Fraser Island Shark Attack
A 36yr old man died from a from a shark attack off Fraser Island last Saturday afternoon (4th July). Matthew Tratt, a father of two from the Sunshine Coast and a…
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A Cappella
A Cappella – it’s all about harmony and sisterhood Story by Marianne Kresse, Photos supplied by Armella Pratt Did you know that Hervey Bay has its own A Cappella Chorus?…
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Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre Art Auction
The Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre’s inaugural art auction took place on Friday, April 19. Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre CEO Tanya Stevenson thanked local auctioneer Craig Winter for orchestrating the event…
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Remembering Our Anzacs
Background Image: Statue of Duncan Chapman in Queens Park, Maryborough. The first man to have stepped onto the shores of Gallipoli in World War I. Present Anzac Day is the…
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Books by the Sea
Cate Akaveka from Books by the Sea, formerly Mary Ryan’s, has given the shop a new look at their new location on the Esplanade in Hervey Bay The book shop…
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Common Dream Meanings
Every night when we lay down to bed our brain is busily creating situations from our unconscious. Dreams are a way of relieving stress and bringing to light what we…
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Bayside Transformations
From Gutter to Glory Success stories from Bayside Transformations Ice destroys lives. It tears families apart. But Joshua Alsop and Zack Walthall are living proof that the destruction caused by…
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Tori-Jay
Tori-Jay Mordey is a 24-year-old local Indigenous artist who began drawing when she was very young. She was raised in the Torres Straits on Thursday Island but spent a majority…
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Earth Hour – 30th March
Earth Hour 2019 8:30pm to 9:30pm Every year, for one hour, a movement of people turn out their lights in recognition of climate change. This is a global event that first…
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Dial A Driver – A story of Irony
Dial A Driver (D.A.D) is a company created by owner Rob Braddock that has been servicing Hervey Bay and Maryborough since 1984. It is currently in the process of setting…
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Rabbit Pattern
Download Pattern To start off with, I decided to make the bunny out of easy obtainable items found in your nearest Spotlight store. He has been made with a white…
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Hervey Bay School Strike for Climate
You are never too small to make a difference A group of Hervey Bay children and adults have become part of a global grassroots network calling for climate change action.…
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Bamboo vs Cotton vs Hemp
I am often asked from where I source my inspirational stories. Is it from my worldly, educated grasp of current affairs? My uncanny ability at reading people, or maybe my…
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Cashless Debit Card
The cashless debit card is currently being rolled out in the Hervey Bay Area to a select group of 6000 people under 35 years old who receive welfare in the…
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New Species of Dolphin found of the Fraser Coast
Story by Kelsey Corcoran Photos provided by Paul Aurisch Next time you see a dolphin in Hervey Bay, take a good look because it could be the newly-named Sousa sahulensis.…
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Steampunk makes a home on the Fraser Coast
If you haven’t heard the term ‘steampunk’ before, or not sure what it means, don’t worry - you’re not alone. If you have seen Hugh Jackman’s ‘The Greatest Showman’ or…
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Easter treat recipes
Carrot patch cupcakes This cupcake batch gives a whole new meaning to carrot cake. You will need: Chocolate cupcake mix (any will do) 1/3 cup butter 2/3 cup cocoa powder…
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Recycled Easter Bunny Planters
Recycled Easter bunny planters This craft is lots of fun but will require adult supervision and assistance. You will need: Acrylic paints Scissors Box cutter or knife Paintbrushes Sharpie…
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The Great Duck Rescue
The mother duck and her two offspring were in serious trouble. They were in the gutter of the roundabout at the intersection of Main Street and Boat Harbour Drive, Hervey…
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Coconut oil face Masks
Coconut oil face masks with three ingredients or less Coconut oil is a natural antibacterial, antifungal and moisturiser so it makes the perfect product to help your night-time routine. It…
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HATCH Design and Creative
HATCH Design and Creative Store is a delightful shop found in a most scenic part of Hervey Bay, at 1 Pier St Urangan. HATCH gift store was the brainchild of…
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Apology 11
National Apology Day 2019 On 13th February 2008, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd addressed parliament and the nation with a national apology that formally acknowledged all the wrongdoing and the…
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Cyclone Oma Approaching the Fraser Coast
