Enough research has already been done to demonstrate the benefits in terms of increased concentration and application to normal daily and educational tasks. 

All over the world, individuals, professions, business corporations and government school systems are adopting the regular practice of mindfulness to personal, social and organisational advantage.

Why should our school children be denied the benefits that could be gained from using the half-hour slot available to 90 per cent of them in this way? The skills of local researchers and practitioners are readily available to our school communities for this purpose.

I debated whether I would bother to vote in the Armidale Regional Council elections because they took my right to vote for our own council after the forced amalgamation. However the thought of the $55 fine, changed my mind!

Can you imagine being asked to pick out six ‘true and honest citizens’ out of 45 unknowns!!

However, I wanted to support Simon Murray (Guyra’s representative) so off I went only to find my name has been taken off the roll!! Who has the right to do that? What next? No S.S.M forms, I suppose!

My sincere thanks are extended to the Armidale, Uralla and nearby New England communities, following the recent Legacy Badge Appeals Week activities.

Legacy was originally designed to care for the families of service personnel who have lost their lives or health (physical or mental) as a result of military service to our country. Legacy provides advocacy and educational, financial and mentoring assistance to these families.

Since its inception in 1923, Legacy has been a self-funded organisation. There is no external or government funding, and each of the 49 Legacy Clubs in the nation must raise their operating funds within their own communities.

Importantly, all funds raised by Legacy are spent in that community and every cent reaches the target, due to Legacy being staffed by volunteers (Legatees). 

The Legacy Club of Armidale encompasses Tenterfield, Glen Innes, Guyra, Uralla and Walcha, and at present there are 290 families being cared for by 78 Legatees.

In Armidale, collectors were on the street, in businesses and around the pubs and clubs.

Most of our Legatees were involved and there were many other individuals and groups who helped our cause, for which we are very grateful.

I would particularly like to thank the groups of students from Armidale High, Duval High and O'Connor Catholic College for their very effective contribution on the Thursday, and to a group of Regional Australia Bank staff who assisted at different times over two days.

Thank you especially to the community for your support in enabling us to continue our very important charter.

Back when Australia had a Labor government and New England had Tony Windsor, in the last Labor Budget (2013) there was an allocation of funds to upgrade the New England Highway at Bolivia Hill.  Not before time.

Under the Lib-Nat government we've had since then, and with Barnaby Joyce in for New England, that money has not been spent.  Bolivia Hill remains as bad as ever, as do Ben Lomond and the Moonbis.  

Suddenly, however, there has been announcement that -- lo ! - the New England Highway at Bolivia Hill will be improved by the Lib-Nat government.  Labor, of course, cynically asked in Parliament whether this had anything to do with an upcoming by-election in New England, given that Barnaby Joyce is really a Kiwi.

The Lib-Nat government's answer to this question was that New England has never, ever had better representation.  So, memo to Ian Sinclair:  now that you're dead, go and get buried, would you?

Despite regular breaches of Australian live-export laws in multiple countries – resulting in the suffering of hundreds of thousands of animals – not one export company has been prosecuted on charges of cruelty to animals.

Following the deaths of 3027 sheep aboard Al Messilah, a cargo ship operated by Perth-based exporter Emanuel Exports, the Government of Western Australia has requested that constitutional barriers to the punishment of live exporters over animal-welfare concerns be removed.

Total abolition of the live-export industry is the best solution, but, in the meantime, placing jurisdiction regarding matters of animal welfare in the hands of the state governments whose regulations are violated when a live-export voyage results in animal suffering and/or death is a reasonable and necessary step.