano movement is putting donated upright pianos in prominent locations around the shire as part of Castlemaine Fringe Festival, which runs from Friday 21 March until Sunday 6 April. One of the pianos will be plonked at Maldon Bakery and available to be played by the public or in pop-up concerts by ‘Pianists at Large’.
Mali Heart Street Art Festival shines again in Cumming Avenue
For the fourth time, the annual Mali Heart Street Art Festival returned to Birchip on Saturday, bringing together locals and visitors alike for a day of shopping, hospitality, and reconnecting with family and friends along the bustling Main Street.
Naracoorte’s Chris Mailley is SA’s Citizen of the Year
Naracoorte's very own community champion Senior Constable Chris Mailley has been honoured as South Australia's 2025 Citizen of the Year. Chris received the honour at the South Australian 2025 Citizen of the Year Awards ceremony held at Government House last week.
Kerang Lunar Festival
It has been nine months in the making and all the hard work put in by the Kerang Progress Association has well and truly paid off as the town’s first Lunar New Year Festival took place on Saturday afternoon at Atkinson Park in Kerang.
Councils vow to fight on
Despite the Victorian Minister for Health, Mary-Anne Thomas, turning a deaf ear to their pleas, regional councils and medical workers will continue their campaign for a greenfield site for a new Albury Wodonga hospital, which would service outlying areas including the Upper Murray.
Robot arrives at Toowoomba Hospital
Darling Downs Health patients requiring joint replacements will benefit from the arrival of the MAKO robot that uses 3D CT-based surgical planning to help orthopaedic surgeons complete joint replacements in a more accurate and precise manner ... "The MAKO robot assists us to accurately perform hip and knee replacements in several ways," Dr Wall said.
Bikers rally for charity
A phenomenal 26th annual Shag Gregory Memorial Poker Run was held on Saturday, attracting a staggering 188 poker hands and well over 200 participants ... The poker run is held every year in memory of local Shag (Edward) Gregory, raising money for Motor Neurone Disease, local charities and school scholarships.
Goroke unseals 25-year time capsule
The Goroke community came together on Sunday at the Goroke Hall to open a 25-year sealed perpetual time capsule, revealing a treasure trove of memories from the past ... The honour of opening the time capsule was given to Goroke's oldest resident, Max Carter, who, at 94, was surprised to witness the moment.
Skiing for a reason through the Riverland
Hugh Schuitemaker. The Riverland again hosted approximately 400 people taking part in a major fundraising relay focused on raising support for mental health. The 2025 Ski For Life travelled through the region last weekend, with participants finishing the 456km relay at the Renmark riverfront on Sunday.
Regions unite to tackle childcare desert
Michelle Daw. Families, employers, and representatives from 23 council areas gathered in Port Broughton last week to launch a project advocating for fairer access to childcare across the vast federal electorate of Grey.
Rabobank support measures for farming clients impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred
Agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank has advised of a range of measures it has in place to support farming clients whose operations are adversely impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Rabobank Group Executive Country Banking Marcel van Doremaele said while the weather event had resulted in severe weather conditions … its full impact on agriculture in the region was yet to be determined.
Merging fashion with caring
Aged care residents in the Northern Rivers are benefiting from an innovative initiative called Our Timeless Threads, which merges fashion with caring. Founded by nurse and fashion designer Maia Willow, this program offers 1950s-inspired shopping experiences within care homes, ensuring that residents can enjoy style and self-expression in a comfortable setting.
Mayor slams coverage of Pine Street squatters
Steve Krieg, From the Mayor's desk. I write this after last issue’s (Nimbin GoodTimes, February 2025) appalling coverage of the illegal squatters in Pine Street Lismore that three years after the worst natural disaster in Australia’s recorded history is diverting attention and resources away from our recovery.
Free flood waste disposal for Lismore residents as recovery begins
“We really dodged a bullet with this one, but there is a lot of damage, including downed trees. Our residents shouldn’t have to bear the cost of this weather event": Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg.
Car-nage on our highways: 263 dead roos in 250 km
Dr Fiona Walsh. Why do we continue to allow and accept the deaths of animals on our roads? ... I’ve recently driven more than 6,000 km in a loop from Mparntwe Alice Springs to the east coast and home again. My first holiday in eight years. I saw animals killed on roads in the NT, SA, Victoria and southern NSW.
Chantelle puts all her eggs in motherhood basket
Paul Mitchell. Chantelle Weckert was born to be a mother—but being single and nearly 40 is an unconventional platform for such a life-changing leap.
Allergy advice for rural Australians
A groundbreaking new platform, believed to be the first of its kind globally, is set to transform the landscape of allergy care for rural and remote Australians. The National Allergy Council, in partnership with the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), has launched allergy assistTM, a free online platform designed to provide timely, specialist advice to General Practitioners (GPs) and Rural Generalists.
Writer of many voices
Author Carmel Bird delighted a packed room of around 30 people on Monday 2 March, in an event hosted by the Maldon Athenaeum Library. She spoke about her writing processes and her inspirations, going back as far as her childhood.
Rideshare gets the nod to operate state-wide
The state government has removed restrictions on metropolitan rideshare and chauffeur drivers, allowing them to operate statewide. Changes were expected to be gazetted last week, with rideshare and chauffeur drivers no longer required to apply for a separate accreditation to operate outside of the metropolitan boundary.
