Friday, February 13, 2026

Life & Arts

Charlton

Courthouse Gallery exhibition

The Buloke Times
Arts
Bold, thought-provoking works by Charlton artist, Sonya Hindson, will be on display at the Charlton Courthouse Gallery this February, with organisers expecting strong interest from both locals and visitors to the town.

Central Coast birds

Top bird photos of the year

The Central Coast Group of Birding NSW has announced the winners of its 2025 Photographic Competition. "There were 70 photos entered in the competition from 22 photographers," spokesperson Allan Benson said. "The standard was very high but the winners were standouts."

History - infrastructure

The bridge that turned to let the river through: Hay’s swing bridge

Kimberly Grabham, The Riverine Grazier
History & heritage
There’s a piece of industrial archaeology sitting in the river bend just north of where Hay’s bridge crosses the Murrumbidgee. It looks like debris, like something that should have been cleared away decades ago. But that rusting turntable is actually a remnant of an era when the river was a highway, when paddle steamers were the primary means of moving wool and supplies, and when a bridge had to accommodate both road traffic and river commerce.

Quiz #2/2026

Quiz #2/2026

Quiz #3/2026 - Winter Olympics special

FNQ artist

Three questions with featured artist – Tim Ellis

Contributor, ARR.News
Arts
Tim Ellis' current exhibition of paintings and new media, ‘Glimpses’ brings together cinematic compositions and bright, fluid brushstrokes for vivid, hyper-real scenes from his life in rural Far North Queensland ... Tim joins us to answer three questions about 'Glimpses', on display at the Tableland Regional Gallery until 7 March.

History & heritage

Love notes to Maldon

To help celebrate the 60th anniversary of Maldon receiving the title of 'Australia's First Notable Town', the Tarrangower Times and Maldon Heritage Network invites everyone to write a 'Love Note' to the town. It's a chance to reflect upon what makes Maldon special, whether that's a memorable festival or best bushwalking route or a favourite coffee spot. To get the ball rolling, here is a letter written by State Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards MP ...

Tribute

Celebrating the life of Nathon “Wombat” Houghton

Rodney Stevens, Clarence Valley Independent
Health
More than 1,500 people gathered at Brooms Head last Saturday, drawn together by love, loss and shared memories, to celebrate the life of local legend Nathon "Wombat" Houghton. In just ten short days, a group of close friends rallied together to organise a farewell that truly reflected the man Wombat was — open-hearted, inclusive and deeply connected to the ocean.

Coming up

Metal in March 2026 set to energise the Central Highlands with creativity and community spirit 

Contributor, ARR.News
Arts
What began as an initiative to promote the region’s thriving arts and culture sector through sustainable art practices has grown into a diverse program of metal focused workshops, creative activities and community events across the region ... This year’s events feature a vibrant metal art exhibition at the Emerald Art Gallery, an inspiring public metal art trail spanning the region, and an engaging lineup of flower making and blacksmithing workshops.

Koondrook head turner

Scrap-metal minions stop traffic

Gus van Hart. A quirky paddock full of handmade "Minions" is stopping traffic in Koondrook, with families pulling over at a local farm to snap photos from the fence line. The display, built from recycled farm and industrial parts, has quickly become a fun roadside attraction for the district, drawing regular visitors and giving travellers a reason to slow down and take a look.

Central Coast artist

Kariong artist lights up the Opera House

Terry Collins. Kariong artist Garry Purchase is one of the few Australians who can say they have had their artwork featured on the sails of the Sydney Opera House. But that's just what happened on Australia Day, when Mr Purchase's painting Dancing in the Moonlight lit up the sails at the reflection held on Sydney Harbour at dawn.

Australia Day - Kyogle

Starstruck Liesl couldn’t believe Keith Potger from The Seekers sang on stage with her

Susanna Freymark, indyNR.com
Community
Liesl Pederson was starstruck when she went on stage to sing I am Australian at the Kyogle Australia Day ceremony at the KMI Hall. Liesl is well known at Kyogle events often singing the national anthem at the Kyogle Show and performing on Anzac Day.

New release - local history

New release – The Making of Yass

Aedeen Cremin, ARR.News
Community
The town of Yass has had many lives. Today it is a market town, but also a dormitory suburb for Canberra’s younger public servants and a place of retirement for farmers and pastoralists who have handed their land on to the next generation. As a result, it is a pleasing mix of both young and old ... As the title suggests, this book describes the growth of Yass and charts some of its several aspects, from a frontier town surrounded by bushrangers to the gateway to the Murray River and the great grazing lands of western New South Wales...
The Making of Yass cover

Tribute

Narrandera’s own Dame Marie Bashir passes away

Narrandera Shire Council has extended its deepest condolences on the passing of Dame Marie Bashir AC CVO, a remarkable Australian and one of Narrandera's most distinguished local-born citizens. Born in Narrandera, Dame Marie Bashir went on to lead an extraordinary life of service, becoming one of Australia's most respected medical professionals, advocates and leaders. Her achievements were many, including her historic role as the 37th Governor of New South Wales and the first woman to hold that office.

Working musician

Dave Rastrick – All that Jazz

Serena Kirby, ARR.News
Arts
To say that David Rastrick is a hardworking musician is an understatement of monumental proportion ... He performs several times a week and can clock up around 120 gigs a year ... juggling all these commitments requires the skill of an air traffic controller and the stamina of an elite athlete.
Dave Rastrick

Travel sketcher

MANet relocates – guest artist Kate Stedman

Contributor, Tarrangower Times
Arts
Nancy Whittaker. A group exhibition of art works by Fionna Madigan, Liadaan, Carol De Graauw, Geoff Hocking, Paul Ryan, Eleni Rivers and Catherine Tait, will also include guest artist Kate Stedman ... Kate is a travel sketcher, historian, Francophile, and Italophile, who hosts sketching and travel Journalling Tours ...

Poetry

Allora & District Historical Society News – What are the odds???

Mim Rogers, Allora Advertiser
Arts
Wendy Free. Allora, the best little town on the Downs will make history again - be a part of the 125th anniversary of Banjo Paterson's visit to our town. Yes, Banjo Paterson was indeed in our town presenting a political speech on March 16th 1901 in the Protestant Hall.

New release - review

A Bold Endeavour cover

Review – A Bold Endeavour: A history of our work in the Western Australian rangelands

Contributor, ARR.News
Agriculture
Roger Underwood. A Bold Endeavour – a history of our work in the Western Australian rangelands is a terrific book. I read it from cover to cover and then went back and read some parts again ... if the political will for action ever arises, best-practice land management systems for the WA rangelands are now known and understood, and could be implemented across the rangelands tomorrow.  This situation can be attributed to the work of that small band of tough, dedicated scientists of the Rangeland Management Branch during its short, but dramatic history. 

Mapping Lord Howe history

Museum cultural project – A place names map

Stephen Sia, The Lord Howe Island Signal
History & heritage
Ian Hutton. Throughout 2025, the Lord Howe Historical Society has been working on a project to enhance the Island cultural history – a Place Names Map. Since the Island's discovery in 1788, a few place names have remained constant whilst others have changed depending on the era.
Map extract Lord Howe Island

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