Lloyd Polkinghorne, The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper
781 POSTS
Politics, say no more …
Barnaby Joyce is once again leader of the federal National Party and is the Deputy Prime Minister. Does that statement cause joy, tears or disbelief? For me, personally, I am probably leaning towards disbelief, and that is based on his recent behaviour alone, including: Approval of the sale of $80 million of water licences for a Cayman Islands based company established by Energy Minister Angus Taylor, Eastern Australia Irrigation – the very same licences that were valued at zero between 2008 and 2010.
Sheep workshops on the mark
Last Wednesday a group of 40 local sheep producers attended a Lamb Marking Best Practice workshop organised by Western Murray Land Improvement Group (WMLIG) and Central Murray Sheep Producer at “Glenbar” in Mallan. The workshop was facilitated by Geoff Duddy from Sheep Solutions who has dedicated the last 30 years to improving sheep producers’ and enterprises’ skills and knowledge base across all areas of sheep production. Whilst recent wet weather has not been ideal for marking, the dry day offered up the opportunity for farmers to learn and recognise best practice.
Two more Docker seasons for Josh
Kirstin Nicholson. Cohuna’s Josh Treacy has been signed on to the Fremantle Dockers for another two seasons. Josh played his first AFL game for the Dockers in round four of the 2021 season in April against the Hawks and now has seven games under his belt, citing the win against Sydney as the best game he has ever played in and been a part of.
Reflect on this
Last week, Griffith hosted the first annual Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) River Reflections conference. It was with much reluctance that I headed up to the event, but I am glad I did because the gospel, according to the MDBA, appears to be more rooted in propaganda than guiding the whole basin to a prosperous future ... The high ranking officials included MDBA Chair, Sir Angus Houston; Federal Environment Minister and Member for Farrer, Sussan Ley; Minister for Water, Keith Pitt; MDBA Chief Executive, Phillip Glyde; MDBA River Operations, Andrew Reynolds; and Acting Head of the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, Hilton Taylor.
Crime on the rise
Kirstin Nicholson. Locals are rattled over the number of thefts occurring in the district. Over the past few years, thefts from private residences and businesses seem to be more frequent and victims are urging people to make security a priority and to be vigilant ... “As a smaller community we’ve just got to find a way. People say this shouldn’t happen in this sort of small community. It shouldn’t because we’ve got each other to lean on. We should be eyes and ears for each other. You don’t want to hear about this happening. In Melbourne this happens every day. We moved back to the country to get away from that sort of lifestyle.”
Price wins and Duncan competes at the Finke
Kendall Jennings. Before the tragedy struck at the 2021 Tatts Finke Desert Race, Barham local Riley Duncan piloted his motorcycle, a KTM500, to the 40th fastest time in Class Two of the Prologue with a six-minute 17.4 second time ... The first leg of the desert race from Alice Springs to Finke followed the old rail route near the most centre point of Australia – 226 kilometres of brutal Australian terrain, on the edge of the Simpson Desert, surrounded by mountain ranges and rock formations.
Border residents hindered
Kendall Jennings. As a part of a border community, you can enjoy both sides of the river without thinking you are in a different state – until the state governments have a difference of opinion over COVID-19 safety.
