Thursday, November 20, 2025

Contributor, The Buloke Times

108 POSTS

Mt. Wycheproof stickers have landed: “Big ideas stick”

Whether you are a proud local, a passing traveller, or just love flaunting the smallest registered mountain in the world, now is your chance to grab a unique sticker souvenir of Mount Wycheproof. Friends of Mount Wycheproof (FoMW), recently launched the promotional marketing souvenir over the March long weekend...

The brutal cost of ignoring the bush: Australia’s rural collapse

Government changes have reallocated 3,200 gigalitres of irrigation water to environmental flows, much of it unmetered and flowing out to sea, creating dire consequences for regional food production. The Gannawarra Region alone is losing $1.3 billion annually – and these impacts are expected to worsen.

A new season dawns

Shane O’Shea. North-Central football, hockey and netball’s 2025 season heralds the dawn of a new era of competition, with the formation of the Calder United Lions condensing the league into an eight-team competition ...

How do I stop gazanias invading my crops?

Dr Ali Bajwa. Gazanias, a popular groundcover plant, are increasingly invading cropping paddocks in South Australia and Victoria. Dr. Ali Bajwa of La Trobe University is studying their spread and control methods under the GRDC's National Grower Network.

Mallee Bull Cup – abandoned

Peter Hibberd. The famous after party for the Mallee Bull Cups meeting at Birchip started early when H.R.V. stewards abandoned the last three races, for the health and safety of all concerned with continuous lightning in the local area.

“OK”! What a weekend!

Jenny Pollard. As the adrenaline rush from "OK Motels" subsides, Charlton can reflect on how the modest little festival, which began back in 2018, has now grown into a full-on, "all-of-town" experience as 800 visitors descended on the "Friendly River Town" to make last weekend’s event one for the record books.

Local cups carnival

Peter Hibberd. Over the next three weekends the Boort, Birchip and Charlton Clubs will run their feature meetings with the running of their pacing and trotting cups ... On a very competitive day of racing, drivers Damian Wilson and Alex Ashwood took the driving honours with each having a double.

New local health service networks

The Victorian Government has announced 12 Local Health Service Networks. These have been designed following consultation and feedback from health services, and in response to the Government’s plan to improve access, equity and care closer to home. The Board acknowledged correspondence from the Minister for Health, placing EWHS within the Grampians Local Health Service Network.

For developing workforce accommodation – transmission company seeks public input

Community members in the Buloke Shire are encouraged to share their interests and concerns with Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) to help shape the development of workforce accommodation for the VNI West project. Recognising that many areas in the VNI West project corridor face housing availability and affordability challenges, we’re inviting input on our approach to developing workforce accommodation.

Last chance to see

The Giant Russian Sunflowers at Donald’s Red Gate Community Garden are in the final days of their spectacular bloom. Measuring some four metres in height (that’s around 14ft in Red Gate parlance) with seedhead/flowers weighing in at around 2 kgs (4lbs?), they have been photographed many times by visitors passing through town and locals alike.