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Open for comment
In the interests of healthy discussion and debate on issues relevant to our readers and to rural and regional Australia, in 2025 Australian Rural & Regional News is opening some stories for comment.
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ANZAC Day - Kyogle
Hundreds commemorate ANZAC Day in Kyogle
Hundreds came to Anzac Day commemorations in Kyogle ... First to the Dawn Service and then for the Anzac Day March along the main street. Young and old, schools, clubs and community groups remembered and acknowledged those who served.
ANZACs
Soldier’s diary on display at museum
A diary from a Casino soldier was donated to the Evans Head Living Museum. The soldier wrote about the midnight landing and the First Australian Infantry Forces charge up the steep hill at Anzac Cove on April 25, 1915. Private Volney George McInnes Service Number 695 from Casino enlisted at Lismore in 1914…
Remembering the ANZACs – ANZAC nurses
Tony Rowlands. During the First World War, eight Australian nurses were awarded the Military Medal, the highest Imperial award that was available to them ... Sister Alice and Sister Janet of the AANS were amongst the first twenty-five nurses to sail with the troopships in the convoy with the First Expeditionary Force.
Federal election 2025
TasFarmers calls for regional vision as federal election looms
As the 2025 Federal Election draws near, Tasmania’s peak body for primary producers is calling on all political parties to present a practical vision for the future of regional Tasmania, following the release of its Federal Election Scorecard.
Jewellery
The intricate art of Millefiori
At first glance it's easy to presume that Melanie Allan’s polymer clay jewellery is made by painting on pictures or sticking on patterns. Nothing could be further from the truth. Melanie’s highly detailed works are actually made using an ancient technique known as ‘Millefiori’ ...
Audio visual
Lisa Reihana: GROUNDLOOP
GROUNDLOOP is a major immersive audio visual artwork by internationally regarded artist Lisa Reihana. Through the work, Reihana imagines a future where giant banksias form harbourside homes, traditional patterns wrap CGI coastlines, and Indigenous voyagers sail between Aotearoa and Australia.
Theatre
Lismore Theatre Co (LTC) – In the Hall of the Mountain King
The name: The Hall of the Mountain King may not be familiar to everyone, but there would be few who don’t recognise Greig’s music - one of the most famous classical ‘riffs’ ever written. LTC are bringing to the stage a world premiere of award-winning writer Henri Rennie’s funny, fanciful spin on a Scandinavian classic.
Letters from Home
Letters from Home: Damn birds
... and open doors. Readers might recall that the column was absent for a while last year because I had a fall and broke bits of me. Well, I nearly broke myself again this morning. As I ask myself - who? left the back door open?
Offroad
Locky Weir dominates Offroad Race Club fixture
Paddy Weir. Rains had settled dust for the Arid Offroad NT Titles Round 1 at Mt Ooramina where 10 locals vied for good placings. The Alice Springs Offroad Race Club fixture on April 12 had Locky Weir in his new JIMCO Prolite, 165, in first place.
Events calendar
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LAST WEEK’S STORIES
Hospitality
Historical pub changes hands
The oldest town in the Riverina’s only pub has new owners as former Koondrook residents Joel and Sandra Turvey take the reins on the iconic Tattersall Hotel ... “I think we were both looking for a new challenge, and what better way than to tackle a great Aussie pub like the Tatts.”
Tourism
Rod run ends on high note
Narrandera hosted another hugely successful Earlies Rod Run event over Easter 2025. The show and shine at Narrandera Sportsground on Easter Sunday was a great success with 450 cars in attendance and parked around the sports oval.
Tourism - Maclean
Gathering plenty of piping good enthusiasm in Maclean
Maclean celebrated its 120th Highland Gathering in style across two massive days of events on the Easter Long Weekend ... Over 130 competitors travelled from as far as Perth, Melbourne, and Townsville to compete in the 33 solo events on the program.
Beekeeping
Fifth-generation Maldon beekeeper elected president of state association
Warral Maldon's owner, Lindsay Callaway, has been elected President of the Victorian Apiarists Association (VAA), the state's peak body for beekeepers. Lindsay is a fifth-generation apiarist and the managing director of Warral Maldon, a beekeeping business founded by his great-great-grandfather, Edward Teague Penglase, in 1896.
Winemaking
The art of blending wine – balancing personality, structure, and style
Peter Christen. While it might sound like a technical process (and sometimes it is), blending wine is also deeply creative, it’s where intuition, experience and a touch of gut instinct meet to craft something that’s more than the sum of its parts. At Panacea Estate, blending is one of my favourite parts of winemaking.
Volunteers - birding
Calling all cocky counters
BirdLife Australia. BirdLife Australia, in partnership with the Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo Recovery Team, is calling for volunteers to join the annual count of the endangered South-eastern Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo on Saturday, May 3 ... Volunteers will be assigned one of approximately 60 survey sites in the cockatoo’s range ...
