Bordertown’s bioenergy breakthrough
Gabrielle Duykers. In a world first, a Limestone Coast food manufacturer will convert oat husks into electricity, enabling it to offset almost all its monthly energy costs. Cereal oat supplier Blue Lake Milling, located in Bordertown, completed construction of its $8.1 million biogas plant last week. Commercial projects manager Jeremy Neale said the plant would generate enough bioenergy to power both the plant and nearby homes.
Afghani locals in “limbo”
Gabrielle Duykers. Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Migrant Resource Centre (MRC), Eugenia Tsoulis spoke to Naracoorte Lucindale Council at its latest meeting, emphasising the need to continue support for Afghan residents ... Following the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, many local Afghan migrants are trying to safely bring their family members to Australia. However, many are unable to do so due to being on temporary “bridging” visas or without citizenship.
Prior wins Tatiara Art Prize
Gabrielle Duykers. A “poignant” and “emotional” textile work has taken home the 2021 Tatiara Art Prize and is now on public display at Walkway Gallery. The winning work, ‘The Shortest Day of the Year', comes from artist Deborah Prior and tells the story of family connections as inspired by her grandmother. Made from vintage Australian woollen blankets, the beautifully crafted piece also represents the wool industry and its critical connection to regional and remote communities.
Kelpie sells for $29K in Lucindale
Gabrielle Duykers. A Victorian kelpie has snagged the highest bid at South Australia's first working dog auction, selling for $29,000. On September 26, the inaugural Lucindale Working Dog Auction was held in Yakka Park and saw more than 400 people in attendance. Of the 30 kelpies up for grabs, two-and-a-half-year-old Josie took home the top sale price.
Aboriginal flag fixed
Gabrielle Duykers. Tatiara District Council will permanently fly the Aboriginal flag, following a letter from a local woman condemning councillors over its absence. Council currently flies the Australian, South Australian and Tatiara flags at the Dukes Highway town entrances to Bordertown and its Bordertown Council office ... The City of Mount Gambier and Robe District Council are the only other Limestone Coast councils to permanently fly the Aboriginal flag outside their offices.
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."
