Naracoorte – a regional headquarters for rare earths
Chris Oldfield. Australian Rare Earths Limited (AREL) has established a regional headquarters in Naracoorte as part of its plan to develop a rare earths operation in the area ... The next phase of exploration at Koppamurra is set to commence in October and will consist of further exploration activities, “to expand upon the previous shallow drilling program and will progress to include various studies and technical work, to help determine a development concept”.
Doctor retires after half-century career
Gabrielle Duykers. Long-standing Naracoorte doctor Alison Gazard will be retiring this week, following a 52-year career in medicine ... It was when she started undertaking locum work in rural areas that she realised her love for country life. "I found it far more satisfying than general practice in the city where you tended to just operate around prescriptions and referral forms. In the country you had to actually do things ‒ put in drips, resuscitate people, and do sutures."
Koppamurra mining: Australian first for rare earths
Chris Oldfield. A $45 million mining company with a base in Naracoorte is about to start drilling for rare earths – essential to modern high-tech products – at a unique deposit in Koppamurra ... With a mining licence stretching from Keith to Comaum and from Apsley into western Victoria, Australian Rare Earths Limited (ASX: AREL) announced last week that planning and preparation had been completed for its drilling program to start in early October.
McBride to stay with Liberal Party
Sheryl Lowe. One week into a two-week time frame to decide his political future, Member for McKillop Nick McBride MP confirmed he had consulted with members of his electorate as he considered how “I can best serve my constituents and my electorate” ... Mr McBride told The News he is happy with the outcome. He has “greater lines of communication within the party” and the difficulties he experienced getting traction for important issues in the past have been removed, he said.
McBride straddles border issues and party
Sheryl Lowe. Border communities have been some of the hardest hit since the pandemic began in Australia early in 2020. Many are living and working in both states with life straddling the border on a daily basis. So perhaps it is no surprise they are now the lifeline for several thousand displaced South Australians unable to return home due to the current strict border controls between South Australia and Victoria. The office of Member for MacKillop Nick McBride MP is close to the South Australian/Victoria border and he and his staff know first-hand the struggles of the border communities.
Our Afghani stories shared with MPs: Tony Piccolo
Tony Piccolo. The local Afghan Community in the South East have told State Members of Parliament of their fear for the safety and wellbeing of family and friends living in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of allied forces and the installation of a new Taliban Government. The community shared their stories with a delegation led by religious leader Sheikh Ghulam Ali Haideri and State Member of Parliament, Mr Tony Piccolo who visited Naracoorte to offer support to people who are dealing with the confronting and difficult fallout from the events in Afghanistan.
Refugee brings colour to South East
Gabrielle Duykers. A Zambian refugee camp seems an unlikely environment to foster an art career, but for one Mount Gambier man, that is where it all began. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sadiki Kamundele is a skilled sculptor and painter, who works in a variety of mediums.