Cyclone Oma heading towards the Fraser Coast 22 Feb 19 - Satellite Image Cyclone Oma, a category two cyclone, currently around 600km out over the ocean is likely to be…
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Heartworm
Heartworms are parasites that live inside the arteries of lungs and chambers of the heart of infected animals. Dogs and cats are both susceptible to heartworm no matter the breed,…
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Aloe Vera
HISTORY Over 250 species of aloe exist on earth. Aloes are very low maintenance succulents. The most cultivated species is the Aloe Vera Barbadensis in North Africa. Preceding 1700BC, the…
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Derek Smith – Another Side
Most of us around the Fraser Coast know Derek F. Smith for his incredible voice and guitar playing. The Beacon however are very excited to introduce you today to another…
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Tres Salsa
Jemima fell in love with hospitality when she was just 14 years old and has been working in the industry for 15 years. She always knew hospitality was her passion…
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Bingo at the RSL
I’ve been playing bingo for the last three years now. I wouldn’t say its and addiction, I just do it for fun and for the entertainment. I started playing bingo…
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Hot Rods
The Hervey Bay Conrodders Hot Rods have been supporting the Cancer council foundation for the last three years. Sue Dodd started the association with the whole charity because she had…
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The Message is in the Art
Painting is a powerful medium for expressing emotions and sending messages. Hervey Bay artist Leticia has created a multitude of paintings that use colour and various subject matter to capture…
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Dignity First
Helping unemployed and homeless youth What is Dignity first? Dignity First is a funding that supports projects and services helping people experiencing homelessness to live with Dignity. Since 2016 more…
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Micro Bats
Bats have always been the objects of stories and movies. You either like them or loathe them, but much of their stigma once you really think about it comes from…
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Did you know?
Gain some more brain power! Did you know that.. • On average a person spends 6 months of their life waiting for a red light to turn green. • Southern…
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Cedar Creek Falls
Cedar Creek falls is a picturesque place that makes a great day out for the whole family. It is located on the ascent up Mount Tamborine from Tamborine Village. Cedar…
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The Benefits of Tea
Tea has a lot of natural helpful power for our lives and we can improve our lives by having tea each morning. Tea can boost your mental health, help your…
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Jokes!
Q) What do you call a dinosaur that is sleeping? A) A dino-snore! Q) What did one plate say to the other plate? A) Dinner is on me! Q) Why…
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The Benefits of Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a natural oil that is made of a unique combination of fatty acids that can have a positive effect on your health. There are many benefits to…
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Crunchy Asian Noodle Salad
You will need: Marinade: 2 boneless chicken breast 3 tablespoons soy sauce 1 teaspoon of sesame oil ¼ teaspoon pepper Salad: 4 cups lettuce 1 cup shredded red cabbage 1/3…
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The Best Plants to have in Your Home
Houseplants can be a great way to add life to a room and improve the feeling of your home English Ivy English ivy needs sunlight so this plant can benefit…
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Pet therapy
Pets visit retirement care homes Cheeky birds, devoted dogs and even a tiny horse brighten the lives of residents in Fraser Coast retirement homes each week. The team of furry…
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Critter Creations
You will need: Shells, acrylic paint, glue, googly eyes and pipe cleaners For each crab paint a clean and dry shell your desired colours and leave to dry. Cut 3…
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First Nations Cultural Tour
In the first month of 2019 Bill and Judith Speedy hosted the First Nations Culture Tour Bill runs Outback Pride, selling items on behalf of eight local indigenous artists and…
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The Witch & Waverly
A SERIAL NOVEL BY MARIANNE KRESSE Page 1 ENGLAND 1815 She’d been running for weeks and was tired, so very tired. With winter now upon them she had thought she…
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Food ‘n’ Groove
Food ’n’ Groove Fridays is officially a hit in Hervey Bay. The celebration of our best local musicians combined with flavours from our region’s most popular food stalls and a…
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Sustainable living choices on the Fraser Coast
GARDENS & ENVIRONMENT Let’s Talk Vegetables Based on the new report from the Australian Institute for Health and Welfare, all Australians (99%) aged 2–18, and 9 in 10 adults aged 19…
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Peanut Butter and Coconut Oil Dog Treats
