Business

With Year 12 students soon to begin their university applications, we thought we’d take a look at the success of one of Kerang’s former students, Glenn Thomas ... is a graphic designer in Melbourne, and he shared his graphic design journey with us, proving that kids from the country can chase and realise their dreams.

With the Bendigo Bank’s departures, Barham will be left with the post office as an alternative and Cohuna having a NAB on limited hours and a post office. One shop owner expressed shock that services the agency performed for free (with no reimbursement by the bank) would now cost $8 at Australia Post.  

Narrandera Shire Council Deputy Mayor Cameron Lander has reported on some of the many issues discussed at the 2023 Australian Local Government Association National Assembly that he felt were of particular interest to Narrandera Shire Council ... The 2023 NGA theme was "Our Communities, Our Future" and looked at ideas on new federal programs and policies that would support councils to build stronger communities in the future.

Campaspe Shire Mayor Cr Rob Amos said the Council’s first Economic Development and Tourism Summit held on Friday, 21 July 2023 was an outstanding success. More than 150 business, industry and community leaders attended the summit which was a key plank of the council’s engagement process to develop a new five-year Economic Development and Tourism Strategy for the shire.

The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, released on 26 July 2023, shows food inflation slowing in the June quarter. Rabobank senior food retail analyst Michael Harvey said “Food inflation is at 1.6 per cent for March to June (unchanged from the last quarter), and 7.5 per cent year-on-year – slowing down from last quarter at 8 per cent”.

Clarence Valley Council (CVC) staff have labelled three tenders for the redevelopment of the Treelands Drive Community Precinct as ‘higher than anticipated’ leaving councillors to vote on whether or not to reject the quotes and delegate to the General Manager to negotiate. The storied process of the Treelands Drive Community Precinct TDCP dates back to 2006, when council first identified the project.

Glyn Rees. The Stillwater Pastoral Company Wattles Warriors emerged from a torrid TRL Round 14 top grade clash with the Warwick Cowboys at Clifton’s Platz Oval on Sunday 14 – 12 victors in a match that lived up the spirited contest expected in a Southern Downs local derby. The result could have gone either way between the two top end of the premiership ladder clubs, but it was Wattles that eventually took the honours in the three try to two outcome.

Last week the community of Nhill was surprised to find the Nhill Railway Station fenced off and out of bounds to the community, without any consultation, after being deemed unsafe for public use by the Australian Rail Track Corporation. Local resident Margaret Millington said it was a sad situation and that "Sadly, the Nhill station is now inaccessible to passengers wishing to travel on the Overland.

From an abandoned gold mine to one of country Victoria’s most admired sporting complexes – that’s the story of St. Arnaud’s Lord Nelson Park. The capacious Park is home to a variety of activities, including football netball, hockey and harness racing, and to the St. Arnaud Sporting Club, overlooking the playing field.

Will Hunter. Rural medicine has received a boost as regional Australia continues to face a severe shortage of general practitioners and healthcare staff. The federal government has allocated $114.2 million over four years to permanently increase the number of Commonwealth-supported placements available to rurally trained university students.

A new report released last week confirms the Australian horticulture industry will be making an essential contribution to attaining the ambitious goal of $100 billion in national agricultural value by 2030. Commissioned by Hort Innovation and delivered by The Centre for International Economics, the Contribution of Australian horticulture industry report predicts the sector will witness a 22.5 per cent increase in combined value by 2030, to reach $21.8 billion.

Caravan and camping holidays are on the rise despite economic uncertainty ... Figures for the March quarter showed a strong surge in travel numbers with people embarking on 4.5 million trips (up 24 per cent) and 18 million nights (up 22 per cent) spent caravanning and camping.

In November last year, Kerry Ochtman said to his boss Pat Harley – “That’d be a good place for a nursery.” ... Kerry is thrilled that the new Harley Mitre 10 Garden Centre has loads of room for compost, potting soil, pots, weed control, garden screens and of course – plants.

Ukrainian chicken producers have made a good marketing move. Thanks to this, the retail price of boneless chicken meat is about US$3 for one kilo. This is the most affordable meat in Ukraine. Beef and pork producers have yet to strike back ... Private entrepreneur Lyudmila Koloshko speaks about how profitable it is to sell "Leg meat".

The Casino United Hospital Auxiliary is finishing up after 120 years of supporting the hospital. Founded in 1903, the Auxiliary raised funds to buy hospital items and medical equipment for the Casino and District Memorial Hospital ... The Auxiliary has had to close because of a lack of numbers.

The state government decision to close the native forest timber industry culminates eight years of mismanagement that turned VicForests from a profitable business into a loss maker, an analysis by a Traralgon consultant has found ... Mr Cameron said Australian hardwood sawn timber mill gate revenue sold for 3.5 times the price of Australian softwood sawn timber, and contributed to much greater value-adding and job creation than softwood.

John Hassell, President WAFarmers. Sheep farmers in Western Australia have been told by the Federal Labor Government that we have lost our social licence for live exports ... If it was a rash decision then it's time to reverse it and accept that the industry has done everything it has been asked for by the Government and should be allowed to continue.   If not then this decision marks the end of agriculture in Australia as we know it and the Government should tell us.

The Victorian Government’s recent decision to cancel the Commonwealth Games in regional Victoria once again demonstrates two things. Firstly, for a leader to be trusted, any up front promises and subsequent actions and lived experiences must align. Secondly, regional Australians must be able to adapt quickly to the incompetent decisions governments make. This is often and many.