Two South African music fanatics embark on a life-changing journey to uncover the story behind one of their country's favourite, but enigmatic artists.

The Idea of North

NORPA's 2013 season opened with the captivating gothic classic, Frankenstein, and what a pick that was to see in the renovations at Lismore City Hall.

Last Friday, NORPA unveiled its 2014 season to a packed house at Lismore City Hall. The company's Artistic Director Julian Louis has stuck to a programming formula he's had success with over the years. The mix is one NORPA hopes will represent another year of strong houses. There are a couple of reinvented classics, some edgy new material, some drama, comedy, dance, circus, Indigenous and kid-friendly productions along with something homemade. Several shows use video technology extensively, while others ask you to just bring your imagination. In essence, there's something for everyone.

NORPA's 2015 season was announced earlier this month with the aim of drawing a broader audience to the performing arts.

Near a small town in northern New South Wales horse blood is being harvested to aid researchers and diagnostics.

Water stations reduce heat stress and other effects of drought and extreme weather events on koalas and other animals, new research finds.

An ornithologist who decided to take five while conducting a bird survey in Tasmania could hardly believe his eyes when he spotted a three-footed seagull. But even he had no idea how unusual the find was.

A juvenile white-bellied sea eagle is back in the skies near Tasmania's Bruny Island after surviving being coated in fish oil and a enjoying a bubble bath spruce up.

Printmakers across the country are raising awareness of our most endangered group of birds and their non-stop, eight-and-a-half day journey home from their Artic breeding grounds.

With the olive harvest starting in some parts of South Australia, some farmers are now seeing fruit that has not developed or has shrivelled due to a lack of water.

A team of archaeologists is working with Indigenous people along the Murray River to discover stories of the land that could now be tens of thousands of years old.

Despite the heat, hail and fires, the Brumbies are planning to kick off their Super Rugby 2020 season tonight at Canberra Stadium, bringing some short-term relief to local fans.

A Swinburne University scientist loses his job after an internal investigation into alleged research misconduct and dozens of his papers were retracted by scientific journals.

Hundreds of residents from three Victorian towns are told to evacuate from their homes as part of one of the state's biggest-ever fire drills, in preparation for what could be a devastating fire season.

One of three peregrine falcon chicks that hatched, in front of thousands of online fans, has died in a nest perched high on a Melbourne skyscraper, marking the third year in a row the nest has suffered such a loss.

On a soft, misty morning, all was quiet and still on the swamp except for a piercing whistle and splashing of water.

Spring is the busy season for WA Sea Bird Rescue rehabilitator Carol Biddulph, who cares for a menagerie of injured and orphaned birds at her Torbay home.

For the first time ever, environmental water is being pumped into the dry and extremely saline wetland at Lyrup Forest near Berri in the hope it will turn into a 'sea monkey soup' that will provide a food source for bird and marine life.

A young New Zealand fur seal has taken a shining to the Walpole Town Jetty just days after it was opened for public use. Frankland District authorities have asked locals to keep a respectful distance until the marine mammal decides to move on.

Gary Nairn was the Federal Liberal MP for Eden Monaro from 1996 to 2007.

Wildlife carers in Victoria say more native animals are being injured or killed as prolonged dry weather drives them to seek food and water closer to urban areas.

UK-based charity the Eden Project has released its vision for a disused coal mine near Victoria's Great Ocean Road. They plan to transform it into a $150 million eco-tourism attraction a celebration of the natural environment on what is now a barren site.

Mike Ladd

Paul D Carter

St George Illawarra's season is all but over, but a sensational debut from young winger Jason Saab in the team's latest loss may be a sign of better things to come.

Music teacher and actress Kimmie Jonceski performed a lead role in a musical while undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer this year and wants her courageous story to inspire other young women facing a cancer diagnosis.

Rugby league player Jack de Belin will stand trial on sexual assault charges in March next year, just two weeks before the start of the 2020 NRL season.

Do you suffer from an indescribable feeling of vertigo, constant dizziness and motion sickness? Chances are you could have Mal de Debarquement Syndrome.

University researcher Katie Gaskin has completed a detailed study into breast anatomy that could bring far-reaching benefits for fields like cancer treatment, cosmetic surgery, and even bra design.

A magnitude-6.9 earthquake in the Banda Sea is felt in Darwin but there have been no reports of damage, the quake is also felt in Indonesia.

After watching turtles overcome horrific injuries, five-year-old Queenslander, Owen Harris, is urging everyone not to litter and to do the "right thing" when fishing.

Research from multiple studies across the world points to evidence that being overweight or obese might also make the impacts of COVID-19 more severe, particularly for those aged under 60.

The NSW Police watchdog finds the strip searches of four teenagers at two separate music festivals were unlawful, but stops short of findings of misconduct against the officers involved.

James Stuart Logue, a 29-year-old kitchenhand, also pleaded guilty to watching videos of young children being sexually abused in "depraved" ways.

No new COVID-19 cases were recorded as the State Government announced a multi-million-dollar medical research fund to tackle the disease.

NASA and European Space Agency scientists are in remote Australia learning about the origins of life on Earth, and it's all to prepare for "the greatest treasure hunt ever" the next mission to Mars.

A tiny male marsupial dies in the wild after "intense" mating and not from the harsh, arid environment in which it lives, research confirms.

The Health Department confirms a massive spike in the number of influenza cases in Western Australia this year, with 3,000 extra notifications and 14 deaths in the past week alone.

Narooma is a haven for holidaymakers and sea-changers, but many young people are finding it impossible to rent in their own home town.

A man who donated his sperm to a lesbian friend with the belief he could play a role in the child's life wins a High Court fight to be named the girl's legal father, blocking her mother from moving overseas.

Police investigating the alleged murder of Kim Chau whose body was found in a luxury Adelaide home say they found a "number of items" of interest during a search for evidence at a rubbish dump.

Police and State Emergency Service volunteers are scouring the park where Shaun Thomas Russell, 36 was killed in Adelaide's southern suburbs.

An 87th minute header from Ryan McGowan delivers Sydney FC a 3-2 win after a 10-man Adelaide fought back from two goals down in a feisty encounter at Hindmarsh Stadium.

SA Police believe an Adelaide woman missing near Sedan in South Australia's eastern Mount Lofty Ranges has "suffered a misadventure" and might have been injured or bitten by a snake.

A cat is filmed in the Simpson Desert eating a kangaroo carcass over several days, as part of a study into the environmental impact of dead animals.