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We are blessed with the quality and talent of our local business operators, and the current treatment is, frankly, cruel. We have seen multinational chain stores, who seldom pay tax, operate almost without impunity throughout the COVID-19 fiasco and yet, the beating heart of our country, small and medium business are wearing the impacts.

Kirstin Nicholson. “I’d like to say I was elated, but the reality is, with everything that’s been going on, even after we had booked them, I still wasn’t necessarily sure that we would end up on a flight. You try not to get your hopes up because in this whole thing there is no guarantee,” says Kate Slater.

In just a few short years, a small, simple event, designed to celebrate the powerful role sport can have in the lives of indigenous people – and to educate the non-indigenous about Barapa Barapa culture – has blossomed into something much, much more. Last weekend, the Golden Rivers Football Netball League celebrated indigenous round, which has its roots at the small, pioneering club of Macorna.

Gabrielle Duykers. After almost 20 years behind the bar, Jack Jennings and Rhonda Brown say they are excited to get their weekends back, as they rejoice in the successful sale of the Bushman’s Arms Hotel ... Upon reflection of his time in the industry, Mr Jennings said pubs had been unfairly given a “bad rap” in recent years. “I think people forget the good that pubs do for the community,” he said. “Over the years we’ve sponsored nearly every sporting group going around and even the sporting groups from out of town. Pubs are a centre of a community, they’re fantastic for the communication of people, and in really small towns when the pub dies, the town dies.”

Sheryl Lowe. Proud Ngarrindjeri and Kauma man, Major (‘Moogy’) Sumner, from South Australia’s Coorong region, received the Premier’s NAIDOC Award 2021 last week for outstanding achievements and significant service to the indigenous community of South Australia ... “He is a world-renowned performer and cultural ambassador of Ngarrindjeri arts, crafts, martial arts, traditional dance, song and traditional culture. He has travelled the world learning from other nations and sharing his knowledge and experiences.”

Timber Towns Victoria calls on the Victorian Government to provide clarity and certainty for the timber industry, workers and communities following a recently announced Government review of the Timber Code of Practice (Vic).

Farmsafe Australia recently launched a new campaign, aimed at reminding farmers of the roles that they play in shaping a safe, healthy and productive working environment on their farms. The campaign highlights the opportunities that farmers have to be mentors, teachers and supporters and how demonstrating those leadership styles may reduce or eliminate psychosocial risks on their farm.

Cultural burning doesn't just occur in northern Australia. Across southern Australia, many Indigenous people are practicing and promoting cultural fire management, yet the emergency management sector has limited experience in collaborating with them on fire management.

Casino is about to get fresh with its own weekly farmers market. John and Frieda De Kleuver are organising the market for the Casino Lions Club. The plan is to hold a market every Saturday morning at Crawford Square in South Casino, starting in September.

Butchers inside major supermarkets could soon become extinct. No more stopping for a friendly chat about the cut of your meat with the butcher while you shop ... The Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union said the change would see qualified butchers ‘redeployed’ into other roles at the supermarkets.

A native apple tree was the symbol for reconciliation on the banks of the Richmond River in Casino last Thursday. Richmond Valley mayor Robert Mustow and Aunty Leila Walker planted the tree together ... Aunty Leila said Casino was the traditional meeting place of the Bundjalung Nation. “North of the town is the largest bora ring on the East Coast,” she said.

Geoff Helisma. NSW Fair Trading is investigating ticket reseller Viagogo, as consumer complaints against the company spike in line with the reintroduction of ticketed events. The [Clarence Valley] Independent revealed that tickets for a Paul Kelly concert at Yamba Bowling Club were sold out within minutes of going on sale – some of these tickets were advertised on Viagogo’s website for up to $740 on the same day.

Emma Pritchard. Lightly raced mare Purrfect Deal demonstrated her quality staying ability and prowess to win the 2021 Maclean Hotel Grafton Cup over 2350m on July 8 ... A firming favourite in the market, Purrfect Deal was 3/1 when the barriers flew open at 3:55pm.

Jamie Kah has earned titles like Metropolitan Jockey of the Year and Provincial Jockey of the Year in South Australia, and currently leads the Victorian Jockey Premiership. Jamie did not become one of the best jockeys in Australia overnight. She has put in a lifetime of hard work and devotion to horse riding, and she attributes much of her success to her time in Pony Club.

More nitrogen isn’t always better – especially in a drier year – when producing quality hay is the key to farm returns. That’s according to research funded by AgriFutures Export Fodder Program as part of the National Hay Agronomy (NHA) Project ... The NHA project is a four-year investment by the AgriFutures Export Fodder Program and aims to address current knowledge gaps in the Australian export fodder industry.

Almost $1 million of footpaths have been constructed throughout the region thanks to a joint project between the State Government and Rockhampton Regional Council. As part of the State Government’s Works for Queensland Round 3 program nearly 2.5kms of footpaths have been added over the last 18 months.