Life

Sebastian Calderon. A local nursing home recently organised a week of arts, crafts, and creative activities aimed to put smiles on the faces of its residents. The Riverview Lutheran Rest Home in Loxton held a ‘show week’ with residents and visitors enjoying activities organised to boost the mood and happiness of everyone involved.

Hay’s Local Health Advisory Committee (LHAC) hosted a very well attended open day at Hay Multipurpose Service (MPS) ... More than 65 community members and service providers gathered on the lawns for morning tea, before tours of McFarland Wing were given by Acting Facility Manager Melissa O’Brien.

The Nhill Show is on tomorrow ... with action starting at 8:30 am and wrapping up at 9:00 pm with the magnificent fireworks display. From shearing competitions to the animal nursery and home industries, there’s plenty to keep everyone entertained throughout the day.

Angourie local and Australian surfing legend Monty Webber has lived a full and colourful life that he has documented in his Autobiography Is the Moon the Sun? – The Autobiography of a Time Rich Experience Junkie that will be officially launched at Yamba Cinema …

Aimee Pirie, who spent 14 years growing up in Yamba, recently completed the toughest challenge of her life, the Spartathlon in Greece, running the final 85km with a severely sprained ankle due to ‘inflammation from extensor tendinitis’, becoming the youngest Australian woman ever to finish. Described as the world’s most gruelling race, the 246km Spartathlon runs over rough tracks and muddy paths ...

Sarah Herrmann. Wallaroo will soon enter its fifth summer since a cruise ship docked at its jetty. The port town last hosted a cruise ship during the 2019-20 cruise season, not long before the Covid-19 pandemic began ... South Australia will host 119 cruise ship visits during the 2024-25 season, key stakeholders are advocating for the ships to return to the Copper Coast.

I see it every day and think of the woman who loved it. This poor little house is in our main street, it's been for sale for two years ... I see it and think how much the original person must have loved it.

Sarah Herrmann. More than 30 brave souls waded into the cold Wallaroo seawater at 6.45am last week as part of a national tour to raise awareness and money for mental health ... Australia-wide community movement and not-for-profit organisation Cold Nips completed its 71st of 100 sunrise dips at beaches across the country over 100 days.

In a remarkable show of solidarity, neighbourhood houses in the Buloke, Gannawarra, Mildura Rural City and Swan Hill Rural City councils added “Blue Trees” to their towns on World Mental Health Day ... in support of the Blue Tree Project. Incorporating “Blue Trees” into the Mallee landscape was a Mallee Neighbourhood House Network initiative…. to raise awareness and encourage people in the Mallee to have open and honest conversations about mental health.

...camping will be free at all 131 of Parks Victoria’s paid campgrounds from 1 December 2024 until 30 June 2025 – saving families $7.3 million in booking fees ... all campers have free access to every campground across the state – including the popular Tidal River in Wilson’s Promontory, where fees are currently $40.70 a night.

Dr Matt Hill (PhD, Music technology and composition) was a Dunoon identity for many years: a fixture of the Dunoon Football Club as a player and committee member, a member of the Dunoon Primary P&C and a music teacher at his home in James Street. He wrote a song about the Dunoon tornado which ripped through the village in 2007 ... He is a composer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.

The Dunoon Run Club meets for social runs in the village of Dunoon ... Woody has unleashed his writing talent on a "Spotlight on a Runner" series of articles, starting with Bronwen who has been running for the last 4 years. At 61, Bronwen’s running journey has taken her from quiet village streets to the world’s most iconic marathon courses.

There are 119 names engraved on a monument at Mrs Macquarie’s Chair in Sydney to honour the fallen men and women from the state’s volunteer emergency services. One of the new names added is John Holmes who was senior deputy captain of  Mallanganee Brigade. He died at the fire front at Bean Creek in October 2023.

Over the past 20 years, RFDS has operated across more than 300 airstrips throughout Far West and Western NSW. Some of these, such as the service's regular clinic airstrips, are part of routine flights, whilst others are access in emergency situations. With so many airstrips available to the RFDS, it is crucial they maintain up-to-date information for each location.

Central Australian Aboriginal Congress rarely misses an opportunity to preach its alcohol control gospel. This time it’s a lecture for the new NT Government not to wind back supply regulations lest this leads to “a wave of alcohol related domestic violence, assaults, and social disorder”. And as previously, the health NGO’s reasoning is based on selected facts supporting its objectives.

Kareen Anchen. “For me, once a painter, always a painter”. Like many painters, Chris has had to find her own way and has spent a lifetime doing so; we are much richer for her endeavour. Roadside Impressions is an immersive survey exhibition from 2003 – 2015. On exhibition are meditative landscape paintings by Chris Delpratt.

Kerry Cain. The new Indigenous Interpretive garden space, garingilang gatjin wii, at the Central Goldfields Art Gallery in Maryborough, was the setting for an arts and cultural talks afternoon last Sunday. Djaara Elders Aunty Marilyne Nicholls and Uncle Rick Nelson co-shared cultural talks about Country and explained the use of chosen stones, plants and rock wells.

Preventing injuries, accidents, bullying, harassment, and sexual misconduct while at work will be a focus this month - National Safe Work Month ... Although some people have died while working in their own businesses, helping to keep employees safe in the workplace is behind recent reforms to work health and safety laws. SA Industrial Relations Minister Kyam Maher announced the “significant reforms” ...

An award-winning local policeman says the district needs to come together to “break the cycle” of domestic violence that exists in our community. Naracoorte’s Senior Constable, Chris Mailley, who works in supporting domestic and family violence victims, says, “just one incident is too many”.

People love their pets, and although most will agree their furry, feathered or scaled companion is already a blessing in itself, the Donald Anglican church held a blessing of the animals service ... Rev Judi Bird conducted the service, demonstrating the Lord's love for “all creatures great and small” with many beloved little critters in attendance, including budgies, dogs and even a guinea pig.

Ima Volunteer. Donald’s biggest two-day event is here, and these members of the Donald Show committee are at the showgrounds to administer the action-packed program throughout today and tomorrow. At their office close to the junction of Borung Highway and Mill Street, the ladies are happy to deal with all enquiries, and to reward those whose entries in the Show Schedule’s multiple sections have won recognition from the judges.

Kerry Cain. Music plays a vital role in promoting joy and well-being for residents in aged care, and recently, Maldon Hospital welcomed a meaningful gift that will enhance the musical experience for its residents. The family of nursing heroine Ethel Jessie Bowe has donated a beautiful Thalberg piano to the hospital, celebrating the legacy of the remarkable woman for whom Jessie Bowe House is named.