Gold in the time trial for Searle
Kendall Jennings. Growing up 10 km from Barham, Daniel Searle's life changed at 16 years of age when he suffered rapid vision loss. However, this did not slow the local lad down. He completed Year 12, studied at university and is now a physiotherapist in Albury. Searle competed in the National Road Cycling Championships held in Ballarat from January 12 to 16.
Courageous teen dreams of seeing the world
Emma Pritchard. Cohen Daly has a dream. It’s a dream which he is determined to see come true. And nothing, not even a battle against aggressive bone cancer, will prevent the strong-willed teenager with the beautiful smile from fulfilling his ambition.
Why this Cape York coffee queen can’t wait to be an Aussie citizen
She might not sound like it with her prominent London accent, but Abbey Martin is a fair dinkum, true blue, dinki-di Australian. The only thing she’s missing is the piece of paper to prove it. Tomorrow, on Australia Day, Abbey will take the pledge and become a bona fide Aussie.
Book – A Voice in the Night
When it came time to finally throw away her corporate wardrobe and city lifestyle in favour of pursuing her long-held dream of becoming a full time novelist, Sarah Hawthorn relocated to the sleepy village of Bundanoon in NSW’s Southern Highlands. Sarah's debut novel, A Voice in the Night, is a psychological thriller about a woman seeking answers after her lover who died 20 yeas earlier in the 9/11 attacks suddenly contacts her.
Barkly an inspiration for up and coming Territory songstress
Alice Springs born Sally Balfour is well known around the Tennant Creek music circuit, playing at local venues and working with schools, just finishing an artist in residence with Tennant Creek Primary School ... Her debut album will be recorded in April with Dave Crowe from Sing Hum Studio and will feature a variety of songs.
Efsta’s photography takes the Barkly by storm
Born and bred local Efsta Konidaris’ newest hobby has been taking the Barkly by storm! The keen mountain biking local is well known for her businesses Tennant Creek Emporium and Total Sports, and it was by chance on a ride she took a photo with her phone and the social media reception went viral.
Know your local – Brendan McKnight
Brendan grew up at Trevenson Park horse stud in Baringhup, working with his dad ... Brendan has been a member of the CFA since he was 16-years-old and has been the Captain of the Baringhup CFA for the past 23 years, making Brendan the longest serving Baringhup Captain.
Osmond nearing 500 winners
Scott Osmond has driven 499 winners during his 27-year career in the gig, and he hopes to bring up his 500th winner in the coming weeks. “It would be nice to bring it up,” Osmond said.
Cow of the Year accolade for Jessica
Kirstin Nicholson. “She’s not a lollipop cow, she mixes it with the others, but then she likes to get dressed up and get fancy and do well for us": Steven Hore, Elmar Holsteins.
Stacking in the Park
Kendall Jennings. On a hot summer day at Barham’s Riverside Park, locals were treated to a world-class experience when former world and current Australian champion Jaydyn Coggins held a sport stacking demonstration and coaching session on Wednesday, January 5.
Happy animals, tasty organic meat and each other – in a nutshell
Sharon and Graham Collins live on an organic farm in the curve of the hills at Peacock Creek. Englishman Graham calls himself an accidental farmer, he’d never planned a life on the land. His wife Sharon grew up on a dairy farm in Cornwall in England and she described herself as a ‘”compassionate farmer”. They raise and sell English black pigs, have cattle, sell duck and chicken eggs and recently got some goats.
Know your local – Darcy Vaughan
“One of the first things I did when I moved here was a funeral in Rheola. I was doing the committal at the cemetery, ‘ashes to ashes’ when a massive flock of sheep moved next to us. I thought I’m not in Glebe anymore!” Darcy, born and raised in Sydney, moved to Maldon early last year to become the Minister of the Anglican Church, which includes Ministering in Newstead and Inglewood.
Veteran GP to keep ‘making a difference’
Serena Kirby. Denmark's Dr Virginia Longley has served 50 years as a general practitioner and has seen radical changes in medicine and patient care ... “Being able to look after my own patients and basically care for them from birth to death is a privilege. It’s of great beneï¬t to the patients too as they can see their ‘own’ doctor."
Indispensable workmates
“I just do it to pay the dogs back for what they have given me in a lifetime,” said Ian O’Connell, legendary dog trainer as he sat atop the sheep yard fence at John Lolicato’s Tullakool property Whymoul ... this seven State Championships trialling champion and judge, farmer and former shearer demonstrates how to work with his four-legged companions with nothing but love and admiration.
Straight talk from your new mayor
Kylie Thomas said it would take time for the Kyogle community to get used to having a new mayor. “I want people to know that I’ve been here a long time. I’m known in this community. I’m a team player and I have no outside agenda,” Kylie said.
The end of an era: Weipa fishing icon leaves a long-lasting legacy
A giant of the Cape York fishing industry has pulled anchor on his long-standing career. Alan “Fish” Philliskirk was a pioneer of the fishing guide business in Cape York – along with a couple of others – and is one of the reasons why Weipa is now one of the most desirable fishing destinations in Australia, if not the world.
SCU Community Impact Award
When Hank and Sue Bower first arrived on Lord Howe Island 14 years ago, the island was overgrown with weeds and feral animals were threatening the survival of some of the island’s unique endemic species.
Whiporie General Store reopens with new owners
The Whiporie shop closed three months ago and left the community having to travel to Casino or Grafton for supplies. On Monday it reopens with new owners. Dianne and her husband Shaun Ashen live in West Bungawalbin. They lost their home in the 2019 bushfires and have since rebuilt. They were looking for an investment property when they saw the shop at Whiporie.
Bright space for time out
Ali Bohn. “I wanted to make the bathrooms a nice, bright space to go when you’re feeling flat and I thought a nice mural of flowers would look really good": Barham Public School Captain, Shaylah Carter.
One of the town’s oldest pubs is sold to a local
With her brother John Bligh and Allan Michael, nine years ago Mary Bligh had her sights set on turning the Commercial into a true local pub with no pokies, “bloody good food” and live music featuring local talent. And she did.
Lieutenant a role model for his Cape community
Lieutenant Sebastian Jingle has become the first known Indigenous Australian from the western Cape to commission as an officer in the Australian Army Reserve. The proud Traditional Owner from the Yupangathi and Teppethiggi lands graduated in November through the Army Part-Time Officer Commissioning Program.
Blooming: A new life on the flower farm
A flower farm by the Richmond River sounds ideal. Planting and picking daisies, gladioli and sunflowers on a sunny day as the goats and Belted Galloway cows munch grass and a chatty duck wanders the 30 garden beds. It sounds idealistic but it’s a lot of hard work. Suellen Thompson and Gray Pritchett moved from Brisbane in March to the 70ha old dairy farm on the Coraki Woodburn Rd and set up Field and Flower.

