Thursday, December 25, 2025

Life & Arts

Local history - Corryong

Society continues to preserve our past

Mark Collins, Corryong Courier
Community
The Upper Murray Historical Society has celebrated a landmark year, capped by the recent installation of a new memorial board for Jack Riley at the Corryong Cemetery - a tribute that reflects both the region's rich history and the dedication of the volunteers who preserve it. Much of the year's activity was sparked by Corryong's 150th anniversary celebrations in July, prompting extensive research and renewed exploration...

Theatre - Gosford

One-woman dark comedy set for Fun Haus

Coast Community News
Entertainment
Ivona Rose. When Donné Restom's writing mentor gave her the prompt "these are the things I know about death", the exercise set the Umina Beach singer on a cathartic personal and professional journey. Grief and resilience evolved into the one-woman dark comedy show Everyone in My Family Is Dead or About to Be, set for Gosford's Fun Haus Factory ...

History & heritage - Hay

A letter through time: Anthony Bradford’s journey from Hay to building an empire in mental health

When the Anglican Church time capsule was cracked open, there was excitement in the air, and then dust, and then the first letter was drawn. It was addressed to the future children of Anthony Bradford ... Inside the year 2000-time capsule opened in Hay was a letter his grandfather, Jim Bradford Senior, had written to him back in 1972, a letter he’d completely forgotten about.

Art

Wilcannia HSC graduate art

Wilcannia News
Arts
This edition we offer you a look at the stunning art work submitted by graduate Tahlarah Lawson for her HSC Art folio. Tahlarah’s art appeared in the Broken Hill Art Gallery’s 2025 HSC Art Show held at the Albert Kersten Mining and Mineral Museum (Geo Centre) in Broken Hill.

Bumper holiday quiz

Caribou

Holiday Quiz 2025

Tom Trifonoff
Education & training

Quiz #46/2025

Quiz #46/ 2025

Quiz #47/2025

Quiz #47/ 2025

Quiz #45/2025

Quiz #45/ 2025

Public art

Mural completed at Darlington Point pool just in time for Christmas

Contributor, ARR.News
Arts
Darlington Point’s War Memorial Swimming Pool has been given a stunning new look, with a vibrant mural completed just in time for Christmas. The eye-catching artwork celebrates the area’s unique landscape and biodiversity, bringing native birds, bees and local flora to life.

Coming up

Festival of Small Halls announces 2026 Autumn Tour – Port Fairy Folk Festival and Regional Victoria: Woodfordia

Woodfordia’s Festival of Small Halls has announced that Irish/Canadian powerhouse Irish Mythen and Australian folk troubadour Kaurna Cronin will feature on their next tour in March 2026, which takes in 13 regional Victorian towns while also visiting the magnificent Port Fairy Folk Festival.

Public art

Have you seen the murals? Ideas for things to do in the region this holidays

Kimberly Grabham, Back Country Bulletin
Arts
Practically at our back door are these exquisite murals painted in Griffith. Located in Banna Lane, and with over 30 large-scale murals, the Griffith art trail is constantly evolving, making it the perfect weekend adventure for locals and visitors alike.

Photography

Architecture – Angles worth capturing

Mim Rogers, Allora Advertiser
News
Last month Architecture was the topic, and Allora Photography Group (APG) members wandered near and far to find that special image and gain that illusive Honour which must meet some very strict criteria for John Stewart to award ... "Choose Your God" by Michael Campbell made members feel a little dizzy with the towering heights.

Ballet

Ballet Under the Stars to dazzle beneath the Horsham summer sky

Contributor, ARR.News
Arts
Horsham Rural City Council is thrilled to welcome The Australian Ballet to Horsham for a magical evening of world class dance, transforming the City Oval into an outdoor theatre. Ballet Under the Stars will delight audiences with a varied program of ballets ...

Documentary

Shared Table puts Nhill’s refugee story on screen

Rosie for Hindmarsh. On Tuesday evening a number of community members and Hindmarsh Shire Councillors attended the premiere of Shared Table: Regional Heroes at Hoyts Melbourne Central. This powerful documentary, created by CALD Community Voices, shines a light on regional stories of refugee settlement — including those from Nhill.

Local history

Historic tree immortalised

Krista Schade, The Riverine Grazier
Community
It has stood in place since the 1870s, but the significance of the Stone Pine that towers over the Apex Park in Church Street has now been immortalised. A research project, headed by Hay Landcare member Sally Ware, has unearthed the history and probable provenance of the tree.

