Sally Rae

School's out for popular North Otago teacher Gill McCone.  Mrs McCone (61) retires today after eight years at Duntroon School and a 30-year teaching career.

Vandals smashed more than 30 windows at the old Oamaru Hospital this week, causing damage estimated at thousands of dollars.

A 6m organ pipe was carefully winched into place at St Patricks Basilica in Oamaru yesterday.

One of North Otago's most prominent homes, Tokarahi Homestead, has been sold.  The homestead, named in National Business Review's  top 100 homes list in 2001, was restored in Victorian style by Mike and Lyn Gray, who speak to Sally Rae about the ambitious project and moving on.

The Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre at the Hermitage Hotel at Aoraki Mt Cook will be officially opened by June, Lady Hillary, on May 29. Sally Rae visits the centre which pays tribute to New Zealand's greatest mountaineer.

Timaru man Des Lysaght finds dog trialling an excellent way to get off the main road and see lots of rural countryside.

"Mindless" is how Oamaru Rowing Club captain Donald Taylor describes the slashing of tyres on a trailer loaded with boats to go to the Maadi Cup regatta.

Otematata Station run-holder Hugh Cameron considers the property has the ability to provide security, motivation and inspiration for the Cameron family into the future, as it has done in the past.

West Otago farmer Ruth Lee has fond memories of working as a shepherd at Otematata Station.

Moisture getting through the roof of the old courthouse building in Waimate, which is used as a museum, is causing serious deterioration of the building, Waimate Mayor John Coles says.

Ryan Craig is on a mission.

The discovery of a moa bone by Department of Conservation rangers in the Ruataniwha Conservation Park last week has been described as quite important.

Evergreen athlete Anne Bisson was forced to withdraw from yesterday's Oamaru stamina event - an event in which she has taken part in every year for just over 20 years - due to ill health.