Leadership - firefighting
‘You’re asking people to leave their homes’
Leadership during a bushfire is a complicated and multifaceted undertaking, something that CFA Goroke Group Officer Justin Batson came to understand firsthand this fire season. Not only are you preoccupied with ensuring resources are where they need to be, trucks in position, crews supported and plans in place, you're also carrying the weight of decisions that can affect an entire community.
ANZAC Day - Naracoorte
“Poppy Girls” heartfelt tribute
If you haven’t had the chance to visit the poppy installation at Naracoorte Town Square, you’re truly missing a stunning display of craftsmanship. This powerful tribute, featuring around 1,500 hand-knitted poppies arranged on a five-by-five-metre net, was created by Naracoorte’s heartfelt group known as the “Poppy Girls” in honour of the courageous ANZAC soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom.
ANZAC Day - Allora
A riderless horse in ANZAC Day parade
This ANZAC day a sole Riderless Horse will be led by myself (Ron Rogers), the saddle is stripped of weapons and equipment, Light Horsemen boots and leggings are placed in the stirrups backwards. This is to remember those soldiers who have fallen in battle.
ANZAC Day - Port Broughton
ANZAC Day - Grafton
Inmates’ contribution to ANZAC commemorations
Staff from Serco were honoured to present business representatives from the South Grafton Ex-Servicemen's Club with a series of beautiful handmade metal wreaths and poppies which will be laid beneath the South Grafton Cenotaph ... All of the poppies and wreaths were crafted by inmates at the Clarence Correctional Centre ...
Tribute
Last post ceremony honouring Sergeant Arthur William Wallis
In early March this year, relatives of Arthur William Wallis travelled to the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, to witness and participate in a respectful and moving service acknowledging Arthur's life and sacrifice made for his country.
Commemoration - Nhill
The Nhill Cemetery flags project
The flag committee comprising of members of Nhill RSL Sub Branch, The Lowan Lodge 107, Nhill Rotary Club INC and Lions Club of Nhill INC have added an additional 100 flags in the Nhill cemetery to honour the veterans who have served our community.
Regulation
Editorial: Record breaking festival marks 30 years
Now that the dust has settled on the 2025 Man From Snowy River Bush Festival, the board and more than 300 volunteers that made it successful can take a well deserved bow ... As the festival got into full swing, staff from at least four government agencies including the Department of Health and Worksafe descended on the event in search of infractions that impeded organisers and volunteers while trying to deal with record attendances.
Human rights
Research
Health - SA
Murray-Darling - NSW
Murray-Darling - SA
Federal election 2025 - health
Election 2025 – Watch the Better Border Health candidate forum
The Better Border Health Albury Wodonga group held a health forum for Farrer candidates last week, and has published the forum on YouTube for those who were unable to attend.
Federal election 2025 - ag labour
Public health
No heads up: Locals say toxic microalgae advice was too slow
Sarah Herrmann. Southern Yorke Peninsula residents have criticised the speed at which advice was provided to the public about the toxic microalgae bloom, which has been detected at Edithburgh and Coobowie, and caused dead marine life to wash up on numerous other SYP beaches.
Mayoral elections
Barunga West Council to retain current structure, move to direct election of mayor
Michelle Daw. Barunga West Council has decided to retain its current structure and not reintroduce wards, following a review of its representation of residents ... They also voted for future mayors to be directly elected by the community, rather than by their peers as is currently the case.
Racial slur
Councillor’s comments create community anger
With the Aboriginal flag held in front of them, signs in their hands, and expressions of anger and disbelief on their faces, proud Yaegl, Bundjalung, and Gumbaynggirr men, women, and children, had a clear message they wanted to deliver during the monthly Ordinary Meeting of Clarence Valley Council (CVC) last week.
Renewables - NSW
Four renewables projects announced for South West REZ
Four wind, solar and battery projects have been granted the right to connect to new power lines in the South West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ). The projects are Origin Energy’s Yanco Delta wind farm, Spark Renewables Dinawan Energy Hub, Someva’s Pottinger Energy Park and BayWA’s Bullawah Wind Farm.
Coming up
Flood mitigation
Plumber presents plan for levee to reduce backwater flooding in Coraki
Ian Brown is a plumber who has lived in Coraki for 55 years. He presented his flood levee proposal at the Richmond Valley Council meeting on Tuesday, April 15. He reckons his proposal will reduce the backwater from floods at Coraki.
Invasive species
Not enough boots on the ground to deal with tropical soda apple north of Kyogle, advocacy group says
Prue Weir spoke about the issue of tropical soda apple at the Kyogle Council meeting on Monday, April 14. Ms Weir is a part of a group of residents formed in late 2023 to raise awareness of the insidious weed ... “It is an environmental disaster,” Ms Weir said.
