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Rural, regional and remote Australians are dying at higher rates than their urban counterparts, with avoidable deaths in the regions nearly four times higher, according to new data released today by the National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA).

One of Queensland’s most loved events in the Scenic Rim Clydesdale Spectacular, the richest Clydesdale Show in the Southern Hemisphere will this year be held in Beaudesert, taking over the showground on the weekend of June 14 and 15. The announcement was celebrated today by three magnificent harness horses – Billy, Bobbi and Bluey!

Sean Cunningham. Anyone want a five-metre lizard (Eastern Bearded Dragon) sculpture in town and a new entrance sign which could cost $300,000? This was the hot topic of conversation during Narrandera Shire Council’s meeting on Tuesday.

Doscover the toe-tapping energy of Flamenco when award-winning dancer Annalouise Paul and some of Australia’s finest musicians bring Flamenco for Everybody to Regional NSW. This red-hot, live performance features poetry, percussion, Flamenco guitar, contemporary and flamenco dance and storytelling … that comes to Western Riverina from March 3-14 and Outback NSW from April 1-12.

It’s never too early for a little romance and so it proved as the Westbrook Hall committee held its Valentine’s Day Dance on Saturday the 8th with a very well attended event of Old Time and New Vogue Dances with music by Lyn and Ian.

Birdlife Australia is launching the Lockyer-Toowoomba Birds on Farms project and needs the help of local landholders. The project is being coordinated by Toowoomba Ornithologist Scot McPhie, who presented to a recent meeting of Cambooya Landcare.

A $2 million program is supporting councils to expand collection points for problem batteries like those found in vapes and e-scooters. The new LNP Government has announced a three-point plan to tackle battery safety risks sparked by a spike in dangerous fires.

The recent Corryong Paragliding Open - a round of the Australian championships - once again proved popular with flyers and spectators although a couple of mishaps during competition could have had more serious consequences. "The Corryong area is a world class flying area and Mt Elliot is one of the best paragliding and hangliding mountains in Australia," said Dave Gibbs from competition host Airtribune.

The storied 150-year history of the Towong Turf Club has been encapsulated in a new book by local author, Dixie Coutts, which is to be launched on the eve of this year’s Towong Cup. ‘Towong Turf Club Tales’ tells the story of an institution that grew from races on the river flats before the turn of the 20th century to become a significant piece of the heritage of the Upper Murray.

A Victorian coroner has ruled a pilot who died in a crash near Lucyvale should not have been issued with a licence because of his limited flying experience. Cinematographer and adventurer, Matthew Farrell (42) died in a light sport aircraft crash at Lucyvale on September 18, 2022.

Cohuna is hosting a one day music festival, Home Ground Sounds, on Sunday March 9 at the Cohuna Recreation Reserve with gates opening at 2pm ... The event is a unique opportunity to experience world class musical performances and help support the local community as the night will raise funds for the Cohuna Kangas Football Netball Club, Cohuna Show, Cohuna Athletics and Nondies Cricket.

Local producers flocked to the farm of Michael and Felicia Chalmers this week to check out a towering three-and-a-half-metre-tall crop of hemp. “I became aware that Murray Industrial Hemp (MIH), through Western Murray Land Improvement Group, was looking for farmers to have a go at growing some hemp as a trial,” said Michael Chalmers when questioned “Why hemp?”

When South Australians were trying to turn their estuary into a freshwater dam in the 1940’s, the Mulloway natural migration was devastated. Now, Australia’s only freshwater estuary hangs like a noose around the neck of the Murray Darling Basin, consuming huge volumes of freshwater to raise an artificial lake height for yachting, and an attempt to dilute the Southern Ocean, under the fundamentally flawed Murray Darling Basin Plan.

Serena Kirby. Tossing the coin for a women’s quarter final last month between Aryna Sabalenka and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova at the Australian Open was the thrill of Zuri Ochieng’s life. The 10 y/o was selected for the toss while attending the tournament as part of the ‘Super 10s’ tennis camp ...

Serena Kirby. Five drowning tragedies along WA’s southern coastline this summer have again highlighted the ever-present danger our coastline presents. Two people lost their lives in waters off Esperance, two at Conspicuous Cliffs ... and one at Bremer Bay.

Marion Nelson. Perth Golf Network and Harvey golfers Dee and Drew Devenish delivered an outstanding performance to secure the Denmark Summer Golf Classic winners’ trophy ... Committee chair Irene Stone said that more than 300 golfers representing 57 clubs competed.

In a recent article in Australian Rural & Regional News, I highlighted the overwhelming body of scientific evidence showing that logging does indeed increase the risk of high-severity wildfire. Mr Onfray wants evidence of this effect of logging on wildfire – and there is plenty of it.

In response to the South East Timber Association’s (SETA) critique, I want to clarify the scientific evidence and address the inaccuracies in their claims. SETA disputes the well-documented link between logging and increased fire severity, but the scientific consensus is clear: logging fundamentally alters forests in ways that make them more flammable.

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