Age is no barrier to doing what you love. Artist Anthea Moffat turned 90 as her exhibition The Painted Years opened at the Roxy Gallery in Kyogle this month. There is still time to see her work ... The Painted Years is a body of paintings that are “partly my background of where I have lived and an exposition of the joy of life,” Anthea said.
"As artist and mentor, Sunno is a key part of the Wilcannia community. His practice across textiles, printmaking, carving and more are intrinsically tied to his role as a community educator, and tell stories of family and his home along the Barka."
Bec Bignell is a storyteller who believes the best stories are those that are grounded in truth. A writer, actor and film producer, Bec grew up on a farm outside Kojonup, three hours south-east of Perth and her most recent screen story ‘Homespun’ was born from a desire to present a more authentic portrayal of life beyond the city limits.
A mural depicting the history of fishing on the Fraser Coast has been painted on the side wall of the Urangan Fisheries cold store which faces Fishermans Park ... “It links the Butchulla and European history of fishing in the region,” Councillor Zane O’Keefe said ... Watch the video.
The flowers are blooming and the birds are chirping as we experience a green (and rather wet) start to spring here in the Central Downs. With the end of September fast approaching, if you are yet to do so there is still time to see the colourful flower arrays in Laurel Bank Park, Queens Park and elsewhere in the city.
Heritage Bank has announced the talented photographers who will share in a massive $50,000 prize pool as part of its 2022 Photographic Awards. The annual Heritage Bank Photographic Awards are now in their 34th year and are one of the most lucrative, and longest running, in the country.
Serena Kirby. Denmark singer-songwriter Marianna Greenham’s return to music after 30 years has produced works which are now widely adopted for family-life challenges. Marianna, 71, will perform at the Denmark Artshouse later this month presenting her earlier songs as well as many new ones. This follows her appearance at this year’s Festival of Voice and a return to music which she says has been good for her soul.
Four Deadly Darwin comedians are travelling down the guts of the Territory stopping in Tennant Creek next Wednesday to bring “blak humour to change blak minds”. The Deadly Darwin Goes Walkabout Tour will bring its hilarious show and free stand up comedy workshop to town with the mission of spreading healing through humour.
Sarah Martin. Glastonbury, Burning Man and Woodford have nothing on the special vibes of Wallaby Creek Festival, according to international didgeridoo and dance music phenomenon Ganga Giri, who is one of the headline acts at the event. The quietly-spoken musician credits his success to energy, his mum, and a dream as a kid.
One of the hardest but most pleasurable jobs in the Clarence Valley is judging The Long Way Home writing competition – that’s according to the judges. But the verdict is in. The Long Way Home’s Claire Aman said the theme this year was ‘let go,’ prompting writers of all ages to come up with a fabulous bunch of stories – poignant, hopeful, quirky.
Urbenville School students travelled six hours to Gunnedah to recite poetry on Friday, September 2. The trip was worth it. They came back winners of the prestigious Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards. The school was awarded the highest honour ‑ winning the primary school section and the national school winner ... The winning didn’t stop there.
Yesterday, at my indi-butcher, I was talking with a millennial server about old-time rhyming slang – he looked at me like I was possessed. I braved it out and said, “Cheese and Kisses = missus and Bag of Fruit = suit!” and he still looked blankly at me; an older bloke next to me came to my rescue, “oh yeah and Joe Blakes...you know, snakes.”
Former Mildura resident and award-winning intuitive, mixed media abstract artist Jacklyn Foster has chosen Mildura Arts Centre (MAC) to host her very first solo exhibition, which opens this month. Vibrant is a collection of contemporary acrylic abstract paintings that draw inspiration from finding the joy and humour in life.
This exhibition celebrates Margaret Olley’s favourite subject – the beauty and joy of flowers. Olley dedicated her career to exploring the endless possibilities of humble, domestic objects combined with colourful, textural and sculptural arrangements of cornflowers, delphiniums, calendulas, hydrangeas, poppies, marigolds, flannel flowers, hippeastrums and more.
Emmanuelle Dubuc. Mirawara is a not-for-profit, social enterprise located within the goldfields of Central Victoria in Box-Ironbark country. We are a bunch of passionate outdoor and environmental educators who want to promote connections and the creation of stories/culture between young people and nature through outdoor education activities such as rock-climbing, bushwalking, canoeing, bush skills, nature studies and much more.
