If Yamba’s Zac Oatley could secure his dream job it would be greeting people at the door as they enter Yamba Fair – now thanks to the Rotary Club of Yamba, the Gulmarrad Rural Fire Service, Phil and the Bowlo Sports and Leisure Yamba team and the generosity of the community who raised more than $10,500 he will be more comfortable enjoying one of his favourite activities.

Rachel Hagan. A little island off the coast of Edithburgh is about to be in the World Heritage spotlight, and locals hope this will be a catalyst to get more funding to properly care for it.

Placing their own safety at risk, Paul Mitchell – previous editor of The Murray Pioneer – and Craig Lueth immediately approached the burning vehicle, removing the injured driver just moments before the vehicle became fully engulfed.

The loss of a parent is devastating. Losing both is unimaginable, but photographer and horse lover Sarah Wheeler is turning her grief into hope for others suffering from liver, pancreatic, stomach, bile duct and oesophageal cancers.

With hazardous weather conditions forecast to impact parts of NSW over the coming days, including major Sydney beaches, Surf Life Saving NSW is urging the public to exercise caution when visiting the coastline.

Rachel Hagan. An icon of Port Vincent is staying afloat, after insurance costs threatened to dismantle the town’s summer fun. Small towns across the state have been forced to remove their pontoons because insurance companies are unwilling to provide cover for public liability.

Out of the 38 rescues made by volunteer surf lifesavers this morning 70 per cent of those rescues were carried out in the Yanchep zone, according to Surf Life Saving WA. Without the Yanchep Surf Life Saving Club (YSLSC) volunteer surf lifesavers coming to the aid of those people some of those rescues could have had a more serious result.

Serena Kirby. Denmark GP Alex Sleeman is learning to walk again after sustaining serious spinal injuries from a tractor accident on his property last September ... “I plan to do everything I used to do but I’ll just do it a bit differently and good luck to anyone that tells me I can’t do something.”

Noel Fisher. O’Brien Street Cohuna was a busy place over Christmas as Lawrence and Mel Mathers’ home became a central focus for young and old as Cohuna’s own LEGO land came alive. The couple first caught the Lego bug in 2018 after a Christmas visit to Mel’s parents.

Christine Webster. A volunteer organisation committed to preventing crime in the Waikerie area has gone into recess after 34 years of operation. Waikerie Neighbourhood Watch met for the last time at a lunch at the Waikerie Club on 5 December.

Family and friends are mourning the loss of an experienced pilot and real estate agent whose son was seriously injured when their light aircraft crashed after take-off from McIntyres Airfield at Palmers Island. It is understood Coffs Harbour real estate agent James ‘Jim’ Auld, 67, and his son Robert, aged 32, took off from South Grafton airport … on Sunday, December 29.

Sea urchins play an important ecological role on reefs in the Lord Howe Island Marine Park (LHIMP). They graze on seaweed, and sometimes completely clear it, creating unique habitats known as ‘barrens’ which are instead covered in encrusting algae and coral.

Why do we call this the Silly Season? Partly because the title gives us permission to let go a little and relax after a busy, bustling and stressful year. We might get silly with indulgences, parties and gifts at Christmas … but a little bit of thoughtfulness goes a long way, too. Caring interactions with each other, quality time and gratitude; these are all part of a successful festive season.

Be sure to take a tour of Allora and check out all the impressive Christmas lighting displays.

Maldon Kids Club Christmas Concert was absolute pandemonium, according to the coordinator of the event, Reverend Darcy Vaughan. The usually unflappable Rev. Darcy was challenged in every direction; the play featured 25 kids and a pony ... And what is the story with the robot, you ask?

A large gathering of community members appreciated the late change in venue for Carols on Sunday, December 14; and organisers were grateful to the Buloke Shire for providing the alternate location ... A two-hour program was prepared for the community, with Jane and Kieran Lamos leading the audience with “Aussie Jingle Bells” to get everyone started.

Serena Kirby. Site works will get underway in January for the construction of the $2-$3 million Golden Hill Steiner School high school facilities. The $900,000, 6ha block that adjoins the school was purchased in October by a foundation for school use. Half the block will be used for the new school buildings with the other half to be set aside for three residential lots.

When soldiers put their lives on the front line, long-term health challenges are almost inevitable, but assistance dogs are improving both the physical and mental wellbeing of those in need. Birchip resident Mr Jonathan (Jonny) Kemp has recently completed training with Integra Service Dogs Australia, becoming the custodian of an Integra-owned assistance dog named Capri.

Rachel Hagan. Sadly, the Coobowie osprey nest is down from six birds to just three, but osprey experts say there is a silver lining among all the bad news. Earlier on in the year, there was an osprey chick which wasn’t expected to make it in such a large nest and it, unfortunately, died, leaving the nest with three healthy chicks.

Have a heart and be a volunteer. "A community without volunteers, is a community without a heart." Those were the words of NSW Governor, The Honourable Margaret Beazley when she visited Yamba earlier this year. Ms Beazley expressed her serious concern about the decline in volunteers in communities across NSW and organisations across the Clarence Valley are feeling the pressure from the lack of people stepping up to help their communities.

Dr Fleur Stelling. Riverina communities have been successful in recovering the Southern bell frog from the brink of extinction ... Last week, the monitoring team from Charles Sturt University working on the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder’s science program in the Murrumbidgee, were thrilled to hear the unmistakable calls of the frogs and observe large numbers of tadpoles in the Lowbidgee wetlands – a clear sign that their population is recovering well.

Local Goomburra resident Corrie Ross was out with his trusty camera shooting some spectacular images. Local Goomburra resident Corrie Ross was out with his trusty camera shooting some spectacular images.

The group of riders known as Maldon Cycling has raised funds to purchase a trishaw for the residents of Mountview Nursing Home at Maldon Hospital, who are enjoying the opportunity to view the local neighbourhood at cycling pace … The residents, who simply nominate to have a ride and take turns each Thursday afternoon, are loving the trishaw.

Jenny Pollard. A half century of international support was celebrated by the Charlton Action for World Development (AWD) Group last Friday night with the milestone occasion also bringing a bitter-sweet end to the small, but passionate entourage ... Including former guest speakers, foundation members and many supporters, the evening was a testament to the desire to create tangible benefits and build understanding about places and people whose lives, cultures and situations were so different to the Charlton locale.

Scott O’Keeffe. Around 15 years ago, people living in the Maleny area of Southeast Queensland noticed a decline in the health of some large mature bunya pines (Araucaria bidwillii). The crowns of the trees began turning brown, quickly followed by foliage well below the crown. Within a short time, all foliage would be shed, branches cast, and the affected tree would be dead ... Araucarian Dieback (AD) is on the move.

The man who pled guilty to transporting homemade pipe bombs along the Sturt Highway will serve his sentence in the community. Thirty-three-year-old Timacoy Jason Williams remained in custody after pleading guilty to all charges at his October 4 appearance at Griffith Local Court and was sentenced on November 20 by Magistrate Wright.

Following the wet La Niña years with widespread flooding, drier conditions have resulted in a drop in waterbird numbers and breeding in 2024. UNSW’s annual waterbird survey, conducted by researchers and government collaborators, has observed fewer waterbirds breeding and a drop of nearly 50 per cent in overall numbers, compared to 2023.