A photographic project that combines health and the arts is helping people with disabilities to produce digitally altered self portraits that powerfully tell their stories

The shearers' quarters on Barenya Station, between Hughenden and Muttaburra in north west Queensland, was filled with talk and laughter recently, when local grazing families took some time out to have health checks, de-stress and socialise for a Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) field day.

It has been three years in the making: Justyn Atkins from Launceston is now putting the finishing touches on his trusty ute in preparation for the 2015 Deni Ute Muster.

The Nurses Union is putting pressure on the health board to act on IRC recommendations

Kimberley historian Dion Marinis has travelled to the US to meet the families of an air crew who died at Broome during the 1942 Japanese air raid on the remote town.

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.

The streets of Maryborough on the Fraser Coast were awash with pink as dogs and their owners took over the town for the Pooches on Parade event. The fashion parade was part of the Queensland city's inaugural Rockin' Maryborough Vintage Festival, a celebration of retro fashion, music and style.

In the end Mines Rovers were too good for Railways, securing their 42nd Goldfields Football League flag with a thumping 64-point win.

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.

The Mallee Park Peckers have taken out the 2015 A Grade football premiership in Port Lincoln, getting up over the Boston Tigers by 7 goals at Centenary oval.

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.

Food that would otherwise be thrown out is cooked up and served to the community at a Bendigo park.

In Maffra's memorial hall almost a million Lego pieces are being constructed into dragons, landmarks and streetscapes in an exhibition to raise money for the Central Gippsland Health Service.

A tribute to the hundreds of jockeys who have been killed during races in Australia since European settlement is being created by a stonemason in the heart of inland New South Wales.

A hospital corridor is not where you would normally find an art exhibition, but Busted is not a normal exhibition.

Riverland youngsters stepped back in time this week to make butter, fly kites and learn about the past when the Loxton Historical Village opened its doors for its annual Kids Day Out.

Oktoberfest celebrations took over Gladstone in Queensland, with hundreds of people turning out for the annual event. But it's not all about beer and sausages. Over the event's history it has raised thousands of dollars for local charities and helped people new to the area make connections in the city.

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.

After a sublime performance by the Vampires, some were saying that the newly constructed Pavilion at Bermagui may be the highest quality music venue between Nowra and Melbourne. The concert, presented by a local community group in a venue built by another local community group, combined a world-class band with an acoustically designed world-class venue.

When it comes to fashions on the field, it helps to have a head start.

Visitors to the City of Greater Geraldton's council chambers earlier this week were greeted with a display of more than 200 pink silhouettes strategically placed on the grassed area near the main entrance .

Step inside one of the beautiful open gardens on show during the Renmark Rose Festival. Artemis and Harry Ppiros are Greek immigrants who kept their green thumbs busy after retiring from their Riverland fruit block.

Musical therapist and violinist Greta Kelly uses the power of music to take people away from their daily worries. This is why she felt compelled to get in touch with Choir of Unheard Voices.

There is no shortage of heritage to celebrate and preserve at the New Norcia Monastery in Western Australia's Mid West.

Ospreys living around the coastal town of Jurien Bay, around 220 km north of Perth, have recently been given some newly renovated nests thanks to some recycled communication dishes.

From live music, dumpling demonstrations and kite making workshops for kids, to self-defence lessons, bird watching, contemporary dance performances and a bamboo lantern parade, there'll be something for everyone at BrisAsia this year! Delight your senses with 80 events jam packed into three weeks from January 27 - February 19 across the city.

At least eight US states are blocking health clinics from providing abortions, describing the procedure as non-essential during the pandemic.

National Cabinet is due to meet again this week to decide on the easing of nationwide COVID-19 restrictions on movement and businesses.

Minister for Population Alan Tudge said "the temporary migrant system is an important part of our economy".

The COVID-19 death toll at the Newmarch nursing home rose to 14 over the weekend, while a further 63 infections have been linked to staff and other residents.

The Auckland-based club arrived in Tamworth in the New England region of NSW yesterday for a 14-day period of training and quarantine.

Over the next couple of days we'll pass through the densest part of the long trail of ancient dust left by Halley's comet.

Two local leaders who rose to national prominence during the summer bushfires will likely slug it out for the major parties in the Eden Monaro by-election in southern New South Wales.

News Corp Australia claimed CSIRO's Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness in Geelong Victoria has been collaborating with the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Retailers have been at the economic epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic, with mass shutdowns in place for the past five weeks.

The case could have ramifications for climate challenges worldwide, including in Australia.

A study of riverbank sediment found there used to be a massive lake in the Lower Murray Darling, spanning hundreds of kilometres.

US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo insist they've seen intelligence proving that the virus began in a lab in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

The former South Australian Premier said it's now time for states and territories to take control of childcare and treat them more like schools.

Since late March, Alex Dekker has provided more than 10,000 meals to frontline workers in Victoria and New South Wales.

With the focus now firmly on rebooting Australia's economy, the Morrison Government intends to cut green tape and speed up nation building projects such as major roads, dams and mines.

The National Party is again embroiled in bitter infighting after Andrew Constance abandoned his bid for Liberal pre-selection for the seat.

Certain sounds called spherics and whistlers, which are electromagnetic waves, recorded in Antarctica by scientists, have been used in a new music piece called 'Aurora Musicalis'.

Kylie Moore-Gilbert, who continues to be held in an Iranian prison throughout this pandemic, despite more than 85,000 prisoners being temporarily released in Iran.

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.

Cardinal Pell said in a statement yesterday that he was "surprised" by some of the views of the royal commission about his actions, and that "these views are not supported by evidence".

Gary Nairn was the Federal Liberal MP for Eden Monaro from 1996 to 2007.