Business

The newly-formed Rural Road Alliance is calling for an emergency funding package totalling nearly $5.5 billion in the upcoming Federal Budget. The alliance ... been formed in response to the critical challenges facing Australia’s rural road network in the wake of recent flooding and high rainfall.

Australian agricultural commodity prices have continued to fall in the new year with the NAB Rural Commodities Index* now 14.4% below year-ago levels. Lower beef cattle prices and to a lesser extent, grain prices, are the key drivers of the weakening in the Index, according to the NAB February Rural Commodities Wrap.

Prof Mitloehner's presentation covers a range of issues relating to methane and carbon dioxide in terms of global warming, climate neutrality, GWP100, GWP*, implications for the livestock sector and action to reduce global methane emissions.

"We feed an average of 80 people every week but we’ve also had nights when we’ve fed more than a 100 ... What I get out of it is far more than I give. It’s not a business; it’s a sense of service and with that comes incredible nourishment”: Lindsey Sesin, Denmark Soupy.    

I’m sure there will be beers all round tonight for the Westpac communications team who managed to flip the bird at six federal senators this week and pull off one of the most stunning PR subterfuges I have ever witnessed. It was stunning for the range of those who fell into the trap and the breadth of media who picked up and reported the story without question – from the senators themselves to seasoned journalists in national newsrooms.

Seafood Industry Australia (SIA), the national peak-body representing Australia’s commercial seafood industry, in conjunction with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC), have launched Sea Safe, a program designed to improve the culture of safety in the commercial seafood industry ...

SwarmFarm Robotics announced it has raised a $12 million AUD Series A ($8.3 million USD) to develop and grow the Integrated Autonomy category in agriculture through the versatile SwarmBot platform and a breakthrough operating system network, SwarmConnect, that enables developers to create an array of innovative applications for users of the autonomous platform ... The team at SwarmFarm defines Integrated Autonomy as a new approach to autonomy on-farm that unlocks the full potential of driverless technology by providing specialty robotics solutions with an open platform to develop on.

Nestled in our backyard, the popular Backroads Trail launched a new podcast last week sharing the stories of farmers, community members, artists and business owners. The six-part series titled ‘The Backroads Trail Podcast’ explores the origins of the Backroads Trail, which includes 22 attractions covering Echuca-Moama, Womboota, Bunnaloo, Barham-Koondrook, Caldwell, Deniliquin and Mathoura.  

Three projects in the Upper Murray have received funding under the third and final round of the Local Community Projects Grants program. The sand scrape greens at the Corryong golf course will be replaced with state-of-the-art synthetic turf ... Tintaldra Recreation Reserve is thrilled to have received funding for the revitalisation of the community facility ... Upper Murray Region Community Catering Hub to construct a shed ...

Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) will this week see an additional 55 newly graduated Registered Nurses commence their careers across 17 sites, including Narrandera, Coolamon and Leeton. In 2023 the District will welcome a total of 134 graduates, who will begin the graduate program throughout the year with intakes in February, May, and August.

With 292 participants registered to take part in the Ganmain Triathlon on Sunday, the day was an astounding success. 101 triathletes took part in the Open Sprint race, with Ed Langdon first over the line with a time of 55:30, while he was closely followed by Jared Kahlefeldt finishing in 57:30.

The peak body for Australia’s farm sector is calling on businesses assessed under the Business Benchmark on Animal Welfare to rethink their links to the scheme. A consultation paper released by the UK-based organisation, which is affiliated with some of Australia’s largest companies, proposes to rank companies based on their commitment to ‘reducing reliance on animal products’ – including a plan to halve the multi-billion dollar livestock industry by 2040.

NIOA Santa Gertrudis Stud at Talgai took home the big prize with Supreme Stud Beef Exhibit of the Allora Show. Leading the bull was Sam Falls from Warwick. Blue Ribbons were also awarded to NIOA for Supreme Bull and Supreme Female.

Allora man Ken was all smiles after being the first patient to receive a diagnostic angiogram at the Toowoomba Hospital earlier this month ... A coronary angiogram uses x-ray imaging and contrast dye to diagnose heart artery blockages.

The doors on their Treelands Drive premises have been open more than three weeks and now Yamba Doctors are proud to welcome well known female GP Julia Fortes to the practice. ... Dr Fortes grew up in the UK and went to medical school in Newcastle upon Tyne.

For decades the stationery shop on Barker St, Casino has been providing notebooks, invoice books, printer cartridges and everything you might need for your office. This Friday, February 17, Dolphin Office Choice will close the doors on its Casino shop.

So called minor changes to the proposed Woolworths Two Rocks shopping centre to be built south of the King Neptune statue, which include shifting the main building slightly and a direct-to-boot service, have been approved. According to the Metro Outer JDAP minutes the minor changes are valued at $10 million which appears to be on top of the original proposal for 10 (Lot 9702) Enterprise Ave which was costed at $16m.

The people of the small Victorian town of Violet Town are quietly celebrating after being awarded a national art award ... The Southern Aurora Memorial project commenced in 2018 after many chats between Gary Abley and Bruce Cumming about the need to better remember the Southern Aurora Disaster in February 1969 and its significant impact on many people, and to clearly acknowledge the amazing voluntary efforts at the time.

A memorial garden that incorporates unique street art and honours those affected by one of Australia’s worst train crashes has been named as the best monument to see in Australia. The Southern Aurora Memorial, a project managed by the residents of Violet Town, has received the Gold Award for the Best Monument or Memorial at the 2022 Australian Street Art Awards.

Get your calendars out and highlight these dates if you want to immerse yourself in a Sunshine Coast event like no other. Organisers have confirmed that the 2023 Horizon Festival, a 10-day showcase of culture, music, visual art, theatre, dance, comedy and creative workshops, will return in 2023 from August 25 to September 3.

A delegation of Territory business will aim to recruit 100 hospitality workers when they visit the United Kingdom and Ireland next month to increase our skilled workforce through the Global Worker Attraction Program.