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THE cultural diversity of 26 countries was celebrated and shown at a fashion show in Invercargill on Saturday. Hundreds of residents dressed in their endemic costumes and displayed their home countries' culture at the Multicultural Fashion Show. Co-ordinator Meggy Bartlett-McBride said the fashion show was held to mark the Southland Multicultural Council's 20 years. The organisation supported more than 2000 immigrants assisting...

A SOUTHLAND boy spent last weekend learning about the country's great explorers at the Young Inspiring Explorers' Summit in Christchurch. Michael Crean (11), who attends Woodlands Full Primary School, flew to the summit and met with 19 other pupils from Years 7-9 from throughout New Zealand. His group leader was William Pike. Michael said he was excited to meet Mr Pike, as...

WHEN 13-year-old Darnae Lowe-McPherson told her netball team she had been diagnosed with severe Idiopathic Scoliosis, their only question was, "How can we help?" "What an amazing bunch of girls, they support each other and all get on so well. The girls all hugged her and asked what they could do for her," coach Karen Skerrett said. Idiopathic Scoliosis is a...

KELLY Henare remembers the first time her 2-year-old son heard bird-song. Seven years later, he is an avid outdoorsman with a zest for life – all thanks to "life-changing" cochlear implants. "We thought he was just a hands-on kid, a bit naughty actually, and it wasn't until my mother stood behind him and clapped – he didn't even flinch," Ms Henare...

ONE in four Kiwi couples struggles with fertility. Yet the theme which often comes up when you speak to people in the thick of it is how alone they feel. Two Southland women experienced this and, after meeting at an antenatal group, decided to set up a support group. Invercargill residents Aimee Morison and Amy Murchland successfully attempted IVF after years of...

This is a series shining a light on people living and working in reporter PETRINA WRIGHT found out what it is like to be Southland transgender woman Shauna Scobie. A ONCE angry and tormented young boy is now a happy, confident woman living a "f------ fabulous" life. Invercargill transgender woman Shauna Scobie said the transformation saved her life. "In 2015, if I...

NO room at the... campsite? Frequent visitors of the Monkey Island camping area are worried there would not be enough room to camp there this Christmas. The Bailey family have been visiting the campsite for years, and with Southland District Council (SDC) upgrading the site, they are concerned there would not be enough grass area left to pitch a tent. There have...

PUPILS from Windsor North School Radio Station hosted their first special guest on their show this week. Three pupils from the radio crew interviewed Southland artist and 2018/2019 Kiwibank Local Hero Award recipient Caley Hall on their Tuesday morning show. "People would think being on the radio is really hard but it's actually really easy," pupil Kenley Robb (9) said. From life...

IMAGINE the happiest moment of your life. What would it be? For a group of Southlanders, the answer is easy – the first time they saw an Aurora Australis. Viewing the Aurora Australis, or southern lights, is an increasingly popular hobby, and thousands of people are monitoring apps which plot the probability and predicted location. Southland residents Dakota Brown, David Whelan, Elizabeth...

THE Rotary club donated $10,000 to the Cancer Society from the proceeds from the Rotary Book Sale earlier this year. "We don't get any government funding, so every dollar we spend in Otago Southland we have to raise in Otago Southland," Ms Hart said. "So we were really honoured to have been chosen as the charity partner for the Rotary Book...