Business

Shaun Hollis. Yorke Peninsula poker machine players lost over $3 million more in the past financial year than any other 12-month period in the region’s history, setting an alarming new record high. The steep rise in losses in the YP region was more than triple the state average increase.

The Woodburn Bowling Club could be turned into a medical centre if the development application currently on public exhibition is approved ... The project has letters of  support  from Federal MP Kevin Hogan, State MP Richie Williamson, the Woodburn Pharmacy, Healthy North Coast and an anonymous letter in favour of Woodburn getting doctors again.

For seven years, Frontier Pets grew its pet food business from a warehouse in Evans Head. That expansion has been so successful, the business has moved to larger premises in Brisbane.

Shane O’Shea. On July 29 this year, the “Buloke Times” commenced its 150th year of newspaper publication, continuing a tradition of recording local district news established by the founder of the “Donald Times”, the late Godfrey Morgan ... the newspaper has undergone many changes, both in name and production method, but has steadfastly adhered to the desire to keep its readers informed and to record the many events that impact their lives and have shaped the development of the region.

Rural libraries make up 81 per cent of all public libraries in Ukraine. In the near future, the number of these libraries may be reduced by 5 times. Libraries have failed to become attractive and profitable in a market economy. However, no one has tried to make them so.

The secret is now out! And the residents have started to move into their high-rise apartments. Some time ago, a "Buloke Times" photographer spotted an impressive array of colourful birdhouses at the Donald Buloke Shire Council office, each getting a fresh coat of weather protection. The photographer was politely asked to keep a lid on the scoop, as further consultation with land management stakeholders was under way.

We have all heard of Artificial Intelligence, and most of you have heard of ChatGPT and some of you may have even tried it ... I decided I needed to get up to speed and get on board and try out the new version ... I asked it to: "Generate an opinion article similar in tone and length to what Trevor Whittington might write in the Farm Weekly on the potential of AI to replace traffic controllers with their stop-go signs on country road construction sites" ...

The Goldfields Gothic Festival took place last weekend and was once again a perfectly sombre, solemn and melancholy event; attendees had a wonderful time and the organisers declared it a success … Under the steam of Peter Thompson and a number of key helpers — including Sasha Cuha, Gabrielle Kelly and a crew wearing top hats — most of the main events in 2024 took place at the Maldon Vintage Machinery and Museum.

The Cotton industry’s top awards for the year have been announced ... with the top two awards going to Queenslanders. The 2024 Bayer Cotton Grower of the year is Scott Balsillie, farm manager for Eastern Australia Agriculture in Dirranbandi while the AgriRisk High Achiever award recipients are Steve and Bridget McVeigh from Dalby on the Darling Downs.

Pioneering Australian benchtop and tile manufacturer Noveco Surfaces and NAB have announced a $7.75 million partnership that will facilitate the development of an innovative new facility, which will scale its local production of crystalline silica-free tiles and benchtops, made from 80 per cent recycled materials ... Nowra-based Noveco Surfaces, in partnership with the SMart Centre at UNSW, the inventors of Green Ceramics, uses waste to product technologies to manufacture sustainable, designer green products.

The biography of John Gunn is now published, titled Opportunity Makes the Man, The Labours of John Alexander Gunn—the only biography ever written about one of Australia’s greatest sons. Who was John Gunn? He was an Australian pastoralist who, in 1893, commenced using his own double-dose anthrax vaccine. His vaccine outperformed the vaccine of Louis Pasteur ...

... this region is renowned for its abundance and diversity of produce ... Marc and Stacey Brooke are one such couple who have wholeheartedly embraced the area’s inherent spirit of diversity, with the transformation of their small cropping farm nestled on the outskirts of Wakool into the blossoming Australian natives enterprise, Tulla Natives.

AgForce has said it is increasingly concerned that delays to urgently needed reforms to the Wind Farm Code could put agricultural landholders at potentially crippling financial risk. Queensland’s peak representative body for farmers is disappointed that despite a review of the Wind Farm Code last year, the Queensland Government has not released any reforms to the Code since.

Tractor manufacturer Massey Ferguson treated dealers and farmers to what Product Manager for Hay and Harvest, Sam Mulkearns, said was the biggest Field Day Massey Ferguson has ever conducted in Australia, with over 80 pieces of tractor equipment and 60 brand new shiny tractors on display all bound to excite farmers and dealers.

Naracoorte based radiotherapy working group chairman Lachlan Haynes has vowed “we won’t give up” following a $110,000 feasibility study rejecting South East radiation services. Meanwhile, the $243million Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) is aiming to spend $4.3 million of federal funding for radiation services on a Cancer Consult Suite at the Mount Gambier Hospital.

South Australian producers of sheep and farmed goats and the broader supply chain  will benefit from a new electronic identification (eID) implementation program to  prepare for the traceability system that becomes mandatory from 1 January 2025. A further $900,000 in funding is being provided to establish the eID Advantage  Program to improve producer knowledge and understanding of changed  responsibilities under the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS).

Line dancers from all over the country descended upon Narrandera recently, turning the town into a lively festival of twirls and stomps. Locals jumped in, mingling with the competitors, creating cherished memories and savouring the electric atmosphere.

The SA Cattle Industry Fund has announced its intention to withdraw funding for the Malinauskas Labor Government’s National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) cattle compliance program, after revelations not all states are contributing equally. Minister for Primary Industries, Clare Scriven, has reportedly pleaded for the decision to be reversed.

The Pilbara region has achieved a remarkable milestone, with a record 758.3 million tonnes of exports passing through its ports in the 2023-24 financial year. This marks the fifth consecutive year of record-breaking throughput for Pilbara Ports.

I’m Sam Freeman, and alongside Justin Walsh, Adam Nikitins, and our team, we have been working to ensure Rex’s regional services continue through – and beyond – Rex’s Voluntary Administration.  As we shared on social media last week, we’ve been focused on ensuring our regional network operates without disruption and I’m proud to say that since Wednesday last week, we’ve carried thousands of passengers across hundreds of sectors.