Toy and Tucker’s 2025 record
Madison Eastmond. A record total of donations has been counted from last weekend's Toy and Tucker Run, with the annual drive ensuring a brighter Christmas for Riverland families ... Using the annual December ride to collect toys, non-perishable foods, and cash donations for the Riverland Christmas Appeal, the Ulysses Club Mallee Branch's 23rd Riverland Toy and Tucker Run raised $7937 last Sunday for locals in-need.
John’s pawsome service awarded
Madison Eastmond. A long-serving Riverland veterinarian has been awarded as the best practitioner in Australia. Recognising close to 50 years of animal care, and 40 years of service to the local pet population, Riverland Veterinary Practice (RVP) principal vet John Hammond received the 2025 Australian Small Animal Veterinarians (ASAV) Roger Clarke Practitioner of the Year Award in August.
Industry at catastrophe
Hugh Schuitemaker and Madison Eastmond. The region's peak wine industry representative group has issued an urgent open letter to South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, warning that the state's largest producing area — the "backbone for thousands of family" livelihoods — is in the grip of a severe economic and social crisis ... Grape purchase prices remain at historic lows, with early indicators for the 2026 vintage, showing shiraz prices far below the cost of production – as low as $80 to $120 per tonne – which exceeds $350 per tonne.
Wrong time for a (vine) rest?
The Riverland's State and Federal MPs say an initiative promoting the resting of vineyards will have little benefit for the economic health of local wine grape growers. The State Government last week announced a rebate – of $40/hectare – for Riverland wine grape growers to rest red wine vineyards, through the use of the chemical Ethephon, for the 2026 vintage.
Back to the ‘easy’ option?
Hugh Schuitemaker. A senior Riverland irrigation sector figure, and local politicians, say a decision to buyback more water volumes for the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is relying on the "easy" and "lazy" option. Federal Minister for Water Murray Watt, at last week's Basin Leaders Summit, held in Adelaide, announced buybacks for an added 130GL of water to go toward Murray-Darling Basin Plan targets.
