April 30, 2026
On the couch with Jasminda
Jasminda's Advice

On the couch with Jasminda

DEAR Jasminda, MANY years ago, my husband and I bought a vertical burial plot with space for three people. My husband died years ago, we didn’t have any children, and I recently met another man. Do you think it would be okay if my new soul mate and I used the two remaining plot spaces […]

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The Write Direction: Resurrection of REX
The Write Direction

The Write Direction: Resurrection of REX

WITH the expectation of good news for regional and rural residents, I thought that I would look more deeply into the possible resurrection of REX Airlines. The federal government has been propping up the airline in order to ensure regional and remote communities remain serviced by viable aviation options. Their main action was to buy […]

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‘On the couch’ with Jasminda
Jasminda's Advice

‘On the couch’ with Jasminda

DEAR Jasminda, FOR five years, I have been minding a friend’s dog (Minty) while they go on holidays. This is usually no problem; the dog and I get on very well. This time, though, I was left with instructions that Minty (who is 15) now eats breakfast at 4.30am and dinner at 3.00pm every day, […]

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Stargazing: The secret star maps of moths
Opinion

Stargazing: The secret star maps of moths

ON a moonless night, when the world goes quiet and even the gum trees seem to hold their breath, something small is commuting through the darkness. Not a drone. Not a late-night bird. Just a moth, humble, silent, and roughly the size of your thumb flying with the confidence of a seasoned pilot. Inside that […]

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The Write Direction: A saviour has arrived
The Write Direction

The Write Direction: A saviour has arrived

BACK in February this year I wrote about our disappearing airlines, particularly the ones that serve regional and rural areas. The big boys are only interested in the high-volume capital city traffic which means that the lesser populated but important regional areas are at real risk of losing air services to the capital cities. My […]

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OPINION: Local history just shed a branch The Police Station fig tree a century ago
Opinion

OPINION: Local history just shed a branch

FOR many years I have been compiling a folder on the trees of the Tea Gardens area, with photographs I have collected and taken, recording their various stages of growth and researching their history. The loss of a huge branch from the Moreton Bay Fig outside the Police Station was sad news for us all, […]

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Letter to the Editor: Charging phones
Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Charging phones

DEAR News Of The Area, I AM an older parent and have accepted the fact that my children and wife come first in regards to IT requirements and usage. It is only natural that, like a musical instrument, the more practice means the more expertise. However, why may it be that when I look for […]

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Letter to the Editor: False assertions on Tomago
Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: False assertions on Tomago

DEAR News Of The Area, I REFER to the recent letter from Charles Hemming, in which he links the increasing amount of renewable energy in the grid to what he terms as the likely demise of the Tomago Aluminium Smelter. This assertion is not true. All of the smelter’s electrical power is currently supplied by […]

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