Tuesday, April 29, 2025

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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

Susanna Freymark, indyNR.com
Community
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

Contributor, indyNR.com
History & heritage
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

Dunoon and District Gazette
Health
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

Contributor, ARR.News
Agriculture
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.
2025 Federal Election

Jewellery

The intricate art of Millefiori

Serena Kirby, ARR.News
Craft
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’ ...
Melanie Allen

Audio visual

Lisa Reihana: GROUNDLOOP

Dunoon and District Gazette
Arts
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

Dunoon and District Gazette
Arts
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

Fran Cleland, ARR.News
Life
... 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

Contributor, Alice Springs News
Motorsport
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.

Coming up

Events calendar

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LAST WEEK’S STORIES

Hospitality

Historical pub changes hands

Lloyd Polkinghorne, The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper
Business
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 2025

Rod run ends on high note

Narrandera Argus
Festival
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

Contributor, Clarence Valley Independent
Council
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.

Tourism - Hay

Beekeeping

Fifth-generation Maldon beekeeper elected president of state association

Barry Robinson, Tarrangower Times
Business
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

Contributor, Tarrangower Times
Food & Beverages
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

Contributor, Naracoorte Community News
Community
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 ...
Volunteering

Volunteers - firefighting & fundraising

CFA smashes appeal milestone

Victorians have dug deep this year in support of the Good Friday Appeal, helping CFA reach a historic milestone and raising our grand total of contributions to $41 million. CFA has been a major fundraiser of the Good Friday Appeal for the past 74 years and this year, with the help of generous local community members, our volunteers were able to raise $1,888,912.

Leadership - firefighting

‘You’re asking people to leave their homes’

Emily Gladdis, Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times
Fire
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

Nasik Swami, Naracoorte Community News
Arts
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

Mim Rogers, Allora Advertiser
History & heritage
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

Foreshore blossoms

Foreshore blossoms for ANZAC tribute

Yorke Peninsula Country Times

ANZAC Day - Grafton

Inmates’ contribution to ANZAC commemorations

Contributor, Clarence Valley Independent
History & heritage
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

Emily Gladdis, Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times
History & heritage
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

Emily Gladdis, Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times
Charity
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

Mark Collins, Corryong Courier
Festival
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

Covid lies exposed as politicians act with impunity

Any remaining notions of politicians acting with honesty, integrity, and best available science in the face of a pandemic have been crushed like a child discovering that Santa Claus writes unmistakably like Mum, after a five-year legal battle by the opposition's upper house leader, David Davis, to access Covid lockdown documents.

Research

Business confidence rising? Local farmers thinking otherwise

A senior Riverland agricultural industry figure has questioned recent data supposedly showing an increase in local business confidence. The latest BankSA State Monitor survey, undertaken from 18 to 24 February, showed business confidence in the region increased by 5.4 points to 101.1 points...

Health - SA

Community healthcare concerns

The community has called for better access to specialist healthcare services and further development of local health infrastructure within the district. This was strongly voiced during the Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) public consultation for the development of the clinical services plan ... The goal of the consultation was to engage the community in identifying what matters most in advancing local healthcare services.

Federal election 2025

Candidate fails to do his homework on preferences

The Liberal Party has been forced to reprint the how-to-vote cards of Indi candidate James Trenery after reports surfaced of an 'unconscionable' land transfer undertaken by independent candidate, Mark McFarlane. Mr Trenery's first how-to-vote card has been distributed on a flyer across the electorate, preferencing Mr McFarlane at number five, ahead of the incumbent Dr Helen Haines.

Candidate profiles

Ten candidates for the seats of Mallee and Farrer respond to questions on a range of key issues including cost of living, national energy security and affordability, housing, water buyback and human rights violations of the Government's Covid-19 response.

TRC’s election priorities

Ahead of the upcoming election, Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) has written to all candidates in Groom to put forward its priorities for the 2025 Federal election. Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald said it was crucial that all candidates running for office in Groom were aware of Council's priorities. He said local government is a key partner to the Australian Government in delivering infrastructure and services that ensure our communities continue to grow and prosper.

