Life

This week, we shine a spotlight on Lorraine Gibson Napaljari, who has chosen to assist others in unconventional yet deeply impactful ways. Lorraine, a Stolen Generation member, made a life-altering decision four years ago ... the pursuit closest to her heart is supporting Elders in navigating the challenges of daily life.

The recent frosty mornings in our area might inspire us to cosy up inside by a fire or with a loved one, but university studies have found that Australians have colder houses than people in similar climates around the world. Experts from RMIT commented last week about the phenomenon in which Australians have lower standards for warmth in their homes, leading to health risks.

The local pub at Greenmount, which sports the unusual name Get Chopped, threw its hat into the ring to help raise funds for the Toowoomba Hospice during this year’s Hang Ya Boss Out To Dry event. Publican Brendon Quirey volunteered to be hoisted skywards and became part of a highly successful event for 2024.

Bev McGuinness. Three centenaries were celebrated this month marking Denmark’s Group Settlements, a scheme established to bring English families to WA to farm. Apart from opening up land to agriculture, Group Settlements aimed to increase the population.

Serena Kirby. Statistics reveal that one-in six people over 65 will experience elder abuse and it’s more prevalent in remote areas and country towns ... Christine said elder abuse was not just physical violence or sexual abuse but included coercive control, psychological abuse, neglect, financial abuse and socially isolating someone.

Narrandera's Rockin’ on East Festival has unfortunately been discontinued following the sudden disbandment of its organising committee. The festival has been attracting visitors from far and wide to Narrandera during the October long weekend since its inception a little over nine years ago ... Ultimately, it was decided that the festival could not proceed.

Last Sunday at the Horsham Sunnyside Bowling Club the Horsham Sports and Community Club distributed funds to the successful sporting clubs and community organizations from their annual sponsorship program .This year there were 85 clubs and organizations from around the Wimmera area to share in the funds distribution of $135,000.00 and that included eight local Nhill and Kaniva district clubs and/or committees.

Almost $15 million will be allocated towards the $263.8 million Grafton Base Hospital (GBH) redevelopment over the next 12 months after NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey handed down the NSW State Budget for 2024-25 last week. Member for Clarence Richie Williamson said the Budget papers "lock in the redevelopment with $14.7 million in the coming financial year, and $222.2 million over the next four years."

Hugh Schuitemaker. Progressing the quality of medical care in the Riverland has been a career-long goal for a local doctor who is set to retire. Renmark-based GP David Rosenthal will today retire after 50 years of practising medicine in the community.

Western Australia's first non-stop seasonal service between Singapore and Broome launched today, marking the first international route to fly directly into regional WA since the State's borders reopened ... Jetstar Asia's seasonal service will bring almost 6,500 inbound seats to Broome in its first year and reduce travel time between the two destinations by over five hours.

Michelle Daw. The worst of winter ills is yet to come, along with further pain in our hospitals as staff struggle to cope. That’s the warning from groups representing doctors and nurses, as the Code Yellow crisis in public hospitals drags on.

Jenny Pollard. Team and individual members of the Red Cross Buloke Emergency Services Team were recognised with exemplary awards at the May 28, presentations held at Government House in Melbourne ... As the recipients of the Distinguished Team Award, the citation listed the extensive outreach which this small, but determined group has imparted over the years.

Following a spike in drug-related crime, local police are cracking down on drugs in the Buloke region, targeting suppliers and traffickers in particular, in an effort to reduce the negative impact drugs make on the wider community. Charlton’s Senior Constable Will Ringin relocated to the area around a year ago ... brings with him a fighting passion as well as particular skills and experience to deliver results in a rural setting.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli’s call to the Queensland Government for a lifeline following Bonza Airline’s closure has been met with a positive step forward ... The Fund will support direct Jetstar flights from Sunshine Coast Airport to Auckland all year round, starting in December.

The piano is often considered the ‘King of Instruments’ as no other instrument covers all 88 notes of the frequency range and its number of available octaves is unparalleled.   Its versatility of sound is also beyond compare as it can create sounds as soft as a whisper or as loud and rumbling as a thunderstorm. When pianist and composer Adam Cook sits down to play this most revered of instruments something quite magical happens.

So many people love their garden. Whether it’s just a small plot on an inner-city porch or a sprawling acre or more in a country town, we spend hours, planning planting feeding and trimming and the nicest compliment we can get is to have someone see our creation and exclaim how lovely it looks. The thing is, once the garden is created, it is necessary to keep it in order. Plants are wilful.

Affected CFA Brigades have united in a call for industrial action to achieve demands with respect to the future of their role as firefighters, in view of the Victorian State Government proposed reckless renewables expansion. We consider untenable the risks to lives and property, and irreparable damage imposed by proposed installations of High Voltage Transmission Lines and Renewable Energy Infrastructure.

I hear a train a coming, its rolling round the bend” sang the late great Johnny Cash, and might have been a song that came to mind as the Vinelander rolled into Donald on Friday, June 6, on its way to Mildura as part of the Slow Rail Journey put together by 707 operations based out of the Newport Rail yards in Hobsons’ Bay.

The Naracoorte District Men’s Shed is a vital part of the community, offering men a supportive and productive space. That’s the word from member of the Legislative Council and Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional South Australia, Ben Hood, who visited the members as part of Men’s Health Week last week.

East Greenmount Pilates instructor, Karen Bischof has displayed the benefits of pilates exercise with two wins in the gruelling Gold Coast Spartan competition in the Super and Sprint obstacle races. Spartan obstacle races are a test of endurance and strength fitness with the Super event incorporating 25 obstacles in a 10km run while the Sprint race is over 6.5 km with 20 obstacles.

Narrandera High School Year 12 student, Tahlia Gilbert, has been named Riverina Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander VET Student of the Year for 2024. She now moves on to the state finals. Tahlia is in her final year of her school-based traineeship - Certificate III Human Services with Murrumbidgee Local Health District working at the Narrandera Hospital.

Gemma Purcell. When your father is a physicist it’s hard to avoid experiments and well known Narrandera artist, performer, musician, teacher and conductor Lizzie Walsh happily confesses to being an experiment. "Dad wanted a classical musician in the family, so when my parents were expecting me, he was forever steering Mum’s belly toward the Mozart or Beethoven on the record player. I think it worked!"