Grafton to host Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Award regional cook-off
Australia’s longest-running culinary competition for emerging chefs is coming to Grafton ... Assessed to globally recognised standards, each chef will have two and a half hours to prepare and present two plates of a main course and a dessert to the panel of judges.
Air Force pilot returns to where it all began
FLTLT Kristi Adam. The tiny town of Nhill in the Wimmera region of far west Victoria, was once home to Executive Officer of 100 Squadron, Squadron Leader Samuel da Graca Costa, who recently returned representing Air Force at the Nhill Air Show - flying the CA-25 Winjeel.
Balranald: this is our time
Kimberly Grabham. ‘Make Balranald great again’. This was the resounding message and vibe of a recent meeting held at the Discovery Centre Café ... Recently appointed Director of Governance, Business and Community Services, Glenn Carroll said it was time for Balranald to take the reins and benefit from the significant boom the area is having...
Budget 2024: What does it mean for you?
When Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down the Albanese government’s 2024 budget last week it was touted as a ‘cost-of-living budget’, aimed at relieving the pressure of everyday costs. Member for Farrer and Opposition Party Deputy Leader, Sussan Ley is concerned at the lack of money for the bush. “My key concern is the $315 billion in new spending by Labor risks adding further to inflation and keeping interest rates higher for longer,” Ms Ley told The Riverine Grazier.
Join Nhill’s historic silo project
No-one ever said preserving and restoring a silo complex would be easy. A passionate group of volunteers is working hard towards this goal, spending dozens of hours every month fixing floorboards, replacing rotting wooden posts, and applying for grants.
Helping timber workers transition to new opportunities: Spence
The Allan Labor Government’s Forestry Transition Fund has helped an East Gippsland timber worker to successfully transition from working in a mill to running his own small business ... Riverview Installations installs flatpack kitchens, including those from Bunnings and Ikea, in Bairnsdale and the surrounding area. The business also helps homeowners to measure and design their own kitchen.
Keeping remote Queensland connected: Chisholm
Seven airstrips in Queensland are set to receive funding under Round 10 of the Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program ... The seven Queensland projects are sharing in $13.4m in new grants awarded under Round 10 to improve the safety and accessibility of airstrips across remote Australia. This includes the Lockhart River and Injune airstrips ... Kowanyama Airport ... Aurukun Aerodrome ... Woorabinda Airstrip ...
Open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: NFF
Last week, for the first time in 39 years, farmers from across Australia determined that they no longer have confidence in your government to represent their interests. This vote followed an unprecedented walk-out by farmers on your Agriculture Minister’s budget address. This is not how we usually operate at the National Farmers’ Federation ... But decision by decision, your government is pushing farmers away and eroding their trust. Frankly they’ve had enough.
AgZero – The Power Shift: WA Farmers
Tickets are officially on sale for The Power Shift: Transitioning Farm Communities to Renewables ... Supported by Western Power and Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, AgZero 2030 is bringing together a range of quality speakers to cover all topics of the energy transition and how it impacts farms, agriculture and our communities.
Hydrogen Jobs Plan to power up in the nick of time for energy security: Koutsantonis
The electricity generator being built as part of the Hydrogen Jobs Plan is critical to energy supply in South Australia, a new Australian Energy Market Operator report on energy reliability reveals. The State Government-owned generator being built in Whyalla must connect to the grid as soon as possible to counterbalance the impacts of early closures of privately operated gas-fired generators...
More power pain for SA as major projects delayed: Patterson
South Australians face increased risk of power blackouts over the next decade despite paying some of the highest electricity prices in the world, according to a new report. The Australian Energy Market Operator report shows increased power grid reliability risks across the country over the coming years due to delays in major energy projects such as the SA-NSW interconnector...
Urgent investment needed for electricity reliability: AEMO
AEMO has today published an update to the 2023 Electricity Statement of Opportunities (ESOO) report, the 10-year reliability outlook for the National Electricity Market (NEM). The update was triggered due to material changes impacting reliability risks since the 2023 ESOO was published last August, including new commissioning dates for Project EnergyConnect, and mothballed gas and diesel generators in South Australia.
100 mile man
Wilson McShane. Twenty-three hours and 56 minutes. A lot can be achieved in this time, but few can say they have run 100 miles, or about 160 kilometres, in such a short timeframe. But this is what Kadina man Scott Martin achieved on Saturday, May 13, when he won the Irrational SOUTH 100 Miler through the Flinders Ranges.
Mine mission – Moonta Mines incident under investigation
Sarah Herrmann. With a crucial bid looming to have our unique Moonta Mines precinct World Heritage Listed, more work is needed to improve the safety of the site. Safework SA inspectors have visited Hughes Enginehouse in Moonta Mines as part of ongoing inquiries into an incident that occurred earlier this month.
Op shop’s benefits reach far and wide
Look First Op Shop appreciates the patronage of many local customers, alongside the visitors from out of town ... The theme behind the name is that we look beyond the “four walls” of our homes, our town, our country as we contribute into our local organisations and overseas – Ukraine, Niger, Indonesia and Timor Leste.
2024 Banff Mountain Film Festival
The 2024 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour is a celebration of the mountain and adventure sport world. Sharing over 2 1/2 hours of the most exhilarating short films from explorers, runners, mountain bikers, skiers, paddlers and climbers from around the globe.
AI-powered weather forecasting accuracy set to help local growers: Hort Innovation
Growers could soon have tailored local weather forecasts directly at their fingertips through a ground-breaking program that leverages the cutting-edge capabilities of artificial intelligence and machine learning combined with traditional weather forecasting techniques … the $1.3M initiative … is tailored to meet the specific needs of individual growers, considering their farming block, unique terrain and operational requirements.
An Australian-made New Vehicle Efficiency Standard: King, Bowen
“This is a monumental milestone for Australians, with this Standard to pave the way for Australians to access and benefit from the most advanced car, SUV and ute technology offered in other countries – which are cheaper to run and better for the environment. At every step of the way, we have listened to the views of Australians on how we can deliver a Standard that works uniquely for our country, which is what we have delivered today”: Catherine King.
Bush buildings boom: Where does the balance go?
Araluen’s Independent Member has pressed the NT government to disclose the construction costs of dwellings in the bush after media statements last year indicated there may be a flood of $1.5m mansions across remote regions ... Ms Lambley, following a request by the [Alice Springs] News, submitted what’s called “written questions” to the Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics, which happens to be Chief Minister Eva Lawler.
GrainGrowers watching Incitec sale
GrainGrowers is closely monitoring the impending sale of Incitec Pivot Fertiliser (IPF) to Indonesian government-backed fertiliser company PT Pupuk Kalimantan Timur (PKT) to ensure growers have access to a consistent supply of critical inputs. GrainGrowers’ Chair Rhys Turton said the sales process had been underway for some time, with members expressing concerns over access to an uninterrupted supply of products.
Australian farmers unite on new farm access code: TasFarmers
Representatives from Australia’s peak farming bodies have backed the adoption of the Farm Access Code of Conduct this week, marking a significant step forward in ensuring the respectful treatment of farmers across the nation ... "Farmer groups who met … will play a crucial role in working closely with the Australian Government and infrastructure developers to ensure widespread adoption and adherence to the Code”: Ian Sauer President of TasFarmers.
Letters from Home: Life BBC – Before Bank Cards
Remember way back when we used to use paper money and coin? Pay large amounts with a cheque? Yes, me too, but those days are long gone. Simple days I sometimes long for, especially after today’s abortive effort. This morning, our three new bankcards arrived. My husband’s is the main card, mine and our son’s run off it...
