March 15, 2026
On the couch with Jasminda
Jasminda's Advice

On the couch with Jasminda

DEAR Jasminda, We have a few family members who work from home and our mannerisms and work styles are getting on each other’s nerves. How do we improve our work-from-home balance? Megan P. Dear Megan, Research by Roy Morgan (2025) stated that more than 6.7 million Australians work from home at least some of the […]

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On the couch with Jasminda
Jasminda's Advice

On the couch with Jasminda

DEAR Jasminda, There is only one New Year’s Resolution I have and that is to start doing some exercise. I know it’s good for me, but I detest physical activity. Now I’m in my mid-fifties, it hurts my joints and that just makes me feel worse. Do you have any suggestions? Evie H. Dear Evie, […]

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From the mayor’s desk: Cr Claire Pontin
From The Mayor's Desk

From the mayor’s desk: Cr Claire Pontin

Welcome to another year. For many residents, 2025 was a challenging and difficult 12 months, which saw our region endure the worst flood in recorded history in May, followed by devastating bushfires last month. The bushfire danger, unfortunately, has not yet abated, and I ask all residents to be prepared in case we have more […]

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The Write Direction: new aspirations
The Write Direction

The Write Direction: new aspirations

NEW Year – New Aspirations. Rather than going over the trials and tribulations of last year, I prefer to look ahead with renewed vigour in order to see what our society can do better, in order to make improvements to our way of life. The area that offends me greatly, and needs to be corrected […]

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Letter to the Editor: Reflection on the final weeks of 2025 Cr O’Keefe with newly promoted Stroud SES Deputy Unit Commander Sandy Snape at the site of the sod-turning in Stroud.
Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Reflection on the final weeks of 2025

DEAR News Of The Area, ANOTHER year has come to an end, and it has been, once again, a big one for us all. I would like to reflect on the last few weeks for a moment. After serious rains and floods in autumn, summer has brought an unsettling return to bushfire season with the […]

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The Write Direction: Super stats
The Write Direction

The Write Direction: Super stats

INTERESTING information has just been released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showing that more Australians are now living from their superannuation investments than those receiving a pension from the government. This is a really productive situation. Some of the praise must go to ex-Prime Minister Paul Keating, who introduced incentives to have Australian […]

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