Contributor, The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper
76 POSTS
Moulamein sisters earn Barastoc call-ups
Gus van Hart. Two Moulamein sisters are set to pull on New South Wales colours at Barastoc 2026 after both landed surprise representative call-ups in different squads. Barastoc is an annual three-day interstate polocrosse carnival featuring representative state teams from across the country.
Scrap-metal minions stop traffic
Gus van Hart. A quirky paddock full of handmade "Minions" is stopping traffic in Koondrook, with families pulling over at a local farm to snap photos from the fence line. The display, built from recycled farm and industrial parts, has quickly become a fun roadside attraction for the district, drawing regular visitors and giving travellers a reason to slow down and take a look.
Monster cod catch makes Cohuna fisherman a local hero
Gus van Hart. A young angler has landed the catch of a lifetime off the Cohuna pier, reeling in a metre-plus Murray cod that has kids around town asking him how to fish. Personal trainer Jye Hill, who recently turned 20, was only a few minutes into a session at the popular Cohuna spot when his rod suddenly came to life.
Kerang mill’s Pacific trip turns into cattle mission
Gus van Hart. For Kerang operator Michael Sommerville, a four-day visit to Samoa in November showed how a small, family-run business in northern Victoria could build deep ties with Pacific workers and end up advising the nation's Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Fuimaono Maiava Tito Asafo.
Local family business joins a national family
After two decades of independent operation in Barham, New South Wales real estate gun Lauren Polkinghorne has joined the Ray White network. The Ray White Barham principal is eager to bring together local expertise with national backing in a move that promises exciting opportunities for the Murray River community.
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.