Most of the staff are dressed as crayons to represent the book “The Day The Crayons Quit” by Drew Daywalt. After having a giggle at their teachers the P-10 students enjoyed the day by dressing as their favourite book character.
Emma Pritchard. Thousands of visitors attended the Grafton Vintage Motor Vehicle Club’s Motorfest 22 at Jabour Park, South Grafton, on August 28 ... Motorfest 22 Committee Chairman David Andrews said more than 300 vintage vehicles were proudly displayed for the public, with participants avidly embracing the opportunity to view the classic collection up close...
Serena Kirby. The Denmark Art Club has breathed new life into the old Murphy’s workshop since it opened for classes earlier this year. Bought by art teacher Kendel Lynam, and her husband Nick in 2020, the once dilapidated shed has undergone a major transformation and created an artistic hub for young and old students.
Rick Powell has made the drive from Belyando Crossing to Camooweal for the last 20 years and he says he'll keep coming until he's no longer able to. "I just love it," he said from the Camooweal Drovers Festival on Friday afternoon ... While droving has disappeared from the Australian bush lifestyle, Rick said the festival must live on.
Greater Shepparton’s popular Moooving Art collection continues to grow as Council welcomes a new member to the herd this week. Introducing Moobird, designed by talented Mooroopna artist Mandy Charquero, Moobird is inspired by the region’s very own Australian Botanic Gardens Shepparton and the native birds which can be found there, and around our region.
We continue with our 'Messy Church' programme which happens on the first Saturday of the month. Messy Church is church for families who may not find other forms of church appealing and who do not yet belong to a church. It is held once a month, and it includes hands-on creative experiences, a celebration, and a meal. It does not prioritise either the needs of children or adults but intentionally welcomes and provides for all ages.
A new op shop opens on Wednesday, August 24 in Walker St, Casino. In a town with six op shops, St Mark’s Anglican Church will have prime spot ... The space won’t only be an op-shop. It will have the parish and priest’s offices and there will be a drop-in area where people can have a coffee or tea and a chat.
Bundjalung Nghari - Indigenise. This August, experience original theatre with Bundjalung Nghari (meaning: story), a collection of performed stories, poems and essays, penned by Bundjalung writers ... In September, Love for One Night at The Eltham Hotel is a circle dance of intersecting love stories told in the playful and theatrical style of NORPA’s sell-out shows Railway Wonderland and Dreamland.
The Copmanhurst Saddlery Museum has been closed for last 12 months … but it’s reopening this Sunday August 28, from 1pm to 3pm. Spokesperson Leone Roberts said the museum “used to be a saddle shop” 30 years ago ... Ms Roberts said there would be new items on display, including “furniture items from the Copmanhurst Anglican church, which was sold last year”.
Ron Bell. Working as a broadcaster in the radio and television industries over a period of more than 45 years, I had the wonderful fortune and privilege of meeting, talking and interviewing all sorts of people doing all sorts of things in life ... Arriving at the stage and greeting Irene, I was introduced to the other people who just happened to be Judith Durham and her late husband, English actor, pianist and composer Ron Edgeworth.
Being cancer-free is something to shout about. Or in 11 year old Millie Trustum’s case, something to inspire you to draw a rainbow ... Millie’s awareness rainbows were selected by the Kids Cancer Project to be included on a whale tail statue as part of the Waterfront Whale Tales sculpture exhibition in Sydney.
... We’ve received so much positive feedback on John’s story; many readers know this amazing, flamboyant man from around town and were excited to hear more about his life. If you are one of those people who has been fortunate enough to encounter John, you will know he is so incredibly full of life. He brings joy to those around him with his varied accents, his mannerisms and his larger-than-life personality.
Nowadays, as a Vietnam Vet, I have come to notice that more people are acknowledging us for what we did as Australian soldiers representing our country ... Coming up is Vietnam Vets Day 2022 and even if your local RSL is not being involved, you can always contribute to this special day by saying g’day to a Vet. You know you know one, don’t do?
Before we get too far into this battle, let me take this opportunity to advise you to banish all images of trees and lush undergrowth when you think of Polygon Wood. This may have been true in early 1914. But remember this is part of the Third Battle of Ypres.
