Local radio making waves
Serena Kirby. Denmark FM has been named as a ï¬nalist in four national community radio awards. The annual Community Broadcasting Association of Australia awards are designed to recognise innovation, programs and initiatives that contribute to the industry and the local community.
Joe keeps blacksmithing alive
A teenager was ensuring the blacksmithing trade was front and centre for the millennial generation at the Good Old Days Festival in southern NSW. Joe Reedy, of Wallabadah in northern NSW, donned his leather apron and was kept busy working the hot forge and hammering out draught horseshoes and fire pokers for an appreciative audience at the festival at Barellan on October 1-2.
Gourmet Flare
The Moulamein Bowling Club hosted a Gourmet Fare on Saturday, October 8. This was the second event, the first was held during a short reprieve in the Covid-19 clamp down. The government rules of being allowed to stand but not sit, as apparently Covid-19 knew the difference, was a distant memory.
CCC staff take further action against Serco
For the second time in 10 days, prison officers from the Clarence Correctional Centre (CCC) stopped work amidst ongoing frustrations surrounding multinational Serco’s current refusal to improve what have been described as unsafe working conditions or increase employee pay rates ... The latest event followed a rally at the Truck Drivers Memorial Park in South Grafton on September 30, which was attended by more than 80 CCC prison officers, who loudly voiced their concerns.
WA failing in farm safety
After 14 work related deaths in the WA agricultural industry over last 18 months, far more than any other state, serious questions need to be asked about why our Ministers have put all their faith in the impact of draconian new industrial manslaughter laws when it's clearly not working.
Water buybacks to further damage Northern Victorian dairy industry: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation’s United Dairy Farmers of Victoria (VFF UDV) says Northern Victoria’s dairy industry would be further damaged by water buybacks and the recovery of the 450GL up-water target ahead of this week’s meeting of State and Federal Water Ministers to discuss the Murray Darling Basin Plan. VFF UDV President Mark Billing said the group strongly opposed the recovery of the 450GL saying it would lead to losses in dairy production and local jobs.
Held to ransom – Apunipima left vulnerable after hack
Samuel Davis. The private medical records of Cape York patients may have already fallen into the hands of crime syndicates lurking on the dark web, a cyber security expert has warned. Apunipima Cape York Health Council confirmed on Thursday that a third party had accessed its data and possibly downloaded medical records after leaked emails revealed a major data breach.
History corner
The Ivanhoe Dry Times 2022 Truck, Tractor, Car and Bike show attracted not only Wilcannia residents but a truck which started its working life in Wilcannia ... As well as trucks, the show attracted a good number of veteran, vintage and modern cars.
Regional WA salon a finalist in prestigious national awards
Regional Western Australian based salon, Cinco Hair Boutique, is a national finalist for Salon of the Year at the prestigious Australian Hair Fashion Awards ... Cinco, established in 2018 by Busselton local Kendall Drake, is listed amongst some heavy hitters in the hairdressing world. Drake, 30, says she is very proud to be named a finalist for the most prestigious of all awards, Salon of the Year.
Dracula says give blood!
Lismore Theatre Company’s Count Dracula is urging Lismore people to give blood. “While the doors of Lismore’s Red Cross Lifeblood are closed, donors need to fly down to Ballina to donate,” said Count Dracula. “But we will be back here in December to take your blood.”
Softwood plantings
Victorian Agriculture Minister Gayle Tierney said the agreement with Hancock Victorian Plantations involved planting an extra 16 million trees to create a new forest estate ... The Nationals Leader, Peter Walsh, slammed the policy as a replay of a $110-million investment, the Gippsland Plantations Investment Program, announced in 2020.
Inland Rail independent review announced: King, Gallagher
The Australian Government has announced the appointment of Dr Kerry Schott AO to lead an independent review into the Inland Rail project ... The review will consider the process for selecting the Inland Rail route, including stakeholder consultation, and assess the project’s scope, schedule and cost.
NFF calls on Government to listen to farmers on Methane Pledge
The National Farmers’ Federation is urging the Federal Government to continue its constructive consultations with agriculture as part of any Global Methane Pledge. As more than 100 countries around the world, including the EU, the US, and Indonesia pledge a 30 per cent global cut in methane emissions by 2030, the spotlight has fallen on Australia to follow suit ... "For agriculture, the best way to reduce emissions further is to arm us with cost-effective technology solutions – not to pursue punitive taxes or regulate farmers out of existence": NFF's Tony Mahar.
Another step for rare earths
Chris Oldfield. A Koppamurra Landholder Reference Group (KLRG) has been formed by Australian Rare Earths as it takes another step towards developing a mining lease application ... The aim of the landholder reference group is to share information and seek feedback on the Koppamurra project.
PS Oscar W slipping
The Alexandrina Council owned Paddle Steamer, PS Oscar W, is a major drawcard for locals and tourists to our region and will soon feature in its very own short film series following the amazing slipping and maintenance journey of our Friends of the Oscar W volunteer group. The PS Oscar W has just undergone its biennial slipping and maintenance to inspect and restore the historic paddle steamer and is a fantastic example of regenerative heritage in action.
Nuke study call
A former scientist with the State Electricity Commission, the Latrobe Valley’s Ray Burgess, has scathingly attacked AGL’s plan to close Loy Yang A station by 2035, calling it “fairyland thinking” ... Mr Burgess said if a low carbon society was mandated by the voting public, “then we need to seriously be considering a nuclear future, and quickly”.
Champ Camp for Maldon
You may have seen a bunch of military-style vehicles tooling around Maldon on the weekend. The cars in question are Austin Champs, a British army jeep-like vehicle that was manufactured in the 1950s.
Lactalis found breaching Dairy Code of Conduct
The Federal Court has found Lactalis Australia Pty Ltd (Lactalis) breached the Dairy Code of Conduct by failing to meet some of its obligations in relation to the 2020-21 milk season, in court proceedings brought by the ACCC. Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) Deputy Chair Mick Keogh described the decision as a win for dairy farmers, who generally have limited bargaining power in their dealings with much larger processors.
Pittsworth craft, food event to highlight town
The 17th Pittsworth Craft & Fine Food Spectacular this Friday, October 7 and Saturday, October 8, promises to shine a light on the town and surrounding district. Almost 50 stall holders will set up a colourful array of displays in the town hall for both days, with still more outside in Centenary Park.
Exhibition celebrates natural world
As well as the Craft & Fine Food Spectacular, Pittsworth is hosting an exhibition of paintings by Cliff Bauer titled A Time for Change, this weekend. The focus of this exhibition will be Mr Bauer’s love and appreciation for the Australian landscape and his desire for its preservation.
Barellan celebrates nation’s pioneer heritage with record crowd
The Old Days Festival set a new single day attendance record and one of the nation's biggest gatherings of draught animals as it roared back to life over the holiday weekend after a two-year hiatus ... The most experienced teamsters in the country assembled to showcase horses, camels, bullocks, donkeys and goats all in harness and hauling wagons, ploughs, water carts, buggies, sleds, sulkies and timber jinkers.
Informed consent
A highly esteemed, award-winning NHS consultant cardiologist with international regard when it comes to diagnosing, preventing and managing heart disease has released a peer reviewed paper calling for the immediate halt of Covid-19 vaccine roll out ... “It cannot be said that the consent to receive these agents was fully informed, as is required ethically and legally,” Dr Malhotra said. It was the death of his father, a very prominent doctor, one of the most respected doctors in the UK, and vice president of the British Medical Association that started his investigation.
