Paris Hilton, gender parity, Siberian tigers: 3 good-news stories for the holidays
Hello and happy Thursday. There are 32 days until the inauguration and, bust out the tissues, this is my last newsletter until Jan. 7. That…
Prisoners nurse injured wildlife to health at Beechworth Correctional Centre
Wombats, eagles, kangaroos and snakes aren't your typical prison inhabitants. But Beechworth Correctional Centre in north-east Victoria is proving the perfect place for these injured…
Why Dallas left film and chose to return to life as a sheep farmer at Towri Sheep Cheeses
In short: Dallas Davidson gave up the "glitzy" city life to return to work on her family's sheep farm.She said she made her decision after…
Australia’s oldest woman, Lorna Henstridge, celebrates her 110th birthday in Bordertown
In short: Lorna Henstridge, who turns 110 today, is the second oldest person in Australia.She and her daughter say exercise and good genes have helped…
Are places like the Hunter’s Alesco Secondary College the answer to school refusal?
When Emily Large thinks about her time at high school, she can be quite emotional. “When I was in mainstream schools, I had under six per…
Loxton 94-year-old Percy Voigt proves age is no barrier to achieving athletic success
As the autumn sun shines down on the Kadina race track, crowds gather for the main event of the 2024 SA Masters Games: the 100-metre…
Bordertown’s Tolmer Speedway now considered best after replicating I-55 Raceway in US
In short: A speedway track in South Australia has been built to exactly replicate another in the United States. The club has received support from the…
Finger lime farmer marries her mountain-climbing match at next-level ceremony in Glass House Mountains
Jade King's story is proof that you can find a romantic match anywhere — even in a car park after abseiling down a mountain.The road…
Opera singers Allegra Giagu and Charlotte Goode bring their passion for music to regional towns
The country Victorian town of Tongala found itself in the national spotlight last year when 18-year-old local footy legend Harley Reid was drafted by the…
Community cooking classes help make healthy meals more affordable and teach how to beat rising food prices
In short: Cooking classes run through neighbourhood houses are helping people learn to prepare healthy and affordable food.The rising cost of food has prompted a…
Gen Z publicans pay off Stonehenge Hotel in western Queensland with loan from former owner
If you ask Gen Z publicans Grant Champion and Tom Auriac if they stood a chance at taking out a bank loan to purchase their…
Artist Marj Millar known for Brazen Hussies on Regency cards launches exhibition of life’s work
In short: Marj Miller, 96, has worked as an illustrator and cartoonist for more than 70 years.She is holding an exhibition of her life's work, including her…
East Kimberley desert channel systems come to life following biggest wet season in decades
In short: After the best wet season in decades, a remote Kimberley desert lake system is in full flow.Paruku, or Lake Gregory, has risen dramatically over…
Pen pal program helps war widows find friendship and revive the art of letter writing
Ruth Russell, 75, has never met the woman she exchanges letters with once a month.But over the past two years, the pair have forged a…
Technology giving quadruple amputee Jessica Haldin and others with disability the chance to drive
As a teen, Jessica Haldin watched on as her school friends got their driver's licences and secured their tickets to freedom.It was something she wanted…
Ron Schneider’s vast array of vintage vehicles includes a tank, Canberra bomber and hundreds of heritage cars
From the road, you may not notice anything out of the ordinary about Ron Schneider's property at Marnoo in the Wimmera farming region of western…
Life on Willis Island in the Coral Sea, one of the world’s most remote weather stations
Welcome to Willis Island: population four.The tiny atoll is a speck in the Coral Sea — a two-day, 450-kilometre boat journey from Cairns.For the island's…
Matchcraft pioneer Len Hughes still making mind-blowing models from matchsticks after 60 years
Len Hughes pioneered the unusual art of matchcraft.Over the past 60 years, the 88-year-old has made hundreds of intricate models out of glue and tiny…
WA singer Shenai Johnson reflects on music, empowering women as she heads to Nashville
Sitting on the front porch of her rustic farmhouse, surrounded by fig and olive trees, Shenai Johnston reflects on the impact music has had on…
Buffalo milk and meat a healthy, versatile alternative, says pioneering dairy farmer
An 85-year-old inspiration, Margaret Thompson heads into Maleny Buffalo's dairy every day to keep her late husband Mal's legacy alive.The petite, deep-thinking, determined farmer is…