Business

Blake Lee. Businesses of every size, in every industry, in every corner of the country, are experiencing the worst skill and labour shortages in decades – a challenge that is worsening by the day, particularly in rural communities. Skilled migration is one of the policy levers available to governments to address workforce shortages in the economy.

Alyssa Walker. A group of over 50 archers descended upon Dunolly on August 4, preparing to defend the realm for the annual medieval shoot. With no one too old or too young to join the ranks, archers seized their cloaks, bows, and quivers (and in some cases, their armour) and took to the shooting range for the two-day competition.

Maldon is soon to have a new music-bar-pizza cocktail lounge–the Blue Cockatoo. Somewhere to eat, drink, relax, socialise, and go karaoke ... The Blue Cockatoo name is in honour of their three birds. People come from all around Victoria to see them. And to hear them.

Farmers rolled into Melbourne on Tuesday on tractors, prime movers and utes, urging Labor to rethink its plans to destroy prime agricultural land throughout Victoria. The farmers, from all different parts of the state, are warning that our food and fibre production is at risk, with thousands of kilometres of prime land set to be ripped up and replaced for wind turbines, towers and transmission lines.

The delay in youth centres in the Barkly region has been a major talking point in the region of late ... The project was in dire straits, with a funding extension granted until 31 December due to planning issues with the sacred tree in its original plans ... The Youth Centre is going grey whilst the crickets are chirping, awaiting occupancy certification from the same department.

Serena Kirby. Arborist Ben McGovern is keen to dispel misconceptions about his profession and wants more young people to take up arboriculture as a career. Ben moved to Denmark with his family seven years ago and has been working with Ecologic Tree Service for the past four years. "We are all about caring for, and managing, trees," Ben said.

Fitness fans are in for a treat when the Redback MTB Stage Race and Run Larapinta Stage Race return to Central Australia this month. The mountain biking and running events will test the fitness and mettle of even the toughest competitors as they race against the stunning backdrop of the MacDonnell Ranges.

When the 27th Historic Leyburn Sprints hits the streets this weekend, it will be thanks to the efforts of local residents to keep their historic little town on the map. On that map, the town comprises around 350 residents, one post office, two churches, a school, pub, police station, general store and a handful of houses. Except during the Sprints this weekend - August 19 and 20 - when up to 15,000 historic and classic motorsport fans ...

Melbourne’s Spring Street had a break from monotony as cars and buses were replaced with tractors, trucks and utes with banners as hundreds protested the planned Victoria-NSW Interconnector West project. An estimated 45 tractors, 10 prime movers and about 20 utilities brought commuters to a standstill as part of a ‘Stop the Towers’ rally...

The REA Wagga Wagga Horse Trials held their biggest event to date in Narrandera last weekend. The competition boasted 268 starters on the day from all over Australia including Albany (WA), Mornington Peninsula (Vic), the Central Coast, Sydney and locals from throughout the region.

Teacher shortages continue to impact regional schools as a scathing report found "considerable gaps" still exist between metropolitan and regional students' access to education in NSW ... Luke Di Salvia of Leeton and formerly Narrandera said the lack of data being gathered was "concerning" but he was unsurprised at the report's findings around teacher shortages.

Narrandera's talented fashion designer Lillardia Briggs-Houston has been named fashion designer of the year at Australia’s fourth annual National Indigenous Fashion Awards. These awards recognise excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fashion and textile design.

Gowrie residents are concerned about the proposed North-South road corridor that will "split Gowrie in two" to provide easy transport from Highfields and Westbrook to Charlton. The atmosphere at last Thursday’s consultation meeting was tense.

Port Pirie Regional Council is thrilled to announce a captivating commemorative project that will breathe life into the military history of the region. South Australian artist Sam Brooks, renowned for his extensive portfolio of public art, has partnered with his assistant Mark Harding to create a stunning mural on the side of the last remaining WW2 Belmont Hangar at Port Pirie Aerodrome.

A new lease of life has been injected into an historic local town with visitors raving about the beautification of Ulmarra after a $3.4 million makeover by Clarence Valley Council. The Ulmarra CBD revitalisation includes new footpaths, drainage, road sealing replacement on Coldstream Street, new landscaping and trees planted, new street furniture, a new pedestrian crossing, and a raised intersection at Coldstream Street and River Street.

Lestatt Hammond-Hurst from Glenreagh will represent NSW in the baking category at the WorldSkills Australia 2023 National Championships in Melbourne ... “In preparation for the competition, I’ve been working hard on my consistency, and making sure everything I take out of the oven looks perfect and has the same texture and colour."

ARR.News sought the response of FCNSW regarding recent protests against native forest logging, recent timber harvesting and plans for harvesting in the site of the proposed Great Koala National Park and measures to prevent injury to koalas and other wildlife.

Teams from 21 countries and 59 pilots will compete in the FAI F3A World Champions at the Warwick Aerodrome. The best in the world, with some right here in Queensland, will show their skills in this precision aerobatic sport performing a set of manoeuvres in front of the judges and the spectators.

John Williams. Digby Ian Harris OAM was Nhill ’s sturdy, warm-hearted family doctor for over 4 decades, a man of professional skill, enthusiasm, intelligence and humanity. He was known by everyone and had gained great respect, esteem and love. And he knew his people even better than they knew themselves.

New homes in key growth areas will be built quicker and approvals fast-tracked in the latest Malinauskas Government measure to tackle the housing crisis. South Australians building in greenfield areas will no longer require planning approval for new homes...

Farmers have rolled into Melbourne on tractors, prime movers and utes, urging Labor to rethink its plans to destroy prime agricultural land throughout Victoria ... our food and fibre production is at risk, with thousands of kilometres of prime land set to be ripped up and replaced for wind turbines, towers and transmission lines.

New Yorke Peninsula arts festival GROUNDED kicked off in emphatic style with an official opening and awards night at the Brentwood Community Hall on Friday, August 11. People packed into the hall to begin nine days of open exhibitions, workshops, performances and interactive activities across the peninsula.