Life

A worker inside Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) has responded to Member for Murray Helen Dalton’s calls to split the district in two. Ms Dalton raised the issue in NSW parliament recently, proposing a new Western health district for the townships of Deniliquin, Jerilderie, Berrigan, Finley, Leeton, Griffith, Hay, Hillston, Lake Cargelligo, Balranald, Barham, Moulamein and Tocumwal.

There are times when paramedics from Yamba Ambulance Station are called away from the Lower Clarence, that they are told they are the only ambulance available between Ballina and Coffs Harbour.

Christine Webster. The Australia-wide problem of being unable to attract enough doctors to rural areas is impacting heavily on the Waikerie Medical Centre and local community ... Dr Wanguhu said young doctors often preferred to take up posts at medical centres in Barmera, Berri and Renmark where they were not required to work in an emergency hospital.

Sarah Herrmann. Community consultation is now open on the draft Yorke Peninsula Coastal Access Strategy 2025-2035, with members of the public invited to share their feedback via a survey ... Consultation sessions have already been held with local landholders and progress associations, 4WD representatives and the tourism sector.

The Labor Government’s Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy will increase the financial strain on ratepayers during a cost-of-living crisis, particularly in rural and regional communities. The new tax is set to be collected by local councils on 1 July 2025.

As mentioned on page one, Leroy Johnson and the Waterbag band played the Culture on Country Survival Day concert last January. The original plan had Leroy and band opening the stage for Uncle Vic Simms. Uncle Vic wasn’t feeling so good so he swapped the playing order.

Community might know that local man, Kyle Whyman is the bass player for The Black Shadows, but did you know he is also the bass player for Leroy Johnson and Waterbag band.

AFL legend Robert ‘Dipper’ DiPierdomenico is among those encouraging Australians aged 50 years and over to be aware of their risk of the disease during shingles awareness week, which runs from February 24 to March 2. Mr DiPierdomenico and fellow shingles awareness week ambassadors journalist Shelly Horton and news presenter Deborah Knight have all experienced first-hand the pain and impact of shingles.

The final art installations for the Men’s Sheds Biodiversity Trail have now been installed in Nandaly, Watchem, and Nullawil, completing this unique community-led project in ten towns across Buloke Shire. Featuring handcrafted avian and insect homes, the trail has been a collaborative effort between the Men’s Sheds in Birchip, Charlton, Donald, Wycheproof and Sea Lake, local artists and community members, Landcare and Buloke Shire Council.

People caught abusing, neglecting or mistreating animals will face tough new penalties after new animal welfare laws were passed in State Parliament this week. Those found guilty of animal cruelty now face maximum fines of up to $250,000, and/or 10 years jail, for the aggravated ill-treatment of an animal, up from $50,000 and/or four years in jail.

From blank canvas in unforgiving dirt to a garden haven for all the family. A blank canvas for your new garden, boasting two lone mature trees (a Cedar in the vegetable garden and further away, a Peppercorn) and a few gums along the perimeter, red soil and the prospect of less than 300mm rainfall for the whole year.

For 18 months the kiosk at Casino Memorial Hospital was closed ... Now Kellie and Geoffrey Clarke from Evans Head have taken over the kiosk.

Exorbitant prices for groceries in outback stores are often the subject of outrage but are rarely dealt with a great deal of logic ... Why should the public purse kick in $50m over four years from 2025-26 to provide remote stores with low-cost access to about 30 food products?

For many years, the family has had three categories of dogs: outside dogs, usually working dogs; inside dogs, dogs which live inside and out but not in the final category; known as bed dogs.

Lynda Achren. Behind closed doors on Monday mornings, a team of Athenaeum Library volunteers is busy archiving our historic documents. For the past six months, with input from an experienced archivist, we’ve been meeting to sort, organise and catalogue such things as ...

The phrase ‘learning curve’ suggests a gentle incline, but when Jan Elliott and Lee Mead talk about their journey to becoming Postmistresses, they describe a very steep slope indeed. They have recently been reflecting upon their six years running Maldon Post Office, between 2006 and 2012, in light of the repaint of the Main Street pillar box.

Beulah’s “Wide Open Spaces” Music and Family Festival is coming on March, 8 and 9, 2025. Held on the green grass, under shady trees beside the Yarriambiack Creek, there is plenty of space to relax, dance, and enjoy the music, food and refreshments with friends and family.

The safety of people, pets and livestock are key concerns of farmers affected by the State Government’s authorised ground shooting program. Reluctant to speak publicly, farmers have told The [Naracoorte] News the operation takes place at night, and it is far too close to homes, pets, sheds, yards and livestock.

Rural, regional and remote Australians are dying at higher rates than their urban counterparts, with avoidable deaths in the regions nearly four times higher, according to new data released today by the National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA).

Sean Cunningham. Anyone want a five-metre lizard (Eastern Bearded Dragon) sculpture in town and a new entrance sign which could cost $300,000? This was the hot topic of conversation during Narrandera Shire Council’s meeting on Tuesday.

It’s never too early for a little romance and so it proved as the Westbrook Hall committee held its Valentine’s Day Dance on Saturday the 8th with a very well attended event of Old Time and New Vogue Dances with music by Lyn and Ian.