Flood memories remain raw

IT IS two years today that our region was devastated by the terrible floods of 2011.

Warne’s bad boy image hit for six

EVERYONE loves a stoush in sport and Australian cricket royalty Shane Warne delivered with his antics Sunday.

Stunning cinematography in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

THIS is set 80 years back, and the film is about how Bilbo Baggins has to help Gandalf and some dwarves to slay the dragon on a land that was rightfully theirs.

Fresh fruit hopes shelved

STORIES FROM THE SOIL: There’s an old saying that goes something along the lines of dentists’ kids having the worst teeth and doctors having the sickest family.

Poincianas to make way for progress?

FREDERICK FRANKLY: I first heard of the council’s possible intention of removing trees from Barolin St when I gave a council official a lift.

Hoffman disappoints in directorial debut

QUARTET is the directorial debut for Dustin Hoffman (who stared in films such as Tootsie and Mr Magorium’s Wonder Emporium).

Treat small family business like big business to avoid pain

AS Mum and Dad prepare to retire, the issue of effective management will become increasingly important for family businesses.

Vegging out with new year resolution

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO JACK: It’s going to be a good year. How do I know this? Simple. I have a new year’s resolution.

Highlighting Christmas calamities

STORIES FROM THE SOIL: Aaah, Christmas in the country.

Joseph Akers reviews Les Miserables

OVERALL, Les Miserables is really big on the singing, but it doesn’t mean people who don’t like musicals shouldn’t give it a go.

Reflections offer a leader’s perspective

FREDERICK FRANKLY: “We cannot afford to have a competent journalist interviewing the big man…”

McGrath and Walsh proof that bowling more may extend careers

THERE are many reasons Glenn McGrath and Courtney Walsh are the two leading fast bowling Test wicket-takers, writes Jay Buchan.

10 New Year’s resolutions a mum wishes for her teenager

TEN new year’s resolutions that will change my life… maybe.

Picking the best Pixar movie for an animated night at home

YOUNG movie buff Joseph Akers shares his reviews of every Pixar animation so far.

Trust rules out third umpire

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO JACK: Trust is a pretty important thing in life.

Here Comes the Boom a bit of a fizzer

HERE Comes the Boom’s script really sucks. The first half of the movie introduces these boring characters you don’t really care about.

Funny, heartwarming and a little heavy on toilet humour

BUNDABERG movie reviewer Joseph Akers gives his opinion on Parental Guidance.

Working out new year resolutions

FREDERICK FRANKLY: I believe New Year resolutions are too important to be left until January 1, 2013.

Wreck-It Ralph delivers funny lines

WRECK-IT Ralph follows the story of video game character Ralph, who doesn’t want to be the bad guy any more.

Relive Lord of the Rings before The Hobbit

LORD of the Rings trilogy well worth a watch before heading to see The Hobbit.

Ke$ha an innocent victim of gun laws?

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO JACK: I’ll put this out there from the get-go – I’m not a huge Ke$ha fan.

Farming out the decision-making

SOMETIMES farming has a way of making decisions for you, whether you like it or not.

Del Piero has lost that winning feeling with Sydney FC

THE only way for Sydney FC to keep hold of marquee player Alessandro Del Piero is to start winning games, and that has to come sooner rather than later.

Wet weather and Duckworth-Lewis dictates fate of Heat

RAIN, hail and shine. Three weather events synonymous with a Queensland summer, yet only one of those can sustain a game of cricket.

With love, from Mars

MY WIFE put me into panic mode immediately when she said, “Do not give me a Christmas present, I do not want anything!”

Brave medic toes the family line as guardian of secrets

OUR doctor is the keeper of our family secrets.

To tell or not to tell of unsolicited advance?

Last week, a very drunken and brazen bridesmaid stuck her hand down my pants and kissed me with an open mouth.

Doctor of secrets

OUR family doctor is the keeper of our family secrets.

Tom, Dick or Harry? Just call me Wally

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO JACK: Nicknames are a wonderful thing… according to NewsMail columnist Jack McGovern, anyway.

Ballet performance commands encore

FREDERICK FRANKLY: I had no idea I was such an avid ballet dancer fan until my wife said “You will take me to the ballet and you will enjoy it”.

PM bowls a googly

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO JACK: The Order of Australia Medal – one of our nation’s highest accolades.

Shopping husbands’ club doomed to fail

FREDERICK FRANKLY: This was one errand on which I found myself revolting. “You are coming shopping with me,” my wife insisted.

Holden Volt

A selection of photos taken of the Holden Volt, the new extended-range electric vehicle.

Rugby World Cup 2011

The fight to be rugby world champion has begun.

The baby maker

Racheal Ambler makes reborn baby dolls for love rather than money.

The 9 Principles of Leaning

Around the world people are leaning. Why are they leaning? What do they gain? Do they know something we don’t? Why not submit your own ‘leaning’ photos?

Celebrity Most (and Least) Desirable

My OK! Wedding magazine readers were asked which celebrities would be a terrible and wonderful spouse. Here’s some of their answers.

Famous Families: celebrities and kids

Noosa National Park

Malcolm Turnbull visits Coast