Hamish MacLean

The Clutha District RSA honoured 14 members of the RSA with lifetime memberships earlier this month, the first time since 2006 life memberships have been handed out at Balclutha.

A Balclutha hip-hop crew is gearing up for one of the biggest performances of their lives with a little help from a star in the dance world.

The possibility of the Queenstown Lakes Community being asked to take over ownership of health facilities at the Lakes District Hospital, might surprise locals, but it is common in the province. The Southern District Health Board cannot upgrade the Frankton facility and fund a $100 million Dunedin regional hospital rebuild, and was looking at options such as trust ownership. There are various ownership options of health facilities in Otago.

Southern companies reliant on the dairy sector expect to be able to weather the dramatic slashing of the milk-price forecast for the coming year.

State Highway 1 south of Balclutha was closed for about an hour yesterday after a trailer being towed by a truck was blown on to its side by strong wind near Kaihiku about 11am.

Visitors to any one of New Zealand's 81 tourism i-Site offices this summer will see Clutha as a holiday destination, for the first time.

Fresh out of the box from Finland, a $1 million 1470E John Deere bought by South Otago forestry operator Mike Hurring Logging is the first of its kind in New Zealand.

Vets believe a new variety of swede being fed to Southland dairy cows is behind the deaths of more than 200 animals in the last two months.

When the doors to West Otago's new medical centre were opened to the public in Tapanui yesterday, the praise went to the ''courageous resilience'' of the community that made it happen.

First-time candidate Todd Barclay won decisively in the National stronghold of Clutha-Southland.

A 19-year-old Owaka man was airlifted to Dunedin Hospital after losing control of his vehicle on his way to work yesterday morning.

A Milton man was arrested and charged with arson after police noticed a fire burning at the rear of the Salvation Army building in Union St about midnight on Wednesday.

A dynasty will be recognised when the Milton Volunteer Fire Brigade honours a long-standing member with a Gold Star for 25 years of service on Saturday.

Balclutha may seem like an unlikely spot for a budding fashion business, but, as Hamish MacLean discovered, it suits Gina Gardner down to the ground.

After eight years' work, including more than 5000 volunteer hours, the group responsible for the Clutha Gold Trail had its efforts recognised in Balclutha this week.

Food for Kaitangata is grown by residents of Kaitangata.

Corey Bryan (left), Jason Lapthorne, Simon Hales (with 6-month-old daughter Charlotte) and Jared Van Der Laan (with 18-month-old son Seth) have earned their Father's Day rewards this year.

Catlins LandSAR has moved into a new home. Hamish MacLean talks to committed member Lianne Latta, who knows what it feels like to be lost in the bush.