Ag show exhibition

Somerset artists and ag show enthusiasts celebrate ‘The Show’

Contributor, ARR.News
Agriculture
Somerset Regional Art Gallery welcomed agricultural show enthusiasts and art lovers for the opening of two new exhibitions on Saturday, 6 December. Nine talented Somerset artists produced artworks for ‘The Show’ a new exhibition capturing the sights, sounds and atmosphere of the region’s agricultural shows.

Public art

Serviceton silo art now complete

Emily Gladdis, Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times
Arts
Painting of a new art installation at GrainCorp's Serviceton site has now finished, marking a major milestone for the town and its place on the Wimmera Mallee's growing network of silo art installations. Adelaide-based artist Jack Fran spent about two weeks painting the mural, which tells the story of the South Australia–Victoria border dispute and features historical surveyors Henry Wade and Edward White.

History & heritage

Shining a new light on a Beaudesert treasure

Contributor, ARR.News

Motoring history

Wikner’s final lap?

Mim Rogers, Allora Advertiser
Community
Allora’s Wikner Ford Special is on the highway heading south to Maroubra – not to surf but to be a headline act at huge celebrations ... The Vintage Car Club of Australia is celebrating the Centenary of the opening event at the infamous Maroubra Olympic Speedway in 1925. Of that initial event only one racing car remains as it raced that day, Doug’s Wikner Ford Special.

Christmas recipe

Pianist

The keys to success

A huge honour for Allora local pianist Oscar Briggs who has been accepted into the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University in Brisbane. At the age of 3 years Oscar started learning and playing the piano with music teacher Lesley Telford. Now aged 18 years Oscar is living the dream...

Buskers

Brothers set to rock your socks off

Denmark Bulletin
Arts
Mat Dalby. Nine-year-old twins Frankie and Hendrix Boddington might be young but their passion for music is already a hit on the local busking scene. Performing under the name The Lizard Heads, the pair have become a familiar sight busking with their ukuleles, singing covers and originals.

Didge

Tjupurru visit delights Cambooya students

Ted Rogers, On Our Selection News
Education & training
Cambooya State School students were treated to an unforgettable musical experience recently when internationally acclaimed performer Adrian Fabila Tjupurrula – known as Tjupurru – visited the school. A proud descendant of the Djabera Djabera people of the WA Kimberley region, Tjupurru has earned a global reputation for his innovative fusion of ancient culture, modern technology and extraordinary musicianship.

Quiz #42/2025

Quiz #42/ 2025

Quiz #44/2025

Quiz #44/ 2025

Quiz #43/2025

Quiz #43/ 2025

Film

Araluen Arthouse Cinema – Yurlu Country

Contributor, ARR.News
Arts
A vivid ode to Country and an intimate portrait of an Aboriginal elder’s final year as he strives to preserve his culture and heal his homeland, scarred by the largest contaminated site in the Southern Hemisphere.

Exhibition

‘Extraordinary’ modern exhibitions to unpack at Coffs Harbour

Contributor, ARR.News
Arts
Gorgeously exotic artworks with an environmental message and a mesmerising underwater world inspired by a minimalist sea creature will bring wonder to Coffs Harbour’s Yarrila Arts and Museum (YAM) over summer ... The other blockbuster summer exhibition at YAM is CREATION by Deborah Kelly...

Riverina festival

Riverina set to shine: Rainbow on the Plains returns to Hay with star lineup and ‘Transition’ theme

Krista Schade, Back Country Bulletin
Community
The annual Rainbow on the Plains Festival is set to return to Hay from Thursday, November 13th to Sunday, November 16th, 2025, operating under the theme of "Transition" ... The festival, which celebrates the LGBTIQA+ community and rural inclusion, has become a key date on the Riverina's events calendar...

Exhibition

Back Road Artists on show at Goombungee

Ted Rogers, On Our Selection News
Arts
Inspired by motherhood, rural living, and community care, the Back Road Artists' Eclectic Harmony exhibition will be on display at Rosalie Gallery in Goombungee from Wednesday, 12 November to Sunday, 14 December.

Sesquicentenary

Cohuna celebrates in style

Lloyd Polkinghorne, The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper
Council
Cohuna's 150 Year Anniversary opened with a packed house at Memorial Hall on Friday night. The walls of the hall were lined with an array of past fashions, hospital history, sporting memorabilia, and historical photos.

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