What’s On

Dairy farmers in southern NSW are being encouraged to have their say on Australia's first mandatory dairy code, with consultation in Bega and Nowra later this month. It's hoped a mandatory code would improve contract negotiations between dairy farmers and processors and incorporate an effective dispute resolution process. It's an idea that springs from a recent review by the Australian Competition and...

Cooma's sister city bond with the Japanese city of Yamaga is on display this week. Locals will notice a Japanese delegation in town, as the Cooma Lions Club steps up once again to play host of this bi-annual exchange. The group of 27 high school students and eight adults arrived on Sunday (November 4) for a busy 6-day program that...

Ros and Gordon Butt are about to enjoy their first Eden Whale Festival as spectators rather than as busy tour operators aboard Cat Balou. The new owners of this famous Eden vessel will be on the water this year instead, hoping to thrill visitors. For the first time, Ros and Gordon, who are pioneers of whale watching in New South Wales...

Like it or loathe it Halloween is increasingly becoming part of what young Australian families do on October 31. One Bega Valley community has trialed a way of managing the American side of this tradition that answers some of the concerns parents have and brings the community together; it appears to have been a success. The residents of Kalaru, between Bega and...

Over the last seven months, the Bega Valley community has shown great resilience in the face of bushfires. That said, it has been tough and people will struggle for a while yet. On Thursday night (November 1) community leaders from a number of other regional areas will be in Tathra to share their experience: • Jane Laverty, Regional Manager, Northern Rivers NSW...

A 62-year-old motorcyclist has died on the Monaro Highway at Cooma this morning (October 30). Emergency services were called to the single-vehicle accident at around 10.40 am, tragically the male rider died at the scene. The accident comes amidst a large volume of motorbike traffic moving through the region returning home from the Australian Moto Grand Prix at Phillip Island. The...

As anticipation builds for Canberra's biggest summer of cricket, think of the man behind the scenes who is tasked with one of the most important jobs this summer. Brad van Dam is the head curator of Manuka Oval and he is entrusted with the task of making sure Canberra's premier cricket venue is ready to host two Big Bash clashes, a...

Goulburn Mulwaree Council’s new Youth Services Co-ordinator is all about delivering outcomes for the region’s youth. No ifs, buts or maybes, the programs Luke Wallace wants to bring forward will all have some benefit for young people. “They will be meaningful programs that support all our young people. Like Vibefest (the annual youth music festival) which gave youth performing, administration...

The Canberra Symphony Orchestra and Four Winds, Bermagui have joined the music world in mourning the passing of Richard Gill, who died from cancer at his Sydney home on Sunday morning (28 October), less than a week before his 77th birthday. The CSO said it echoed the deep sadness felt by Australia’s music community at the loss of Gill, one of the...

Last weekend, Goulburn celebrated its annual Steampunk Victoriana Fair at the Goulburn Historic Waterworks. A hub for retro-futuristic enthusiasts, the event was brimming with colourful costumes, music, and designs displaying the creativity of some very imaginative people. However, even when zany events like the Steampunk Victoriana Fair aren't taking place, there are still plenty of reasons to visit this scenic...

The Canberra Raiders are working towards a new agreement with the ACT Government regarding home games in the ACT as the club looks to find the perfect balance to please both regional and local Green Machine fans. The Raiders will host the Penrith Panthers in Wagga Wagga in the fifth round of the 2019 season after the club signed a two-year...

Marcus Callum has beaten an outstanding collection of finalists to win the 2018 Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award. Mr Callum, who trained in Sydney and New York, is a three-time Archibald Prize finalist and won the Black Swan Portrait Prize in 2015. His oil on linen creation entitled ‘Meg’ was singled out from a strong field of 35 finalists by...

For just a few weeks a year, a small and delicate waratah can be seen at Monga National Park, 20 minutes east of Braidwood, just off the Kings Highway near Clyde Mountain. From late October the Telopea mongaensis brings a contrasting splash of red to the variations of green along the Mongarlowe River. This little-known Monga Waratah, a shrub up...

The drive and momentum of the Bega Valley Innovation Hub is about to crystallise with the launch of this dynamic new frontier in the local economy. Business people, entrepreneurs, school students, anyone is invited to the launch on October 29 at the Bega Civic Centre. This long-held ambition of the local tech and entrepreneur community really started to take off...

Two Bega Valley organisations known for good times are combining this Saturday (October 20) for the ultimate eighties dance party. "Pump Up The Heat is a party with a twist. There will be DJs and dancing, a little bit of competition and plenty of awesome eighties moves," says dance teacher Mica Lynnah. The night is a joint effort between the...

When Charly Thorn was just 17 years of age, she presented her first full fashion collection on the runway at FASHFEST—the youngest designer to ever do so in the capital’s annual fashion event. One of her gowns was worn by supermodel Anneliese Seubert and guests were so impressed with Charly’s fashion they gave her a standing ovation. "It’s a moment...