The OCA was in Farina recently to launch its second historical record, From the Outback they Came: Stories from the Outback to the Battlefront, with historian John Mannion

The launch was held in conjunction with a ceremony to honour the late Lieutenant John Bell from Farina who died in action on 18 June 1940.

The OCA is proud to be launching a coffee table book - 'From the Outback they Came: Stories from the Outback to the Battlefront' - in Farina later this month. The book is an abridged version of the OCA's ANZAC memorial book, 'From the Outback to the Battlefront' which was launched in Blinman last November.

Both books capture the contribution and sacrifice of people who lived and worked in many corners of the South Australian Outback, and how they answered the call from their country in their time of greatest need.

The OCA received funding from the Office of Sports and Recreation in 2016 to obtain a plan of sports and recreation needs in the Outback, while reviewing the last plan which was completed in 2005.

As a result, the OCA, along with successful tenderer Neil Tredwell Management, will be travelling throughout the region and would like to invite community members to contribute to the next 5-year plan. This plan will inform the OCA Board on recreational needs in the Outback, while also ensuring that the OCA has shovel-ready projects for future grant applications.

The Outback Communities Authority would like to congratulate Outback community members, Jan Ferguson and Sheryl Lewis, recipients in the Australia Day 2017 honours list.

Jan, an OCA Board Member who resides part-time in Beltana, received a Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to the Indigenous communities of the Northern Territory. Sheryl, of Yunta, was awarded an Ambulance Service Medal for her volunteer service.