A crazy bunch of clowns on a sensory journey

NORPA's 2013 season opened with the captivating gothic classic, Frankenstein, and what a pick that was to see in the renovations at Lismore City Hall.

Deckchair Reviewer John Gilby reviews one of the year's most acclaimed films, 12 Years a Slave.

Steve McQueen's third feature is a powerful and uncompromising look at the horrors of African American slavery and features strong performances and first rate production values

Geoff Hutchison reviews the most talked about film of the year - 12 Years a Slave.

A report into hazing at the University of New England finds female students were pressured into sexual acts, "slapped on the arse" by a line of men before entering a party and told to lock their doors at night.

Five years after her partner was murdered at work, a New South Wales woman says she is shattered by an amnesty for those who broke the laws he was trying to enforce.

A former shearer tells how he turned away from life as a wealthy businessman to find happiness.

A Tasmanian police officer is charged over a car crash that killed a pedestrian from New South Wales earlier this year.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made life on the streets more difficult than ever and despite government promises to help, Lionel says he has been "hearing that for a long time and nothing happens".

Hotel Bruny owner Dave Gunton is helping to feed the island's residents during the coronavirus crisis, as many welcome a return to quieter times of growing vegetables and producing salt from seawater.

Jessica and James Brewer are volunteering in a Mozambican slum for the fourth year running, only this time they are expecting a child, parenting a toddler and dealing with the challenges of coronavirus.

Rachel and Daniel Weeks are living on a national park in the middle of Bass Strait, embracing their isolation. But they feel like they are missing out on nothing during the COVID-19 crisis thanks to the crowds now on popular apps.

New Zealand man Cody Frost is sentenced to 10-and-a-half years in jail for manslaughter after he gave a stranger his last cigarette, called him mate and then stabbed him outside a Melbourne train station in 2017.

A worker who mistreated six elderly residents at a Melbourne home was suspended three times but allowed to continue working after he passed an elder abuse questionnaire, the aged care royal commission hears.

Usually by this time of year, there'd be 40,000 mutton birds on south-west Victoria's Griffiths Island. So far, fewer than 100 of the birds have arrived from their 15,000km journey from the northern hemisphere.

Victorian racing authorities announce a plan for retired racehorses to be euthanased on farms to save them from abattoirs and knackeries, in response to an ABC investigation that exposed cruel treatment of thoroughbreds.

A man responsible for an "atrocious attack" on an off-duty paramedic during a crime spree on the Mornington Peninsula last year is sentenced to five years and nine months in jail.

Every fortnight, dozens on Indigenous students of all ages arrive at Noorla Heritage Resort in Ingham in north Queensland. They spend the week running the resort and working towards qualifications in small business, hospitality, management and tourism.

An array of Pacific Island communities converged on the Mackay Botanical Gardens last weekend to take part in the region's first Pasifika Festival. The event highlighted Mackay's diverse cultures by showcasing traditional artwork, food and performances.

Gippsland residents are enjoying conceptual and abstract art from Melbourne and revelling in local artist contributions along the way, in the exhibition Synthetica.

After a trip to Venice, West Gippsland artist Anita George was inspired to turn off her computer and write and draw with brush, pen and paper once again. Her passion has resulted in the exhibition Ink Talks, dissecting words, language and intent.

Meredith Ireland has spent the last six years studying and working in the finance sector, but recently she has decided to put more time into her passion, textiles and weaving.

One year ago, Jai Balmer was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. With help from Make-A-Wish Australia, Jai's dream of becoming an aviation photographer is more determined than ever.

The idea was simple; find a spot in Australia with some of the best weather in the world, move there, and start brewing German beer.

Each Thursday in a back-alley warehouse, a group of volunteers come together to meticulously clean, repair and catalogue artefacts collected from the remnants of a Chinese temple that once stood proud in the Cairns CBD.

Being a mum for the first time can be scary and overwhelming, but local mums and bubs groups can help ease the process. And being an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander mother, getting culturally sensitive support is even more important, which is why Orbost's Koori mums and bubs program has been growing in popularity since it started in 2008.

More than 40 years after the conclusion of the Vietnam War many of those who served still bear physical and psychological scars as a result of the conflict. On Vietnam Veterans' Day members of the far north Queensland community paused to pay tribute to those who fought in the name of their country.

The shooting of Nambour director Chris Sun's fourth horror epic is underway in the small country town of Kandanga in the Mary Valley. If you are lucky enough to pass through the one street hamlet in the next month you will see some of Australia's finest actors. ABC Sunshine Coast spoke to a few of them about the experience.

Colourful artwork, vibrant food and a dazzling array of traditional dress are on display in Cairns as far north Queensland's Indonesian community celebrates Multicultural Week.

When John Spunner bought his first rusted horse-led dray 35 years ago, he didn't know he was beginning what would become a hobby, or what could be called an obsession.

Cyclists have converged on the Darling Downs for the annual Cycle Queensland tour. They have become experts on our back roads, riding past road trains, and dodging cranky magpies.

On a cattle property near the outback Queensland town of Barcaldine, Jocelyn Chandler has created a spectacular green oasis with her own bare hands. Her garden has undergone a dramatic transformation since she and her husband bought the property in 1979, when there was just one mango tree, one kurrajong tree, and a couple of shrubs near the house.

Cowboys fever is ramping up in Townsville in north Queensland in anticipation of Saturday night's elimination final against the Cronulla Sharks. Meet some of the fans who will be cheering the Cowboys to victory.

An array of spectacular orchid displays attracted more than 2,500 people from across Queensland to the Australian Orchid Council conference and show in Mackay at the weekend.

When horse racing began in the outback Queensland town of Longreach in 1890 Australia had never had a Prime Minister, the Sydney Harbour Bridge was still decades away from being built and motorcars were just a dream for the future of the country. One hundred and twenty-five years later the Longreach Jockey Club has survived and prospered - and even made history when it appointed Australia's first female racing club president.

For a week, knights, elves and fairies made the rolling hills of Gippsland their home as they battled for glory. Meanwhile, a dragon-decorated castle is becoming a popular choice for weddings.

What began as a small campaign protesting against the proposed Bendigo mosque has gained the support of far-right anti-Islamic groups, spilling from social media to the streets and into a council meeting. Four Muslims from Bendigo talk about how it has affected them.

Some refer to them as silent ninjas, others call them dive bombers. But the common name for the iconic black and white bird is a magpie.

The importance of empowering women worldwide was at the forefront of discussion when hundreds of women gathered in north Queensland recently. Many of them said education was the key.

While the National Cabinet has shown considerable unity throughout the COVID-19 crisis, the one point of tension has been schools and whether they should be open for face-to-face lessons.

Auslan interpreters have been in high demand this year as they convey critical and life-saving information to the deaf and hard of hearing community.

It's the holy month of Ramadan, which usually means Muslims don't eat or drink during the day and gather at night at food markets and mosques to break the fast.

Not every state and territory has put into law the code of conduct, which aims to provide rental waivers and deferrals for commercial tenants.

National Cabinet has already set a two-month timetable for the return to the workplace of the estimated one million Australians currently working from home.

The small rural community of Torrita fights to keep safe speed limits through their town, and to acknowledge their existence.

The Woorabinda Aboriginal Shire Council in central Queensland gives its government-owned supermarket contractor the flick after years of battling inflated prices.