Guilderton café unlikely to open until mid-April
In August last year the new managers, Belgravia Leisure, said major upgrades would transform the Guilderton General Store into a clean, fresh and modern beachside café and general store offering essential grocery and travel supplies for Guilderton residents and tourists visiting the region.
Council welcomes new Chief Executive Officer
Barkly Regional Council has appointed its new CEO after a lengthy recruitment process by Councillors and the Mayor. Emma Bradbury joins the Council from the Murray Darling Association as the outgoing CEO.
Best tap water in Australia is in”¦? (take a guess)
If you think the water tastes good in Casino, you’d be spot on. Known more for its beef, Casino is officially home to Australia’s best tap water. Richmond Valley Council has won top honours in the Ixom 2021 Best Tasting Tap Water in Australia competition.
A time for reimagining
Geoff Helisma. Speaking on behalf of the ‘team’, Clarence Valley's new mayor, Cr Ian Tiley’s speech - published here - now stands as a manifesto that all electors will be able to refer to when measuring the new council’s performance.
Work continues on storm recovery
Hepburn Shire Council is continuing to support recovery efforts in the community following a thunderstorm that damaged homes and property in and around Creswick and Clunes on 5 January. “The intensity of this storm caused widespread damage to homes, farms and public land in the west of our Shire. Our preliminary estimates are around $10m of damage to Council assets alone, and around $25m damage to crops” : Hepburn Shire Mayor, Cr Tim Drylie.
Libraries After Dark providing social evenings for the community
Mildura Library is providing an alternative to relax and keep cool while enjoying a social evening by extending its opening hours on Thursdays as part of the Libraries After Dark program. Libraries After Dark is a state-wide initiative initially aimed at providing problem gamblers with alternative options and venues for socialising through extended evening opening hours at libraries.
New exhibition explores Australians love of boats
Australia’s history is populated with maritime related stories. With over 1,000 rivers and a coast that stretches for more than 36,000 kilometres, it is no surprise that Australia abounds with stories of people who have lived and worked on the water. This exhibition presents some of those stories, exploring the remarkable connections between people and their boats.
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.
Lockyer Valley to welcome Bruce and Denise Morcombe as 2022 Australia Day Ambassadors
The Lockyer Valley will welcome child safety advocates Bruce Morcombe OAM and Denise Morcombe OAM to the region as the 2022 Australia Day Ambassadors. Co-founders of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, the couple are committed to making communities a safer place for children.
Lord Howe Island Board Report
The Lord Howe Island Board Report covers a wide range of key matters relating to the island, including management, Covid-19, projects, infrastructure, engineering, environment and biosecurity.
Anyinginyi angered by gym eviction
Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation is calling out the behaviour of the Barkly Regional Council (BRC) for the eviction of the Corporation from the Sport and Recreation Centre. The town’s sole gym was built by Anyinginyi, maintained and operated for two decades on Purkiss Reserve. Anyinginyi Board Chairperson Ross Williams said the actions of Council are a repudiation of the Barkly Regional Deal’s intent to work together, co-operatively in the interests of the community.
151 Denmark people won’t be home for Christmas
A total of 151 Denmark people, aged one year to 87, are homeless or live in caravans, sheds, vehicles, tents, in overcrowded housing, sleep rough or couch surf. The number is expected to swell by 22 per cent by the end of the year due to people living in insecure housing ... more than 30 people were applying for each rental vacancy in Denmark, rents were ‘sky-high’, families were leaving Denmark and businesses were closing or reducing operating hours because of the staff shortage.
Narrandera Koala Art Trail Design Competition now open
The Koala Art Trail Design competition is to encourage creative designs for decorated fibreglass sculptures that will become a feature of a Koala Art Trail. This will be a project proposed by the Tourism Department of the Narrandera Shire Council to increase engagement of visitors and locals within the various tourism and retail businesses. The aim is to create an art trail of 800mm high, decorated fibreglass Koala Sculptures in and around Narrandera.
At long last: Mapoon church opened after years of lobbying
The spirit of Mapoon’s old people could be felt as the community opened its long-awaited church last Thursday. In an emotional ceremony, community leaders spoke of the long battle to have a church built in Mapoon after the state government ripped down the last one in 1963 when it forced all residents to leave the Mission.
Festive season in full swing in Flinders Shire
Flinders Shire recently held its annual Christmas Street Party in Hughenden, with more than 400 people attending and getting into the festive spirit. Attendees enjoyed more than 18 market stalls and all Brodie Street shops were open for business to help celebrate the event, while Santa also made a special appearance.
New migrants join Naracoorte workforce
Gabrielle Duykers. Teys Naracoorte will welcome 15 new Pacific Island employees this month in an effort to support its cattle processing operations amid changing herd numbers. Teys general manager of corporate affairs John Langbridge said the plant was proud to be a strong employer in the community ... The new migrants will arrive in Naracoorte at a time of peak housing shortages across the region.
Pandemania and the Bexhill Quarry Parklands
It's worth reflecting on what-just-was: wave after wave of pandemania. Snap lockdowns and travel restrictions were for some, a form of forced minimalism ... The antidote of course is to find our social focus again, re-acquaint ourselves with community activities, get out of forced hibernation and meet the real world ... ranked up there with hidden Hinterland beauty spots is the spring fed waterhole of the old Bexhill Quarry.
Council hit hard by lowest rate cap in 20 years – fees and charges may rise
Narrandera Shire Council General Manager George Cowan said this week’s decision by IPART to introduce the lowest rate cap in 20 years did not reflect reality. “It is based upon a formulae that reflects generic cost indexes that may have prevailed during the previous financial year. The real cost increase facing Councils next financial year includes wages growth, substantial increases in fuel costs and these are two of the biggest inputs affecting Council operations,” Mr Cowan said.
Braden out to break men’s mental health stigma
Nicholas Rupolo. Narrandera mental health youth advocate Braden Lyons says breaking the stigma for males seeking aid for their mental health must be broken in order to reverse the impacts of COVID-19 on young people in the Riverina. The comments come following Mission Australia’s Youth Survey showing attention to mental health and coping with stress was significant and important to young women more than young men.
All Abilities official opening
Tuesday, December 14 saw the official opening of the Koondrook All Abilities Playground. A dream of former councillor, Steve Tasker, to provide joy for children with limited mobility has resulted in the $592,000 Koondrook All Abilities Playground.
History brought to life
It was an exciting day for Moulamein as officials and locals celebrated the opening of the Moulamein Heritage Village. Situated on the corner of Cedar Avenue and Paterson Street, the former vacant land is now home to some of the district’s historical gems. Locals pursued a vision to construct the historical village for visitors and locals to enjoy with the added benefit of doubling as a venue space for events, weddings and music concerts.
The Headstone Project delivers recognition for WWI veterans
South Australian based group ‘The Headstone Project’ recently dedicated the graves of 18 veterans of WWI who lay in the Port Pirie cemetery in unmarked graves with a dedication ceremony held on 20 November 2021.