Following George Walker is inspired by the life of Adelaide actor Rory Walker’s great grandfather George W Walker: a vaudevillian and impresario who toured Australia in the early 20th century, including the Limestone Coast, alongside some of the biggest theatrical stars of the day. It is a story of family, community, love and legacy – and laughter.
Ali Bohn. I do not need to remind you how cold it has been lately ... The thing I love most about winter is the comforting aroma of soups and casseroles bubbling away on the stove, and home-baked treats fresh from the oven ... Meals and lunchbox treats, and sometimes extras to deliver to family members.
An excessive lemon crop in my mate’s mini orchard in Maleny provided a windfall for me recently as I visited him. He was a Chef, and like me, hated waste and so unloaded bags of the lemons and other citrus onto me. I scooped them up with gusto. As to their uses?
This year’s Desert Harmony Festival has been hailed a success with more than 3,000 people passing through the gates over the Picnic Day long weekend. The Barkly Regional Arts’ event featured 27 performances, an extensive workshop series and an art fair over four days in Tennant Creek, the annual festival provided an opportunity to celebrate and showcase talented creatives from the Barkly region alongside some special guest performances.
Emma Pritchard. After celebrating his 100th birthday earlier this year, Clarence Valley resident and World War II veteran George Smith enjoyed another distinguished occasion on July 29 when he was presented with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) commemorative memento to honour him as an RAAF centenarian. Born in Strathblane, Tasmania, on March 1, 1922, Mr Smith grew up on his family’s dairy farm and joined the RAAF as an 18-year-old following the outbreak of WWII.
Australian musician Paul Kelly has written a song called Northern Rivers on his Rivers and Rain compilation album. While the song was written before the floods, its release is a poignant tribute to the Northern Rivers and a girl.
On the corner of Allans Road and High Street is a little library that is crammed full of books waiting to be read. It’s the brainchild of local residents Doug and Glenda, who created it just before the pandemic arrived. During Covid, when the Athenaeum Library and the Castlemaine Library were closed, Doug’s and Glenda’s library was many a reader’s salvation.
On the 15th November 1897, the first students rocked up to the new Nobby State School, signalling the start of one of the most successful small schools in the local area with students still achieving at the school in 2022. As well as having a good academic record, Nobby is a school that knows how to turn on a great event for its community so locals are looking forward to the celebration.
Celebrate the amazing environment, biodiversity and threatened species that call the Gloucester region home this September as part of the Gloucester Wild Festival. Australia is home to more than 500,000 animal and plant species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. In NSW there are close to 1000 species at risk of extinction, 116 of which are located in the Gloucester region.
There has never been a better time to visit Mullewa than right now. As the bush blooms all eyes are on the flourishing heart of wildflower country ... “Mullewa really is the place to be this time of year and it is not just about the wildflowers,”: City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn
Dunolly will come alive next month as the Gold Rush Festival makes its exciting return on the 22nd and 23rd of October. Events will get underway at the Dunolly Music Festival at the Dunolly Golf Club from 4pm to 10pm where Bebop-alula, Grim Fawkner, Chenai Boucher, Devils Brew and The Groove Dudes, will take to the stage.
The Central Goldfields are renowned for their diversity of spring Indigenous wildflowers, with the disturbance from historic mining creating a mostly open forest floor that allows for a diversity of smaller plants that can be easily viewed. Peter Haack, horticulturalist and Landscape Architect, will take you on a gentle wander through the Maldon Historic Reserve.
Bendigo’s stunning tulip displays will take centre stage in a new annual Bloom spring program that brings together 60 exciting events, experiences and attractions, including new night time activations in the city centre. A sea of 53,000 tulips will bloom from mid-September at the Conservatory Gardens, Queen Victoria Gardens, Civic Gardens and along Pall Mall.
Matt Nicholls, Sarah Martin, Samuel Davis. Just 450 people lived in Cooktown when Queen Elizabeth II sailed in on April 22, 1970. It was actually quicker for Her Majesty to travel by sea than road back then, such was the state of the road. Accompanied by His Royal Highness, the late Prince Philip, and their daughter Princess Anne, there was a buzz in the air when the Brittania appeared in the Endeavour River.
