Business

Police have raided the newly opened ‘Quick Stop Convenience Store’ in King George Street, Cohuna, seizing illicit tobacco products and arresting a woman. Police officers from Kerang, Cohuna and Koondrook executed a warrant at the tobacconist, which sells children’s toys front of house...

Skyrocketing cocoa prices are putting strong pressure on chocolate producers around the globe, who will likely pass on the burden to consumers, according to a new international report by food and agribusiness banking specialist, Rabobank. In the report Soaring Cocoa prices: The worst is yet to come, the bank says the main impact of the cocoa crisis still lies ahead, as companies hedge prices and supply contracts up to a year in advance.

Serena Kirby. An increase in children experiencing mental health crises and presenting at the region’s emergency departments has led to a new crisis response service. Run by the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, the acute care response team will be based in Albany but will cover Denmark and the Great Southern.

... it’s disturbing to read in a recently released EPA document that South32 propose to follow Woodside's example and ‘sterilise’ over 4,000 hectares of freehold land—good farmland—as a means of appeasing the environmental gods ... This is the same mad formula Woodside is following: take freehold cleared farmland and ease their guilt by planting trees that will never be harvested, with the land lost to agricultural production, including tree farming, forever.

Hugh Schuitemaker. The Riverland’s state MP is among political figures calling for the State Government to support local wine grape growers who have experienced severe crop damage from frost ... Barker MP Tony Pasin said increased support was needed to ensure primary producers could sustain through ongoing weather challenges.

Hugh Schuitemaker. Riverland grape growers have been left devastated by last week’s frost damage, which has been described by some as the worst they can remember. Ongoing low temperatures, which saw -2.2C recorded in Renmark ... caused extensive damage to vines across the region ... 919 Wines director and winemaker Eric Semmler said approximately 98 per cent of his Glossop vineyard was lost.

Yamba professional fisherman Troy Billin is renowned by chefs around Australia for his exceptional quality, fresh seafood, and now he has been recognised by the industry being named the best Primary Producer at the 2024 National Seafood Industry Awards. The bi-annual National Seafood Industry Awards (NSIA) reward excellence in the Australian seafood industry; and showcase the industry’s value to the national economy...

Volunteers at the Clarence Valley’s own community radio station, Loving Life FM103.1, celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Community Broadcasting this week on Monday ... On September 23, 1974, the Whitlam Labor Government made a Cabinet decision to create a community broadcasting sector for “those who represent organisations that think they have something to say and want some better means of saying it…

Tony Mahar is a seriously good operator, widely respected across the ag sector, but one suspects the government is hoping he’ll morph into their Lord Hee-Haw—a smooth-talking apologist who can help them roll out their 40 turbines a month, and thousands of kilometres of power lines across picturesque rural farmland   by 2030 ... The government must be worried as the bush is in revolt and the government's secret polling must have them worried.   Hence the roll out of the conservative version of Henry Kissinger to calm the locals.

During the last week of Term 4 Nhill College had their Year 10s out on Work Experience. Students were placed in Adelaide, Bordertown, Kaniva, Nhill, Rainbow, Horsham, Bendigo, Ballarat and Melbourne.

The Minns NSW Labor Government slammed the door on Norco being reinstated as a supplier to NSW Health on the North and Mid-North Coast in parliament last week, despite a previous NSW government decision to dump the 100 per cent farmer owned co-operative being reversed. When the issue was raised in parliament last Wednesday night, a public interest debate erupted where a motion was put forward by the NSW Nationals calling on the Minns Government to reverse its decision.

Sarah Herrmann. Kadina's Charli Pearce was 10 years old when she started using social media. Now 18, she said while she somewhat regrets that decision, she also believes attempts to stop young people from using it will be fruitless.

A Sunshine Coast aerodrome that dates back to 1931 is set to soar into the future as a hub for aviation innovation, maintenance and advanced manufacturing. Caloundra Aerodrome, owned by Sunshine Coast Council, will be expanded with the development of an exciting new precinct called Caloundra Aerospace Park. There will be a range of lots available within the 6.3 hectare land release ...

Marian Haddrick. VicGrid CEO Alistair Parker met with a hundred concerned locals from Birchip and the surrounding area last Thursday at the Birchip Leisure Centre. Birchip is in the Regional Energy Zone (REZ) that is connecting supporting transmission infrastructure from Victoria’s west in Horsham to the north of the state in Red Hills.

The life of a country veterinarian is not an easy one and for Dr Lisa Clarke, the days can be long and the work can be dangerous. Lisa and her mobile vet service,The Roving Vet, can also clock up nearly 1000 km every week as zig zags across WA’s Great Southern from Albany to Walpole. And, with so much time spent in her vehicle, it’s a good thing Lisa has Plum, her “trusty secretary” with her wherever she goes.

The Australian and Queensland governments will be progressing further planning work to protect the future rail corridor between Salisbury and Beaudesert. The Salisbury to Beaudesert Passenger Rail study explored the long-term passenger and freight needs in the corridor and has recommended heavy rail as the best way to address forecast passenger demand.

As the North Central Football League (NCFL) season has now officially drawn to a close, the energy and excitement across Mt. Wycheproof and Nullawil communities is shifting towards putting Buloke on show, one wonderful event at a time ... First-up, the highly anticipated Riordan King of the Mountain races and food and wine picnic ...

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park says progress is being made to improve healthcare in the bush. The NSW Government says it is demonstrating its commitment to improving healthcare in rural and regional communities by recruiting and retaining more health workers, offering greater financial assistance for patients, and providing support to sustain the primary care sector.

During floods and fires not being able to communicate is scary and dangerous ... A new fleet of technology from the State Government will help communities be more prepared for disasters and better able to respond to bushfires, floods and other severe weather events.

Mark your calendars ... there is a must-see event happening again in Balranald. Ivanhoe Dry Times Truck, Tractor, Car and Bike Show is on again! It only happens once every two years so polish up your chrome and hit the road!