Business

From vintage treasures to cult vinyl and rare collectables, shoppers can snag all sorts of epic stuff at retro prices when the Garage Sale Trail comes to the Port Pirie region this month ... Australia’s festival of pre-loved stuff will see 13 garage sales happen locally, with thousands more across the nation.

The stunning beauty of Grafton’s famous jacaranda trees is being captured forever on canvas by internationally acclaimed South Korean artist Kim Chang Han, who is visiting the Clarence Valley for the 2023 Grafton Jacaranda Festival … Mr Han said painting is one of his greatest enjoyments in life…

As more than 200 timber industry workers and supporters watched, Clarence Valley Councillors voted 7-2 at the October 24 meeting not to pursue a motion brought to council by its Biodiversity Advisory Committee calling for native forest logging on publicly owned land to be phased out.

The ‘Westfund Regional Health Gap Report’ shows that access to healthcare remains an ongoing issue for Australians in regional areas, with half (49 per cent) of respondents considering the wait time to see their GP unreasonable, some having to wait up to six weeks to get an appointment, and many having to travel more than two hours for an in-person consultation with specialists ... Mark Genovese, Westfund CEO, answers some questions from ARR.News about general trends, specific initiatives for specific areas, digital health care and more.

A partnership of key local agencies will rejuvenate the bush to improve biodiversity at one of Coffs Harbour’s most visited natural assets.  Forestry Corporation has partnered with Envite Environment and the Gumbaynggirr Ranger team of the Ngiyambandigay Wajaarr Aboriginal Corporation (NWAC) to undertake weed management and staged bush revegetation work within the Bruxner Park Flora Reserve.

The NSW Government is continuing to rebuild our frontline services today announcing an historic breakthrough agreement to address the ongoing critical shortfall in police numbers by paying Student Police Officers while they study at the Goulburn Police Academy. This is an important workforce incentive to encourage more people to take up a career in the NSW Police Force.

Dr Jeff Cave. You may have recently read that a living roundworm, suspected to have come from the faeces of a carpet python, was pulled from brain of a woman in New South Wales. It was the first documented case of the parasite infecting a human.

Recent Dietetic students David and Dylan from Deakin University conducted a project for East Wimmera Health Services (EWHS) regarding Diabetes in the area. The following is a summary article of their findings and recommendations for improving the service and overall health of consumers within the EWHS catchment areas.

Patrick Goldsmith. Recently released plans for a 30 metre Telstra tower on Blanche Street, Edithburgh, behind the post office, have sparked great concern among residents, with some adamant the project shouldn’t go ahead ... Telstra has said other options have been explored but these would result in a poorer product for community members, despite a report in the development application stating otherwise.

The next major step in delivering a long-term permanent water supply to Mount Morgan has been taken with Council announcing Haslin Constructions Pty Ltd as the successful tenderer for the construction works ... “As part of the tender, they also are committed to sourcing labour and materials for this project locally as much as possible which is another big win for our community”: Mayor of Rockhampton Region Tony Williams.

In a bold stride for the livestock industry, McCulloch Agencies proudly announces the strategic acquisition of Prosser Hutton Pty Ltd and the Cliff Horton businesses, both highly respected and long-standing agencies based in Mungindi, NSW. Set to take effect on November 1 2023, this acquisition is crucial to McCulloch Agencies’ ambitious strategy of extending its livestock brand and influence across Northern NSW.

The  Palaszczuk Government has announced a $1.3 billion package to progress work on CopperString 2032, demonstrating Queensland’s commitment to delivering Australia’s largest transmission project. The funding will get the project ready for construction to commence mid-2024, a significant milestone towards unlocking the North West Minerals Province, and the renewable energy potential of North Queensland.

The National Farmers’ Federation has congratulated Trade Minister Don Farrell for turning down an EU trade offer that would have disadvantaged Aussie farmers.  Speaking following the briefing of industry representatives in Osaka, NFF President David Jochinke said the Minister had made the right call for Australia.  

Headlines around Australia last week screamed out about bank closures. They were triggered by the release of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority’s annual points of presence data that showed an 11 per cent fall in bank branches nationally in 12 months ... The media coverage of the data release last week only adds to the confusion.

Digital and agtech adoption on Australian farms has been held back by connectivity issues and digital literacy, but this complex landscape will now be easier to navigate with the launch of the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) On Farm Connectivity Information Service … will provide free, practical, tailored support for farmers through the NFF’s Regional Tech Hub – as a key pillar of the Australian Government’s $30 million On Farm Connectivity Program (OFCP).

NSW Farmers has thrown its support behind an unprecedented national campaign against anti-farming policies. Liverpool Plains farmer and NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said the Australian agriculture industry was united in its stand to call on Federal parliamentarians to stand up against policies which threaten to slash billions from farm production.

Tasmanian Farmers have backed a national advocacy campaign in the fight against anti-farming policies that impact our farmers. Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers (TFGA) President Ian Sauer said the farmers across Australia have united in a call for federal politicians to say no to government policy which is putting billions in farm production at risk.

The Naked Farmer (18-year CFA volunteer). Have you ever been a volunteer? It feels great, doesn’t it? Imagine if you were responsible for putting those volunteers’ life at added risk? For an organisation like the CFA which relies predominantly on volunteers, why wouldn’t it stop and ask the question, "Why are we allowing the added risk of Transmission Lines to our volunteers and those we serve to protect?"

The Mallee Root Round Up committee was delighted to welcome almost nine hundred revellers back to the Mallee Root Roundup B&S ball last Saturday, October 21, after a three-year hiatus caused by unprecedented circumstances. In the 1980s there were up to 500 balls across Australia, but now it is more like thirty.

You may have noticed some rather funny-looking cars coming through town earlier this week as the World Solar Challenge vehicles passed through town on their way to Adelaide from Darwin with their huge support crews. The event … encourages teams from around the world to test out designs and innovations in solar vehicle technology.

Students from years 9 through 12 across Sydney will have the opportunity to experience drone flight in an exhilarating setting next month, with the University of NSW’s School of Aviation and the Australian Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle Service (AUAVS) teaming up for a Drone Racing Day in Moore Park ... "The launch of the Bachelor of Aviation majoring in Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems represents a significant step forward in aviation education": AUAVS Manager, Paul Hardy.  

Kangaroo Island has been named one of the world’s top destinations to visit – and is the only Australian destination to make the list. Ranked as #2 by global travel authority, Lonely Planet, in its 2024 Top Regions Hotlist, Kangaroo Island is recognised as a premier eco-tourism destination which offers distinct local produce, abundant native wildlife, natural experiences, and some of the nation’s most pristine beaches.