Contributor, The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper
71 POSTS
Irrigators class action update – Southern Riverina Irrigators
The court case is progressing well. MDBA staff on the witness stand seem to all share the same case of amnesia as they can't seem to remember any important details. "I can't recall" was the most common answer which is a pretty sad state of affairs considering these decisions severely impacted livelihoods and created extreme mental stress.
Paddock to plate: Deni butcher bids for state title
Gus van Hart. The knives are sharp and the butterflies are real as Hayley Pattison counts down to the Australian Meat Industry Council NSW butcher apprenticeship competition in Sydney on 11 September, banking on paddock-to-plate know-how to set her apart.
Off and racing
Gunbower Racing Club is taking a big punt on itself – and the payoff would be huge. But more for Gunbower Lions Club and Echuca Regional Health’s Wellbeing Centre, because there’s $50,000 up for grabs as part of the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour National Sweep.
Irrigators got their day in court
It might have been six years in the making but irrigators across northern Victoria and the Riverina have finally got their day in court with the MDBA. The MDBA used overbank transfers to flood the bush four times during 2017-2019 which resulted in little or zero allocation for irrigators, causing extreme financial and mental stress.
Walsh pleads for DEECA to repeat 2024 Barmah firewood collection
The Nationals Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh is appealing to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action to repeat its public firewood collection from Barmah Forest in September last year. Mr Walsh said that day saw thousands of tonnes of flood-damaged timber made available to hundreds of locals for heating and, in some cases, cooking.
Chalmers crowned CY25 SunRice grower of the year
Sophie Baldwin. Since the 1970s, the Chalmers family have been growing rice, so they certainly know a thing or two about the importance of performance and business planning. For Michael and Felicia that acumen was rewarded with the couple recently crowned CY25 SunRice grower of the year.
Hunter finds his passion in Ag
Coming off a farm at Barham, 14-year-old Hunter Toohey is at school in Ballarat studying as hard as he can to get back there as fast as he can. At the weekend he was on a mate’s property outside Ararat trying to help thin the local fox population before heading back to the boarding house on Sunday night.
Induro brings home the ribbons
Wakool Sheep Stud Induro White Suffolks has had a great showing at the 2025 Hamilton Sheepvention with wins across the board with their White Suffolks and also in Hamilton’s inaugural Ultra White showing. Induro stud owner Guy Treweek said it was a very successful event as they warm up for the year's bigger shows.
Barham OOSH opens doors to families – and educators
Families in Barham now have greater access to quality care for their school-aged children, with the launch of a new Out of School Hours (OOSH) service at Barham Public School. Driven by strong community feedback about the lack of childcare options in the region, the service has been established by Intereach in partnership with Barham Public School and its Parents & Citizens Association.
Council supports small businesses with reduced permit fees
Gannawarra Shire Council is undertaking efforts to support small businesses operating in the municipality. As part of its 2025/2026 Budget, Council has reduced the costs associated with obtaining a footpath trading permit from $65 to $10.