Today millions of Australians will attend Anzac Day services locally in places such as Greenmount and Westbrook, across the country and overseas at important sites including Villers-Bretonneux and Gallipoli ... A resident of Tranter Street in Top Camp has crafted this touching tribute to Australia’s military past at their property.

Volunteering rates Australia-wide are yet to fully recover to their pre-Covid levels, according to new research. Newstead Men’s Shed is no exception when it comes to attracting volunteers.

Local Buloke Shire Young Citizen of the year (2024), Blake Lee, and Birchip P-12 teacher, Marian Haddrick, have created an advertisement for the township of Birchip to encourage a swell in population to take up the available employment opportunities in the region.  

The region needs more volunteer firefighters. That’s the call from SA Volunteers Firefighters Museum (SAVFFM) chairman Alan Hall ... Mr Hall highlighted this as the SAVFFM held its ninth memorial service ... to honour those who have given their lives protecting homes and lives from fires across the state.

Shaun Hollis. A ground-breaking study into the movement of coastal sand dunes paints a picture of what will likely happen to Yorke Peninsula’s extensive dune systems across coming decades, according to a leading global coastal studies expert. Flinders University Professor Patrick Hesp said, as rising sea levels and less rainfall impact coastlines, dunes will increasingly migrate back from beaches and encroach on properties behind them.

... Upon discovering the ovens on his property Mick Cattanach along with local Waradgery man, John ‘Gubba’ Woods decided to fence off approximately six acres of land to protect it from stock degradation and to make it a private reserve for the generations to come ... What happened next is an example of how everyday Australians can voluntarily help the ‘Close the Gap’ initiative with practical and sustainable outcomes, with the use of volunteer labour.

There was not a spare seat in sight for the closure service of the Cambooya Uniting Church ... over 70 people filled the church, to hear the Passion of Christ and give thanks for this tiny church’s contribution to Cambooya and the surrounding districts ... Rev. John said there was no more appropriate day in the Christian Calendar than Good Friday to allow ourselves to grieve.

Lower Clarence residents will hear the sound of Royal Australian Air Force supersonic fighter jets in the skies over the next two months as squadrons conduct training exercises from the Evans Head Air Weapons Range. The training of pilots in the Number 1 Squadron and the Number 2 Operational Conversion Unit involved training flights and air-to-ground bombing training in both F/A -18F Super Hornets and F-35A Lightning II jets during April and May.

Serena Kirby. Local winemaker Mike Garland was one of 50 cyclists who stopped in at Denmark Senior High School as part of WA’s annual Ride For Youth fundraiser. The cyclists joined 150 students from years eight and nine to talk about youth mental health.

Approximately 100 people of various cultural backgrounds attended the 2024 Harmony Day celebrations held at the Nhill Memorial Community Centre on Thursday 21 March 2024, marking it as one of the largest Harmony Day celebrations in Hindmarsh to date. Attendees were treated to a range of entertainment and performances including singing, dancing, demonstrations and talks that were provided by local and visiting artists.

With the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) Good Friday Appeal being held ... we have brought you the story of young Frank Skratulja, whose family has utilised the services of the hospital since June 2022 as well as the Mercy and Sunshine hospitals. Frank was born just before his identical twin brother Luka on May 25, 2022 at the Mercy Hospital.

Tennant Creek Women’s Refuge provides vital support for women escaping domestic violence; in many cases, these women and children have had to leave behind treasured possessions or much-loved pets. Recently the Refuge was gifted three baby rabbits, which were unfortunately orphaned when their mother died, and are looking to build a suitable enclosure ...

At recent Birchip and Wycheproof Probus Club meetings, an intriguing question from the Buloke Shire Council’s Community Recovery Team kicked off an essential conversation: “If you had to leave your home in a hurry, what would you take?” This question opened up a broader discussion on emergency preparedness, emphasising the need to know what to pack and where to find reliable information.

Mount Alexander Shire Council is proud to be one of the supporters of a new resource to help people learn how to make their home or property ready for extreme weather events. The Castlemaine Institute and Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance, in partnership with ADAPT Loddon Mallee, have developed the ‘Home Upgrades for Climate Resilience Workbook,’...

The Newstead Community Energy Project (aka solar farm) will be commissioned during the second half of 2024 (date TBC). The inverter, solar panels and most of the tracking system have been installed.

Anne Hughes. The ground-walking, weak-flying birds you see on your trip down the Sunraysia Highway to Ballarat are one of Australia’s most amazing birds - the White-winged Chough (pron. chuff). With their sooty-black livery, startling ruby-red eyes and, when they take to the air, black-edged white wings they are obviously not crows (we don’t have ’em down here) or ravens either.

Remember that old saying, “You can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girl”? Peta Credlin AO, host of the “Credlin” program on Sky News Australia, columnist with News Corp, and former Australian Liberal Party dynamo, amongst many other accolades, made a flying visit to Wycheproof over the recent long weekend.

Jess Hattam. After a successful trial of Puppy Carers in the South East, Australian Lions Hearing Dogs are so excited to announce another Puppy Socialiser Information Session. This information session will provide attendees all the information they need of what it takes to open their home and hearts to one of our adorable future Assistance Dogs.

A group of gardening enthusiasts is giving Tennant Creek’s community garden a new lease on life. Situated on the main street next to Barkly Quality Butchers, the green thumbs have launched a new initiative to rejuvenate the garden and make it productive once again.

Serena Kirby. The Denmark Men’s Shed now has more women than men using its facilities. Every Tuesday and Friday the shed is taken over by Women’s Shed members and there’s been no shortage of women wanting to get on the tools to build, repair and repurpose a wide range of items.

Patricia Gill. Denmark school students are part of a landscape-scale move to re-establish the breeding of black cockatoos in the region. To spark their students’ enthusiasm, environmentalist Simon Cherriman visited four schools recently and helped the students build four nesting boxes at each school from recycled materials ... The Denmark Men’s Shed will build 40 nest boxes ...

A CSIRO study recently identified balloons among the top three most harmful pollutants threatening marine wildlife, along with plastic bags and bottles ... Plastic Reduction Denmark has been providing an alternative for the past five years – ‘borrow and return’ bunting is made from pre-loved fabrics in many colours and designs to suit every occasion.

Kerry Cain. Last Saturday, the Newstead Fire Brigade impressed attendees at the Newstead Pool Party by showcasing its latest addition, the Field Command Vehicle (FCV). With this specially equipped vehicle, the brigade can now respond more effectively and decisively to emergencies of all kinds and direct and deploy its appliances and personnel, as well as those of other services, as required.

Of all the things that challenges a leader’s energy and stress levels is the need to constantly coach the right mindsets and behaviours into others. Doing this effectively requires a patient, deliberate and an ongoing approach, rather than angry outbursts. It is important for a leader to start any behavioural coaching conversation by assuming best intentions, whether this is the case or not. A coaching conversation that begins with both parties being emotionally charged or angry never leads anywhere constructive.

As Scenic Rim residents continue to repair and rebuild following the devastating Christmas-New Year storms, native animals are re-establishing their homes as green shoots of recovery appear in bushland areas … a survey over three nights of a Council natural area at Tamborine aimed to assess the damage to habitat and its impacts on koalas and greater gliders to assist Scenic Rim Regional Council's efforts in protecting these endangered species.

More than 190 graduate nurses and midwives will commence work throughout the Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) in 2024. They are among more than 3400 graduate nurses and midwives to begin work across the state this year.