Dogs love peanut butter and coconut oil has so many benefits for dogs that this treat is a match made in heaven for your pups. Coconut oil can help your…
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Red Dead Redemption
Red Dead Redemption 2 is the long-awaited prequel to the 2010 game Red Dead Redemption, with the first in the series titled Red Dead Revolver. The series is a Western-themed…
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Feeding Hungry Mouths 160
Photos: Stephen Bendall For six years Comfort Kitchen has been serving three-course meals each Wednesday night to those who need a meal. Comfort Kitchen is run by 20 volunteers who…
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Super Heroes In The Fraser Coast
Photos by Stephen Bendall On Friday November 2 my partner Stephen and I attended Centacare's ‘Dancing in the dark Masquerade Ball’. The event put together by Karen Samuel's and her…
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Angel
While many people look at their 15 year old daughters they may think to themselves, “I hope they don’t get their heart broken, and that they grow up to follow…
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Celebrating Indigenous Business Month On The Fraser Coast
STORY & PHOTOS BY STEPHEN BENDALL On Tuesday October 20, the Fraser Coast Regional Council (FCRC) through Leon Nehow and the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships (DATSIP),…
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Colourful and Dynamic Exhibition Opening a Pure Visual Delight
3 Draws a Crowd – take 3 by local artists Ve Hammond Tania Gilby and Pam Price officially opened on Saturday November 3 and runs for four weeks. The Beacon…
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On Stage Tim Earle & Dogwood Crossing Prepare For The Third Album
Tim Earle has always had a love for the stage. His first memory of performing is at six years old at an eisteddfod in Redcliffe. The mix of complete fear…
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A Heavy Crown
Leonie Kingdom is a shy yet dynamic 24-year-old singer/ songwriter that has had a number one hit on Triple J Unearthed since the release of her single Night Terrors in…
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Take A Trip To History Town
BROOWEENA HISTORY MUSEUM It was a word from a friend that found us one sunny Thursday heading west from Maryborough on the Maryborough-Biggenden Road in search of a museum in…
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Shooting for the Stars
PHOTOS: STEPHEN BENDALL Jessica Conjar is a 16-year-old Hervey Bay basketball protégé who has been playing the sport since she was eight. Up until she was fourteen, Jessica had only…
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How to Make a Bee Hotel
Making a place for your friendly garden bees is a great way to keep the bees in your garden safe and pollinating your flowers. You’ll need: Plywood, screws, bamboo,…
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The Important Role of our Native bees
GARDENS & ENVIRONMENT STORY BY KELSEY CORCORAN Bees are obviously very important in maintaining our gardens and are the very reason we have such beautiful flowers and fruits but the…
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Painting a brighter future
MARYBOROUGH ART SOCIETY 7 DECEMBER - 17 DECEMBER Plastic pollution and saving our earth are a major topic in today’s society. Children as young as seven are addressing this issue…
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Print Yourself Happy At Go Figure 3DU
THE FRASER COAST GETS ITS FIRST FULL BODY 3D SCANNER - A QUEENSLAND FIRST The Fraser Coast scores a first for Queensland with the arrival of the State’s first of…
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Parvo virus tips for a new puppy
Parvovirus is a deadly disease that can be spread from one dog to another through direct or indirect contact with a dog that has been infected. Anything that has come…
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DIY Australian Christmas Day Treats
At The Beacon, We've tested an tasted these recipes just for you.. Gumnut Mistletoe Supplies: Gumnuts, red spray paint, twine and green ribbon An Aussie spin on the classic Christmas…
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BUNYA
Bunya Mountains National Park is a great place to go camping or stay in a holiday rental. Bunya Mountains is just over a three-hour drive from the Fraser Coast region.…
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A Superfruit Delight for Two: Acai Berry Bowl
Super simple spring delight for you and your friends to enjoy. Acia is a berry from a South American palm tree that is known to promote heart health, skin health,…
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Try This Delicious 12 Hour Oats Breakfast Smoothie
A great way to prepare for your busy morning the night before. What you will need: A quarter of a cup of Rolled oats 1 tbsp of chia seeds 1…
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Mug Gingerbread Houses
STORY & PHOTOS KELSEY CORCORAN Using the gingerbread man recipe shown above make a batch of gingerbread batter and roll into a large thin disc. Cut out the sides of…
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Ginger Bread Recipe
STORY & PHOTOS KELSEY CORCORAN Ingredients: 100g Softened butter, 100g dark brown sugar, 50g golden syrup, 1 large egg, 250g self-raising flour, 2 teaspoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon,…
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Dad’s Story Living with dementia
