Life

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.

Together with family members, hundreds of friends and admirers packed the Donald Anglican Church and surrounds ... for the service celebrating the remarkable life of legendary sports therapist, the late Pat Allen. The service was conducted by the Rev. Judi Bird, who spoke feelingly of the difference made by Pat to the lives of people from near and far.

Birchip is aglow with holiday cheer as the town sparkles under dazzling Christmas lights and festive decorations ... There is another exciting reason to keep it local this festive season, with over $3000 worth of Big Bucks and prizes up for grabs in the annual Birchip Big Bucks Promotion.

Hundreds of thousands of people around Australia followed Farm to Fork with Manu – a digital mini-series campaign by Ingham’s - taking a peek behind the scenes in our country’s poultry farming and processing industry to see how our nation’s top-selling meat-protein, chicken, makes its way from the farm to your fork.

This Christmas, the spotlight is on the 17,390 local businesses across the Toowoomba region, as Groom’s Gifts, spearheaded by Groom MP Garth Hamilton, returns for 2024. Groom’s Gifts supports small businesses and rewards shoppers in the lead-up to Christmas.

Communities from across the Riverina region are being urged to get behind their local volunteer finalists for the 2024 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards to be held in Sydney on Tuesday December 10. They include the Riverina Volunteer Team of the Year the Barellan Working Clydesdales Committee.

Patricia Gill. Shamara de Tissera began to play the harp as a young woman when pregnant with her son and no longer able to do eurythmia ... With her move to Denmark and first performance directing the Hildegard Harp Meditation at the Brave New Works Festival in January, she brought a wave of interest in the instrument.

Honor Auchinleck. Artist Simon White’s mural ‘The Men and their Mounts’ in Corryong tells the story of the bush horses or brumbies and the stockmen who mustered and brought them down from the High Country and the bush-covered hills surrounding the Upper Murray before the First World War. The breeders of the Remounts and Walers often turned the young horses out into the bush to toughen them up and then brought them back in as four-year-olds for sale to buyers for the British Army in India.

Greyhound Australia reveals its top ten locations for travellers in 2024. Brisbane has retained its crown as the most-visited destination in Australia for coach travellers in 2024, highlighting the River City's appeal and popularity among tourists from around the world.

Anne Longworth bowed out as the final president of Bishop’s Lodge Management Committee last Wednesday when the final meeting took place after the last of Hay Shire Council’s Section 355 museum committees was dissolved. This reluctant step was taken at the request of the committee due to the chronic volunteer fatigue experienced in Hay over the last few years.

A West Wimmera Shire Council survey on maternal and child health and support playgroup services has highlighted the overwhelmingly positive experiences from families in the community. The survey, which gathered responses from parents and caregivers from across the shire, showed strong satisfaction with the support and care currently provided.