Prescribed burning - wildlife
Prescribed burns a health risk to skinks in Mt Lofty Ranges: UniSA
Prescribed burning in the Mount Lofty Ranges to reduce bushfire risks may be threatening the survival and biodiversity of skinks and other reptiles. That’s the finding from a new University of South Australia (UniSA) study that analysed the health of more than 1750 reptiles from eight species over a two-year period.
Profile
My journey from Nepal to Western Australia: A tale of transition and reality
Omika Upadhayay. This is the story of how I left behind my home, my family in Nepal, and a budding career in agricultural research to become one of over half a million people who migrated to Australia last year—and eventually found myself working in the WAFarmers office.
Opinion - migration and regional development
Why do all roads for migrants lead to the big city?
Western Australia has once again recorded the fastest population growth in the country, adding 72,600 people in the year to September 2024. To put that into perspective: if every one of those new residents moved into the 200 towns across the Wheatbelt’s 42 shires, it would more than double the population of every town. Yet, on a recent drive across the Wheatbelt, cutting through multiple towns, I didn’t see a single new house being built.
Indigenous health - NT
Cotton
Cotton on the eastern Darling Downs
In recent years there have been a few cotton crops planted on the eastern Darling Downs and even though some may have shown promise, growers apparently have never seen enough benefit to warrant a further planting of a crop in subsequent seasons. Such cotton crops have been planted at Nobby, Cambooya and Ryeford.
Leadership & You
Wildlife
An overload of cute at Darling Downs Zoo
The Darling Downs Zoo located at Pilton has been attracting attention from all over thanks to its bilby breeding program and the birth of a Capybara. Easter is of course the time for the bilby, Australia's version of the Easter Bunny, to shine.
History & heritage
Trail ride turned into more than a journey
Honor Auchinleck. The days, weeks and months have been very full since I received an email from Pat Leary - the inspiration behind the plan to ride the General Sir Harry Chauvel Memorial Foundation's Border Light Horse Trail. Pat wrote "I am looking into the idea of riding in light horse uniform and saddlery along the Australian Light Horse trail starting from Shepparton to Harden and then from Harden back to Tallangatta.
Exhibition
MANet presents three artistic gems
Nancy Whittaker. The MANet gallery is proud to present not one, but three artists exhibiting this month ... three local well-known artists to present their work. They are Catherine O’Leary, Fionna Madigan and Mary Caspar.
Public art
Sunday festival to mark latest addition to silo art trail
The latest addition to the Riverland and Mallee's silo art trail will be celebrated with a special festival this weekend. Enliven Lameroo will be held in the town's main street this Sunday 27 April, from 11am to 3pm, coinciding with renowned overseas-based mural artist Sam 'Smug' Bates completing work on the western silo.
Tribute
‘There to Lend a Hand’ – Josh Arnold pens powerful anthem to celebrate Rural Aid’s 10-year milestone
Golden Guitar-winning singer-songwriter Josh Arnold has released a moving new song, There to Lend a Hand, in celebration of Rural Aid’s 10-year anniversary.
Centenary
Events calendar
Find shows and picnic races coming up in the Events Calendar
We can sell tickets to your show or event.
Competitive rates. Just ask us.
Store@ARR.News
Sydney Royal
Yanco Ag students win major prizes at 2025 Sydney Royal Easter Show
Yanco Agricultural High School. Yanco Agricultural High School has had remarkable success at the Royal Easter Show in Sydney, winning the coveted school produce display category and individual awards for students. Principal Marni Milne said the win was much sought-after by the school, after placing second in the category in the previous three years.
Tractor pull
The power of the tractor on display at Quambatook
Quambatook held the Australian Tractor Pull Championships on Easter Saturday at its purpose built track in front of thousands of appreciative spectators. This fully-fuelled event draws spectators and competitors from all over Australia and offers a jam-packed program to keep any and all entertained.
Wrestling
Jade to wrestle for Australia
Jade Smith, a 30-year-old athlete originally from Birchip, is set to represent Australia in her first international wrestling competition – the South East Asian Championships this May. What began as an after-work hobby has transformed into a life-changing journey of grit, growth, and gold.
Working dogs
Incher continues Hay trial success
Alix McFarland. 14th annual Shear Outback Hay Championship Yard Dog Trial - Incher continues Hay trial success ... A capacity 60 Open/Improver entries and 90 Novice/Beginner entries travelled from as far as South Australia to be tested by TA Field Wyvern Station wethers.
Tell your network about Australian Rural & Regional News
If you like a story on Australian Rural & Regional News, if you think this is a news platform worth a look, worth keeping in touch with, share it with your network.
There’s too much out there now to just trust people will happen upon it. Take a moment to spread the word. Onya.
ANZAC Day quiz
Hear from the candidates who want your vote in the 2025 Federal Election.
All intending candidates, from any political party or independent candidates,
standing for seats in the House of Representatives outside the capital cities, or for the Senate, are invited to submit a video statement for publication on ARR TV.