STORY BY MARIANNE KRESSE My life and that of my family over the last few years has changed dramatically and all because of two phone calls. The first was at…
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Native Plants For your Garden
Native Australian plants are a great addition to your garden as they have adapted to local conditions and once they are established they do not need fertiliser, pesticides or watering.…
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Shanay Scarlet Art classes with a fun vibe
COMMUNITY ARTIST Shanay Scarlet with a self-portrait Shanay Scarlet is a local high school art teacher who has a passion for art and teaching. Shanay picked up a pencil at…
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The Joy of Puppies
PAWS & PET STORY & PHOTOS KELSEY CORCORAN On September seventeenth 2018 my five-year-old toy poodle, Maisy had three puppies. We adopted Maisy at the end of 2017 when we…
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Spring picnic spots on the Fraser Coast
With spring in full swing the weather is perfect for a picnic. The flowers are blooming, the sun is shining and the kids are eager to get out! With winter…
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Sustainable Living Choices on the Fraser Coast
Our adventure with permaculture started a few years ago when we first laid our eyes on the block of land which became our home and paradise. After lots of research…
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Apps that don’t require internet
No internet needed Have you ever heard from the back seat, “I’m bored” or “are we there yet?” Well these apps don’t require internet after being downloaded, so traveling can…
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Easy spring sunglasses holder
You will need: An old photo frame, string, thumbtacks and sunglasses. 1. Firstly you will need to remove the backing and glass carefully from the picture frame. 2. Tie a…
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Threats to your pet this summer
The paralysis tick is found on the east coast of Australia and generally become a problem in the warmer months of the year between August and March. Though they are…
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Wolfpack Print Alliance brings committed service to Hervey Bay
Craig Taylor, owner of Wolfpack Print Alliance, has been in the printing industry for over 25 years. Being a Hervey Bay local, he is committed to providing a thorough, cost…
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Zumba and Mia
Maryborough Zumba Club is a social and fitness class that runs three days a week and is available for all abilities and ages. Everyone is welcome to join a class and go at…
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Essential oils
Essential oils have powerful health benefits and are acquired by concentration and extraction of flowers, roots, barks, stems and seeds of plants which contain natural properties. Ancient civilisations knew about…
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Community Cubed and Wandering Teapot Grand Opening!
Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour, Steve Baxter from hit television show Shark Tank, Fraser Coast new small business entrepreneurs and media gathered together to celebrate the grand opening of the…
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Bad Ass Treats
Dried green-lipped mussels and duck feet are irresistible – if you are a dog or a cat. And if our furry friends could have a favourite brand, they’d love the…
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3 Draws a Crowd – take 3
3 Draws a Crowd – take 3 is the third exhibition from local artists Ve Hammond, Tanya Gilby and Pam Price. The three have been friends for many years, so…
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Kids jokes
Q. How do all the oceans say hello to each other? A. They wave! Q. What do you call a bear with no teeth? A. gummy bear! Q. What do…
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Wildlife friendly gardens
No matter how large or small, gardens play a vital role in wildlife conservation as well as providing a cool, shady retreat for people on a hot day. Watching birds,…
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Zander rules the roost
PAWS & PETS STORY & PHOTO MARIANNE KRESSE Picture this: Tuesday morning at 9am, my first meeting with our new accountant Susan Dodd from the Tax Store. This is serious…
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Litter, Plastic our Beaches
Rubbish, trash, litter it’s everywhere especially plastic and it’s contaminating everything in the ocean and on terra firma destroying our beaches and oceans, killing fish, whales, birds and animals. What…
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Rock Off is spot on
Rock Off is Hervey Bay's indoor skate park Over the last three years, the park has been rebuilt twice to ensure that it meets the wants and needs of its…
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Life hacks for the beach
If your a frequent visitor or not so frequent visitor to the beach, here's some useful hacks for when your visiting the beach. Secret beach container You will need: A…
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Billy Bean customers dig deep for farmers
Customers of Billy Beans Coffee at Torbanlea have dug deep to help drought-stricken farmers.Shannon Haliv, who owns the mobile coffee van, raised hundreds of dollars for Drought Angels and also…
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