Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from Australian Community Media, which has journalists in every state and territory. Sign up here to get it by email, or here to forward it to a friend. Today's newsletter is written by Bathurst-based group journalist Nadine Morton.
THERE'S no denying there's an awful lot of bad in the world.
This week backpacker serial killer Ivan Milat not only went to his grave refusing to admit to the crimes he was charged with, he also didn't give a deathbed confession to the other six murders that police suspect he committed.
In a chilling last final letter to his family, the killer even requested a "pauper's burial" and urged his brother not to contribute to the funeral costs.
Also this week was the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi who US President Donald Trump declared was the "world's number one terrorist leader".
But you don't have to look too far to realise that there's an awful lot of good in the world as well.
In the past week more than 11,000 people have joined a new Facebook page that was launched to help farmers earn a little extra income as they struggle through the drought.
The page has attracted not only struggling farmers from right across Australia, but also people in cities and towns who are keen to do their bit to help.
Have you ever noticed how people right across this wide brown land of ours will often put their hands in their own pockets to help others in need?
Take, for example, a recent break and enter at Port Lincoln's RSPCA branch.
Yes, while it might have started off as bad news, the good occurred straight after.
The charity may have been robbed of much-needed donations to help animals in need, but the local community has since jumped on board to help recoup the losses.
Lately, the environment has not only featured in national and international headlines, it's also secured much-needed support and funding for great causes.
A dunny do-over in Queensland has created a flush while helping to make toilets more water-efficient thanks to the Rock the Toilet Block initiative.
Students at Stuart High School have helped to shine a light on tiny micro-plastics that have been washing up on the beach in Whyalla.
Just this week in Bathurst another good deed was done when a wallet, mistakenly left in a shop, was handed into the local police station - complete with all its contents which included $700 in cash, a driver's licence and credit cards.
While the Rotary-backed Men's Health Education Rural Van has so far helped more than 5500 people in 100 different rural towns across NSW.
Sometimes amid all the noise and hustle in society it can be hard to ignore all the bad in the world, and sometimes there seems to be a lot of it.
But, if you look closely, there's also an awful lot of good. It's happening all around us, every single day, you've just got to keep your eyes open.
Nadine Morton
Central West group journalist, ACM