Naracoorte’s rising star
Leadership, determination, and the courage to step outside one’s comfort zone propelled Jack Barker to a major regional honour. The 17-year-old Naracoorte High School Year 12 student and 2026 school captain has been named the Upper South East Lions Youth of the Year, a recognition that celebrates academic excellence, leadership, and public speaking ability among young people.
I am ready to get to work
“I am deeply humbled and incredibly grateful… It’s a historic result, and I don't take this trust lightly. I’m ready to get to work.” That was the message from One Nation’s Jason Virgo after a stunning election result delivered a massive swing across the MacKillop electorate - with Naracoorte emerging as a key signal of change.
Mayor pay push splits council
A push to increase the mayor’s pay has split Naracoorte Lucindale Council, with councillors clashing over rising demands of the role - and whether ratepayers should foot the bill. At the March council meeting, chaired by deputy mayor Cr Abigail Goodman in the absence of mayor Patrick Ross, elected members voted to formally lobby the Remuneration Tribunal of South Australia to review and potentially increase mayoral allowance - and to “delink” the mayor’s allowance from the councillors.
“I am sorry” – McBride ends political career
Nick McBride has apologised to his MacKillop voters and confirmed his political career is over, as a surge toward One Nation reshapes the race. As of midday March 23, with about 70 per cent of votes counted, Mount Gambier councillor, One Nation’s Jason Virgo was leading on provisional first preference votes, with Liberal candidate Rebekah Rosser close behind.
Who will it be? Nine-way race for MacKillop
As voters prepare to shape the future of the region for the next four years, a record nine candidates will contest the seat of MacKillop at the state election on March 21 ... The declaration of nominations and the draw for ballot paper positions were held earlier last week, setting the stage for one of the most crowded contests the electorate has seen.
Radiotherapy wins backing from MacKillop candidates
All five candidates contesting the seat of MacKillop have declared support for establishing radiotherapy services in the Limestone Coast, according to written responses provided to the Limestone Coast Radiation Treatment Working Group ahead of this month's state election ... Ahead of the meeting, candidates were invited to provide written responses to a series of questions regarding the provision of radiotherapy services...
Minor doctor share: Just three of 12 new interns based locally despite ‘major service centre’ status
The Malinauskas Labor government has unveiled a $13m election commitment to build a new medical school training centre in Mount Gambier -promising a stronger “pipeline of doctors” for regional SA. But of the 12 intern doctors recruited this year to the Limestone Coast Local Health Network, only three are based in Naracoorte - a town formally designated as a major service centre under the government’s ambitious Limestone Coast Regional Plan 2026.
Where’s the childcare centre?
Big promises, no build as Naracoorte waits on old TAFE site project. A grand on-site announcement, artist impressions, and firm timelines promised a solution to Naracoorte’s long-running childcare shortage — but almost two years on, the proposed early learning and childcare centre at the former TAFE site has yet to take physical shape.
Is Struan House being left to rot?
Is the slow decay of the iconic Struan House south of Naracoorte a case of “demolition by neglect” — and has South Australia squandered a once-in-a-generation chance to anchor cutting-edge agricultural research in the Limestone Coast?
Labor for MacKillop’s future?
As MacKillop heads toward the March 2026 state election, voters are being challenged to weigh experience, independence, and influence. Labor candidate Mark Braes makes his case in an exclusive Q&A with The [Naracoorte] News, pitching decades in law, local government, and mayoral leadership—alongside the leverage of being part of a governing SA Labor Party.
