Days for Girls, empowering others
These wonderful ladies are busy making hygiene kits to send overseas to those who are less fortunate. Members of Allora’s Days for Girls meet on a monthly basis to create essential reusable items for girls and women who don’t have access to feminine hygiene products.
Just walkin’ the dog
Maldon Golf Club wants the dog-owners of Maldon to know that they can enjoy the lush grassy golf course with their furry friend if they take out a ‘recreational membership.’ The scheme has been in place for about five years after the club realised that many options for off-leash pooch play were being removed in the region.
A generational journey through farm utes
Every generation has its automotive obsession, and for farmers, it often revolves around a ute. Farmers can almost be defined by the aspirational utes they dreamed about owning in high school—often working long hours to pay for their first one, then adding custom touches to make it their pride and joy.
Get ready, basketball stars, young and old!
Australian basketball legend Aaron Bruce has relocated to Birchip to manage his Uncle Des Ryan’s Hotel, and he is eager to share his skills, knowledge, and passion for the game with people of all ages. Aaron, who starred in college basketball at Baylor University before making his mark in the National Basketball League (NBL) with the Adelaide 36ers and the Sydney Kings…
New home for historic trains
The Victorian Goldfields Railway (VGR) has welcomed a new depot in Castlemaine for the historic trains that run between Castlemaine and Maldon … The many benefits of the new depot buildings include greater space and more comfortable indoor environs for VGR volunteer workers to maintain locomotives and prepare them for service.
Police launch new community safety initiative
The Queensland Police Service (QPS) launched a new proactive initiative in Toowoomba ... aiming to reduce crime and fear of crime across the region. Safer Together Toowoomba, which runs for the next few months until January 2025, aims to enhance community safety through targeted crime prevention and engagement activities.
St Leonard’s 125 years of service
Denmark's Anglican Church celebrated the 125th anniversary of the consecration of St Leonard’s on October 20 ... The name St Leonard’s was chosen in 1914 because the French saint (d. 599) established a community for released prisoners in a forest ... Denmark historian Bev McGuinness spoke at the morning service and described how Norwegian carpenters had built the church.
Spooktacularly successful
Between Halloween events held at Wyreema the weekend before last and at Westbrook on Halloween night, well over a thousand local children participated in community events ... 1,400 kids were counted at one house, including likely a few repeat customers, and overall over 1,000 kids plus parents, meaning upwards of 2,000 people taking part in the festivities.
Childcare centre operational by 2027
It is the news we have all been waiting for – that next step in the process that cements that Cohuna really is getting a childcare centre – an expected opening date … the State Government announced Cohuna’s childcare centre would be operational for the start of the 2027 school year. The news brought smiles to parents, employers and even people who don’t have children yet who can take comfort that they can continue to work when they do start their family.
Local winners
Barham High School and Tulla Natives are two of 17 winners in the 2024 Campaspe Murray Business Awards ... Owners of Tulla Natives, Marc and Stacey Brooke were awarded the Best Agri Business sponsored by Greenham ... diversified their traditional farming pursuits ...
Unleashing the potential of the rural and remote health workforce: NRHA
The long-awaited final report Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce: Scope of Practice Review was released today following over a year long process ... “The National Rural Health Alliance congratulates the team led by Professor Mark Cormack for this important review which will provide the direction for health policy for many years to come. We are particularly pleased to see the focus on rural and remote barriers highlighted and solutions”: Susi Tegen, CEO NRHA.
Landmark report on how to unleash the potential of our health professions: Butler
A landmark independent review commissioned by the Albanese Government has found that virtually all the nation’s health professions face restrictions and barriers in working to their fullest – restrictions that are unrelated to their skills, training and experience. The review found that inconsistencies across states and territories make it harder for patients to get the care they need…
Successful exhibition for Windmill Stitchers
...Windmill Stitchers of Kaniva held their 11th Biennial Exhibition in the Kaniva Shire Hall ... The Stitchers first held an exhibition 20 years ago in 2004. Over the two days of the exhibition, people came from all over the district, surrounding towns and further afield, along with several travellers, to admire the beautiful quilts on display...
Snake season – anti venom treatment for local pets doubles
As the weather warms up the incidents of snake sightings being shared has increased. Hay Veterinary Clinic’s Wayne Gardam says snake "season" is shaping up to be a particularly bad one for domestic pets, with about twice as many patients as usual being presented to the Hay Veterinary Clinic for treatment for snake bite since September.
New Griffith Hospital to open early 2025, offering expanded healthcare facilities
Hay and other western Riverina communities will soon benefit from new and expanded healthcare facilities with the new Clinical Services Building, a key component of the $250 million Griffith Base Hospital Redevelopment, nearing completion ... The new hospital will include an expanded Emergency Department, two operating theatres, and an additional procedure room in the perioperative suite, new and expanded ICU...
Everything works better once it has been unplugged
You need to unplug your laptop, Wi-Fi, and phone every so often, to let it reset, recharge and reboot itself to ensure it performs at maximum efficiency. Everything improves once it has been unplugged. This also applies to humans. No one can work 100 per cent effectively 100 per cent of the time. It is not possible. Being available and accessible 24/7 is a learnt behaviour that has evolved with technology.
‘Country kids can do anything’ says Sara
Sarah Herrmann. Two former Port Broughton residents are set to host a prestigious national radio show. The first is award-winning journalist Sally Sara, who will replace Patricia Karvelas as the host of ABC’s Radio National Breakfast next year. She will be joined by producer Joe Sullivan, also formerly of Port Broughton ...
Dialysis in Donald
It is not widely known that life-saving treatment is offered three days per week on Donald’s doorstep, but East Wimmera Health Service’s Dialysis unit has been in operation at the Donald campus since 2006 … One such “survivor” is Wycheproof’s Paul Groves, who not only had to go through chemotherapy treatment for leukemia in 2019, he was also born with reflux nephropathy…
Letters from Home: Thoughts of an Avant Gardener
I have come to the decision I am not perhaps avant garde. Looking up Webster, it says: "adjective - favouring or introducing new and experimental ideas and methods ... But I AM an Avant Gardener.
Care-bears and creativity show mercy to young traveller: CELC
Catholic Early Learning and Care (CELC) Director Alison Forster commended the children at St Joseph's Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) for their compassion and thoughtfulness in sending homemade gifts and heartfelt messages to support a young international visitor injured in a rock-throwing incident while riding the Kuranda Scenic Rail in Cairns.
Qantas Media Release – Lord Howe Island flights
Qantas customers will continue to be able to fly between Sydney and Lord Howe Island for years to come as part of an agreement with regional airline Skytrans. With the national carrier retiring the Q200 aircraft it currently operates on the route, Skytrans has been awarded the licence to fly to the island by the New South Wales Government exclusively from 26 February 2026.
NSW Government Media Release – Lord Howe Island Air Service
The NSW Government has announced that licences have been issued to airline operators to provide flights from Sydney to Lord Howe Island and Sydney to Moree. These two routes are the only regulated routes in NSW that require licences under the Air Transport Act (NSW) 1964.
