Cattle industry – drought prompts rethink
Patricia Gill. Drought has prompted a rethink in the Denmark cattle industry after farmers have been forced to shoot animals because of a lack of feed and rock-bottom cattle prices. Farmers, including Steve Birkbeck at the Raintree Farm, have faced their driest season from spring through to autumn, with longer-established farmers saying this season has been the driest since 1982.
Barely a drop to drink
Patricia Gill. Water pressure dropped to a trickle to 400 households last Friday night when a leaking water main was turned off for repairs about 9.30pm. WA Water Corporation crews began work on Friday leaving households without pressure until 6pm on Saturday but the water was cut again from 9am-4pm on Sunday so a Shire of Denmark stormwater drain could be fixed.
Little River finds gives hope for species
A survey of the Little River system has found one adult male snake-necked turtle in an area where three were found 10 years ago. The find offers hope for threatened South-Western snake-necked turtle population in the habitat after no turtles have been seen there in 10 years.
Popeye’s a powerful presence
HorsePower Denmark‘s second horse, Popeye, was in fine fettle on Saturday when Anglican Church’s Mustard Seed Op Shop volunteers turned out to meet him ... HorsePower Denmark provides equine-assisted therapies at the Denmark Equine Centre for people with physical, intellectual and social challenges to help empower them to discover new abilities.
Ceramist to share evolutionary story
South African ceramic artist Madoda Fani will be artist in residence at Denmark Arts from August to September. Madoda’s African heritage inspires his hand-coiled, burnished and smoke-fired pieces that are a contemporary evolution of the traditional ceramics of his country.
Heart-felt gift to Denmark community
Six new public defibrillators will be installed along Denmark’s coast in memory of beloved Fremantle father of two, Andy Rutherford, who died of cardiac arrest last year ... Andy’s family were reunited with some of the SJWA volunteers who were by his side in his final moments on June 24, for the installation of the first defibrillators and to unveil a tribute plaque in his memory at Lights Beach.
Landowners asked to remove Sleeman River salinity barrier
Landowners whose property joins the mouth of the Sleeman River have been asked to dismantle the remnants of a disintegrating weir which has been in place for more than 30 years. The weir was built to block salt water from entering the river so landowners could exercise their riparian rights.
