Volunteering

Congratulations to Mike Berry who was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Australia Day Honour List. His medal was awarded for his 40 years of service to the Dunoon community. This honour is well deserved.

More than a quarter of a century's worth of volunteer work to restore the timber trestle bridges on the old Cudgewa-Wodonga railway line was gone in a flash when the Walwa-Mt Lawson bushfire laid waste to the structures last month. A strong wind change pushed the out-of-control bushfire towards the bridges near Shelley, Koetong and the Tallangatta Valley on January 8th and within 24 hours, 15 of the 16 bridges had been destroyed.

"I have never experienced fire behaviour like it on the ground," Jarrod said, and the weight of those decades of experience makes the statement hit harder. "The first day we experienced temperatures of about 62 degrees on the top of the hill, 108 kilometre an hour winds."

Madison Eastmond. Numerous new volunteer faces are needed at tonight's Riverland Rose and Garden Festival emergency meeting, in order to save the event from complete collapse. While the Riverland Rose and Garden Festival has been cancelled for 2026, organisers are encouraging locals to attend an emergency meeting ... "The facts still remain, if we don't get more members on the committee, particularly someone stepping into the role of chair, we won't be able to go ahead," former festival chair Michelle Dominic said.

Founder of Summer Spirit, Summer Adams, was named Highly Commended in the Young Citizen of the Year category for her remarkable commitment to wildlife conservation, community service and youth empowerment ... Scarlett Cheetham was nominated for Young Citizen of the Year, in recognition of her longstanding commitment to kindness, volunteering, and environmental and marine conservation initiatives.

Allan Japp's story is one of extraordinary dedication, quiet leadership and lifelong service to the people of Hay. For nearly 70 years, Allan has been a cornerstone of our town through his work in pharmacy, emergency services, sport and a wide range of community organisations.

The Victorian Farmers Federation has slammed the State Government's continued underfunding of the Country Fire Authority, with today's release of the CFA's 2024-25 Annual Report confirming a funding crisis that is placing regional communities at unacceptable risk. VFF President, Brett Hosking said the numbers tell a damning story that can no longer be ignored.

NSW councils looking for a quick fix to the ownership issues plaguing the Red Fleet have been left disappointed. The NSW government has released its Response to the Parliamentary Accounts Committee's Inquiry into Assets, premises and funding of the NSW RFS. Its response to the major recommendations that the assets be recognised as the property of the NSW RFS, has effectively been kicked down the road ...

Madison Eastmond. Crowds of Riverlanders lined the main street of Barmera for the annual Christmas pageant and firework display ... the community gathering providing another successful showing of local festive cheer and spirit despite the weekend heatwave.

The emergency services join forces at Christmas to bring Santa to Casino. The annual emergency services Santa run is on Sunday, December 14 and on Friday, December 19 ... On the first day of the Santa run the volunteers gave out more than 400 lollipops and candy canes.

Remote, rural and regional communities across Australia will share $981,100 in grants through FRRR’s Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) program, empowering them to create vibrant and sustainable places to live, work and thrive. This funding will support 78 locally-led projects that foster resilience, social connection and greater capacity in regional communities.

Kids’ sport should be a classroom for life — but when parents and coaches cross the line from supportive to suffocating, the game stops being fun and starts causing real harm ... Junior country sport relies on the army of volunteer parents who coach, manage, supervise, and oversee children’s sport. Coaches are a powerful influence on a child’s confidence...

...There are now 18 volunteers contributing to the work of running the Op Shop, each person has unique skills and creative talents to contribute ... Overseas donations have been sent to Indonesia, supporting a child who has been able to attend school and receive helpful items, and to Ukraine and Niger with boxes of jumpers, beanies, scarves, bandages.

Hike to Heal Australia Inc., which organises the annual Hike to Heal Scavenger Hike at Mount Peel, has announced its attention to wind up its operations ... "This decision comes as a result of challenges in finding volunteers and committee members to continue managing the charity on a permanent basis," Mrs Barton said ... A highlight for Hike to Heal was being named as the recipient of the prestigious Jude Bugeja - Peer Experience Award at the Queensland Mental Health Achievement Awards in 2023.

Soon after Chris Olive’s son Ben was born, a man asked him to join the SES. That was in 1984. Forty years later and Chris is recognised for his long service at Kyogle SES Unit at a presentation in Lismore on November 1. 

This year, for the first time, Assistance Dogs Australia pups will be featuring in the Grafton Jacaranda Festival Parade on Saturday 1 November, resplendent in purple crowns and accompanied by the ADA team, their community carers and Serco staff. 

West Wimmera Shire Council has named Serviceton's Les Millikin as the 2025 Senior Citizen of the Year ... Since moving to Serviceton in 2002, Mr Millikin has made an enormous contribution to the local community through his volunteer work at the historic Serviceton Railway Station.

Helen Hobbs. While many locals already know how much time and care Les Millikin puts into maintaining the Serviceton Railway Station, it's clear that visitors from across Australia — and even overseas — have noticed too. Online reviews tell a story of a man whose quiet dedication has left a lasting impression on hundreds of travellers who've stopped in at the historic station.

Michelle Daw. Thousands of people began pouring through the gates at the Yorke Peninsula Field Days site near Paskeville ... not only one of the region's largest events but also Australia's oldest field days, dating back to trials held near Bute in 1895. This year's event is expected to inject between $5 million and $8 million into the local economy ...