Murray-Darling - NSW

$210m spent on water buybacks – local entitlements sold to meet MDB targets

The Australian Government has released figures pertaining to more than $89 million water purchasing contracts for the period March 1 to April 14. Total purchases over the past six weeks total $210 million. The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) Austender website lists only contract values awarded.

Murray-Darling - SA

River Murray Communities Water Transition Program

Nicola Centofanti. While many irrigators have been removing patches of wine grapes and converting to other crops, there are still many grape growers feeling the impact of ongoing low prices. With consumption of commercial wine falling globally and the large volume of wine retained in storage, there is little cause for optimism in the immediate future.

Federal election 2025 - health

Election 2025 – Watch the Better Border Health candidate forum

Krista Schade, Back Country Bulletin
Federal politics
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

Agriculture workforce options under attack: NFF

The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has issued a stark warning that mounting red tape and increasingly complex labour laws are choking access to the workers agriculture desperately needs, placing Australia’s food security, farm viability, and regional economies at serious risk. 

Public health

No heads up: Locals say toxic microalgae advice was too slow

Yorke Peninsula Country Times
Aquaculture & fishing
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

Yorke Peninsula Country Times
Council
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

Emma Pritchard, Clarence Valley Independent
Community
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

Krista Schade, Back Country Bulletin
Energy
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

Renewable energy

Charles Sturt University powers its future with 100 per cent renewable energy from Snowy Energy: CSU

Contributor, ARR.News
Energy

Flood mitigation

Plumber presents plan for levee to reduce backwater flooding in Coraki

Susanna Freymark, indyNR.com
Council
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

Susanna Freymark, indyNR.com
Council
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

Contributor, ARR.News
Biodiversity
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

Contributor, WAFarmers
Agriculture
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.
Omika Upadhayay

Opinion - migration and regional development

Immigrant with Ph D driving an Uber cartoon

Why do all roads for migrants lead to the big city?

Trevor Whittington, CEO WAFarmers
Agriculture
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

Employment pathway trainee pilot program delivered on Groote: Edgington

For the first time, an employment pathway trainee pilot program for Aboriginal health workers and practitioners is being delivered on Groote Eylandt. Minister for Health Steve Edgington said it would provide a closer-to-home learning pathway for Aboriginal people in the region to pursue a career in health.

Tourism - Qld

Golden opportunity as fossicking area established in Mount Morgan: Last

Contributor, ARR.News

Tourism - Vic

Raising a glass to regional Victoria’s best events: Dimopoulos

Contributor, ARR.News

Cotton

Cotton on the eastern Darling Downs

Mim Rogers, Allora Advertiser
Agriculture
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.

Coming up

Entrepreneur festival back with a splash

Contributor, ARR.News
Business

Leadership & You

Group arguing with boss

Are you a credible leader? Take the self-test

David Stewart, RYP International
Business

Wildlife

An overload of cute at Darling Downs Zoo

Ted Rogers, On Our Selection News
News
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

Mark Collins, Corryong Courier
Council
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

Contributor, Tarrangower Times
Arts
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

Murray Pioneer
Arts
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

Contributor, ARR.News
Agriculture
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

Onslow 100 Year Festival

Contributor, ARR.News

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

Coming up

Sydney Royal

Yanco Ag students win major prizes at 2025 Sydney Royal Easter Show

Narrandera Argus
Agriculture
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.
Yanco Ag High School at Sydney Royal 2025

Narrandera High School Angora show team’s success at Sydney Royal

Narrandera High School. Narrandera High School Agriculture Angora show team returned home victorious from the 2025 Sydney Royal Show last week ... It was a massive day of judging in the open and school Stud Angora Show ring. The students and their animals were rewarded with many placings ...

Tractor pull

The power of the tractor on display at Quambatook

Contributor, The Buloke Times
Motorsport
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

The Buloke Times
Athletics
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

Contributor, The Riverine Grazier
News
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.

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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

ANZAC Cove Memorial

Quiz #14/2025 – ANZAC Day commemoration quiz

Tom Trifonoff

Hear from the candidates who want your vote in the 2025 Federal Election.

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