Life

No more precarious and lengthy travel for residents and travellers on Pooncarie Road ... “Central Darling Shire Council appreciates the funding support from the Australian and NSW governments because the road desperately needed to be sealed for road safety reasons,” said Central Darling Shire General Manager Greg Hill. “Now we can keep the road open during wet conditions, benefiting both residents and tourists.

Jessica Howard’s Bush Wisdom brings together a collection of stories and photos of people from across rural Australia in the places they call home ... It is 240 pages of words and images that are a feast for the eyes as well as for the soul. If you live in rural Australia, so many of the images feel like home, although there is such a variety of locations that there are new landscapes to explore for everyone.

French-born violinist Marie Limondin clearly remembers the day she bought her much-loved violin.   She was 12-years-old and it was already clear to everyone that Marie was not only a passionate player, she was also a very good one.   When the day came to upgrade her child’s violin to an adult-sized instrument Marie, along with her music teacher and parents, headed to Paris’ legendary rue de Rome ...

Robyn Schinckel. Fact: At least twice a day a RFDS crew will land in the Limestone Coast to airlift a patient. Fact: Today, the RFDS deliver more than 380,000 episodes of care across Australia every year - equivalent to assisting someone every two minutes. The Foster Street Garden Party was an absolute triumph – a collective effort that raised $21,830. hese vital funds will help keep the RFDS flying.

Twenty-seven years and 2.2 million boxes later, Sharon Drabsch has called it a day. Shaz, as her colleagues call her, ends her 27-year career as a box maker at the MiniJumbuk in Naracoorte at the end of this month. The 46-year-old with special abilities is not only a box maker but also a beacon of hope to those with special needs in the community.

Locals and visitors made another huge turnout for this year’s Allora Bush Christmas celebration.

What does fifty million dollars’ worth of hope feel like? Just ask Allora’s Benjamin and James Mason who, along with parents, Hayley and Mark, recently joined a national delegate of one hundred brave Type 1 Diabetes advocates as part of JDRF’s "Kids in the House – KITH" program, to address members of parliament in Canberra.

Aussies still love their local libraries, with recent data from the Australian Public Libraries Statistical Report 2022-2023 showing a rise in borrowing and in-person library visits ... Recently, Fulton Trotter Architects developed a self-serve library kiosk in a residential suburb development in Port Macquarie to cater for community reading, nestled close to the community’s playground.

A new venture, Oxitec Australia, is taking on two of the deadliest virus-carrying mosquitos in the Pacific region – Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus – to fight the spread of diseases like dengue, Zika, and yellow fever, which claims hundreds of thousands of lives globally each year.  Launched today, Oxitec Australia is a collaboration between CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, and UK-based Oxitec Ltd, the leading developer of biological solutions to control pests.    

Jenny Pollard. The spirit of Christmas glowed bright at a packed Rex Theatre last Sunday night, as the annual “Carols” brought families and the community together for the widely loved end-of-year celebration. Embracing both the traditional and contemporary, the message of unity rang out loud and clear as music and song brought the Christmas message of hope alive through the school presentations, the singing of favourite carols and the upbeat address by Pastor Tom Ayars, from Connect Church.

In weather that could only be described as tropical, around 30 people attended a very hot and humid Murray Plains Meat Co-Operative open day on Friday December 6. After nine years of advocacy planning and cooperation with Murray River Council the micro abattoir has come to life.

Tracey Deehan and David Greenhill at the Corryong Post Office are getting into the festive spirit as part of the Towong Council’s ‘December on Hanson’ promotion which features cutouts out of local identities in the main street.

A partnership arrangement between two Maude Road businesses, Fellows’ grain storage facility and Nutrien Ag Solutions has realised $612 for Can Assist Hay. The money was raised through weighbridge operations at the Fellows yard, and are carried out by Sophie Stephens and Riley Jackson (pictured) of Nutrien Ag Solutions when the weighbridge is unattended.

Ben Kempster & Kristy Horne. This Christmas, the Two Cousins One Chat podcast is serving up something truly special—a festive episode featuring local culinary star Tim Bone! Tim, who grew up in Nhill and Adelaide and now calls Ballarat home, rose to fame on MasterChef Australia with his bold flavours and love for hearty cooking.

The Nhill Lake and surrounding recreational area has and still continues to attract many users. The ongoing maintenance under the guidance of Dale Stanford and a small group of volunteers is very much appreciated and valued.

Kaniva’s Community Hub came alive for the annual Christmas Carols last Friday, welcoming young families and people of all ages. Despite the inclement weather, the event saw a full house, preceded by Santa photos, face painting and a meet and greet with Santa on the oval.

It isn’t just the trees, blossoming shrubs, and well tendered to veggie patches which are growing in the Yamba Community Garden. After applying for and subsequently receiving a grant of close to $14000 through the Northern Rivers Community Foundation (NRCF) last month, the popular recreational area in Wattle Park is set to expand by 200m2, creating additional space for more Clarence Valley residents to enjoy outdoor activities while fostering an inclusive environment and promoting sustainability within the Lower Clarence.

At Mickleham you were one of my first Favourite roses, tough, free flowering, not much scent but so worthwhile, with your fabulous colours. You flowered constantly for more than 20 years, with not much attention and even managed to survive the bushfire not eight foot from you ...

Wilson McShane. If Minlaton’s Ivan McMahon is asked to pin down exactly what he does in his spare time, he might have a hard job answering. Ranging from being a school bus driver, former shoe shop owner (70 years), husband to Carlene and proud dad of three — Travis (Polocrosse Association of SA secretary), Scott (former North Melbourne footballer) and Layton — McMahon is a jack of all trades.

Bovaer is getting a lot of attention – and not the good kind. Bovaer is a feed additive for cattle – including some used to supply milk and beef sold at Coles supermarkets. Why? Because Bovaer reduces cattle methane emissions (in burps) significantly. Bovaer is made using silicon dioxide, propylene glycol and the organic compound 3-nitroxypropanol (known as 3-NOP).

Keith Castle, now aged 93, was one of the most influential figures in The Centre’s budding tourism industry. Editor Erwin Chlanda picked some gems from his 164 page memoir about the people who devoted their lives to developing the region’s visitor industry. They are only a handful of men and women but they all had skin in the game ... Governments barely get a mention.