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When Alexa Leary, who grew up in Yamba, was fighting for life in intensive care after an extremely serious 2021 cycling crash that almost claimed her life, her parents engaged a fortune teller who predicted she would survive and compete at the Paralympics. But the fortune teller didn't predict Alexa would become the golden girl of the 2024 Paris Paralympics by breaking the world record and taking home two gold medals...

Bree Wakefield was on the panel of speakers who appeared at the recent event, Hatfield Happenings. Her story is one of varied hardships, and the beauty of overcoming these hardships and elevating yourself.

Chris Oldfield and Nasik Swami. Naracoorte Lucindale Council CEO Trevor Smart has resigned after six years in the top job and is looking forward to spending more time with his family. Mr Smart has spent 41 years in local government and six years with Naracoorte Lucindale Council.

Angela Hart from Nobby has been named as one of fifty finalists in The Australian Artists Awards for Emerging Artists ... Angela has been an artist for many years and as part of the local Back Road Artists group has contributed to exhibitions in local galleries and art spaces.

After more than 50 years performing and releasing 22 hit albums that have sold more than 2.6 million copies, Australian music royalty, Marcia Hines is bringing her renowned stage presence to Grafton’s Saraton Theatre on her ‘Still Shining’ concert tour. Last week, Marcia spoke to the CV Independent about her upcoming performance in Grafton and her life in music.

It’s been a tough ride, but Naracoorte’s Racheal Kraemer is not giving up. The 29-year-old has made it to the prestigious Racing SA Apprentice Academy, a journey filled with optimism, love, and passion to do something in life.

Wayne Hawthorne. This was the life story conveyed to Naracoorte Men’s Probus Club by Ben Hood, now a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC). Ben is Naracoorte born and bred and now a Mount Gambier resident. His office as MLC is in Adelaide, but he is a regular visitor to regions and invites feedback. Ben outlined his farm upbringing, career background and where he is heading.

We all cheered as the Australian men’s pursuit team cycled to a gold medal at the Paris Olympics ... What many of us didn’t realise is that the team is coached by Tim Decker, brother and brother-in-law to Donald’s Carolyn and Charles Wheeler.

Sculptor/artist Josie Dillon Lowerson is a former local who grew up on the farm at Narraport and attended school in both Wycheproof and Birchip. She is currently preparing a major exhibition of her artworks which have been transported 3,000 km from her studio on the Atherton Tablelands in far north Queensland, to Fortyfivedownstairs Gallery in Flinders Lane, Melbourne.

This week, we share the story of Cohuna Vietnam Veteran, Bob Maud ... as Corporal in 30 Terminal Squadron (nicknamed Termites), Royal Australian Engineers, he began a 12-month posting at Middle Head in Sydney ... “You’ve got to be trained like a stevedore,” he said, saying you had to know how to stack, pack and use things, especially munitions ...

Wilson McShane. Corey Taylor, a young surfer from Marion Bay, is facing the unique challenge of balancing his ambitions with the isolation of his hometown on the Yorke Peninsula. At just 19, Taylor is striving to become South Australia’s sole professional surfer on the World Surf League Championship Tour, but the geographical and financial obstacles are significant.

Tributes for iconic local Elliot McAdam AM have flowed in across social media following his death on Monday ... Born in his namesake town of Elliott, Mr McAdam spent many years of his early life in Adelaide before returning to the Barkly in the 90s to take on the role as General Manager of Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation.

On the other side of the world to all the action in France, Mount Rascal 17-year-old Lien Dekeyser has won a gold medal in Malaysia as part of the Australian Under 19 Women’s underwater hockey team. Lien, a year 12 student at Toowoomba Anglican School, plays for the Toowoomba Redclaws Underwater Hockey Club.

Following their August meeting, where memories of previous Olympic Games were shared, Donald Combined Probus Club members welcomed retired local builder, Murray Broughton as their guest speaker. Murray spoke on the changes to the local building industry as he has seen it, over the last 58 years, since becoming an apprentice to J.L. and M. A. Howley, after completing year 10, at the age of 15.

Joanna Tucker. Wallaroo artist Debbie Seater is branching out into horror movies. The reigning Kernewek Lowender Art Prize winner has supplied works for a new film by director Simon Tait, which is being produced in Adelaide and is slated for international release.

Ben Hawke. The great Tomo peacefully weighed anchor from Mosman Bay for the final time early yesterday afternoon surrounded by his family at home. Born in Katowice Poland, he lived a grand life, sailed many miles, had many great adventures and brought inspiration and a positive light to all that graced his path.

Kimberly Grabham. The 27-year-old man found dead in dense bushland near the river at Uardry, Mihai-Robert Salajanu, has been on the mind of many in the district of late.  In our little outback bubble, misadventure and catastrophe pierce the surface of our consciousness for a short time, but are quickly forgotten. When taking a dive into the person Mihai was ...  He was a keen writer ...

The Shark Bay World Heritage Site and the lagoons of Venice might seem like they are worlds apart, but Italian-Australian artist, Sabrina Dowling Giudici endeavours to show what unites these two unique regions in her latest glass-art collection SALTWATERS, which she is presenting at the prestigious The Venice Glass Week ... Glassmakers from all over the world will exhibit in the lagoon city...

Cairns-born and raised opera singer Cassandra Wright will return home from Europe next month to perform with acclaimed concert pianist Harry Rylance in a one-night-only recital at  St. Monica’s Cathedral ... Night Songs, An Evening of Song and Opera  will be an absolute treat, featuring the accomplished international pairing showcasing pieces from their debut album,  In the Twilight.