Open Day celebrates 100 years of RAAF
Get up close and personal with RAAF Hawk jets and PC21 training craft when Geraldton Airport throws open the tarmac to the public to celebrate 100 years of the Royal Australian Air Force.
Chinatown’s multicultural heritage and stunning environment showcased in public art
As Stage Two of the Chinatown Revitalisation Project progresses, the Broome community will start to see the installation of several public artworks to enliven the streets of our town. The Shire of Broome has worked closely with community representatives and local Broome artists to integrate over a dozen artworks into the historic Chinatown precinct, inspired by the rich heritage and culture of Broome.
NAIF reforms pass through Parliament boosting investment opportunities for the north
Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia, Keith Pitt, said the Bill means the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) will now be extended for a further five years to 2026. “The NAIF has already committed $2.9 billion to projects across the north that will support around 9,000 jobs. Our changes will increase its ability to back even more projects."
GrainCorp upgrades earnings guidance as global demand rises
GrainCorp, releasing its half year results, sees high global demand for Australian grain and oilseeds. In the six months to the end of March, underlying EBITDA from continuing operations was $140 million, up from $105 million.
Viewpoint from “Euralie”, Yass – reshoring wool processing and manufacturing
Australia produces 80% of the wool used to manufacture the world’s woollen clothing and 80% of such wool is sent to China for processing and manufacturing. In recent times, our trading relationship with China has deteriorated and there is now the possibility that China may cease importing Australian wool.
Voucher scheme boosts economy
Almost 140 hospitality, clubs, pubs and entertainment centres in the Murrumbidgee region have registered for the NSW Government’s Dine and Discover NSW vouchers, designed to kick start a post-COVID economy. The value of the consumer spend totals $124,098 in the Narrandera, Coolamon, Lockhart, Murrumbidgee and Leeton Shires up until May 11.
Celebrating 75 years of Brown and Hurley
Brown and Hurley are putting Kyogle on the map. The team at Kyogle have won the PACCAR Customer Excellence award ... Kevin Hogan acknowledged the Brown and Hurley group in Federal Parliament. “This once small country garage now employs over 460 staff across 13 locations.
Timber industry brings environment, economics together for sustainability
Pollies visited timber operations in Kyogle and surrounds to see how environmental factors could work with the industry’s economics to strengthen sustainability. The focus for the visit was state parliament’s inquiry into the sustainability of the timber and forest industry.
Liberal MP to table anti mining petition
Geoff Helisma. Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) Catherine Cusack will table the Clarence Catchment Alliance’s (CCA) anti-mining petition in the NSW Upper House ... Ms Cusack said she was “actually feeling like I’m participating, today, in the community consultation process that the Clarence Valley has been denied”.
Pitt’s pledge on export markets rings hollow
Madeleine King MP, Shadow Minister for Trade, Shadow Minister for Resources, Media Release. The Morrison Government’s poor record on trade diversification has again been highlighted by its announcement of a vague $20 million strategy to build new markets for Australian resources exports. Resources Minister Keith Pitt said today his Global Resources Strategy would develop closer relationships with key trading partners through better engagement at both government and industry levels.
New global resources strategy to help diversify exports
The Hon Keith Pitt MP, Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia and Mr Phillip Thompson OAM, MP, Member for Herbert, Joint Media Relase. The Coalition Government is investing $20 million in a Global Resources Strategy which will help diversify exports and find new markets for Australia’s resources and technology. Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia Keith Pitt launched the new global strategy in Townsville with Member for Herbert, Phillip Thompson. Minister Pitt said it will help to strengthen Australian resources exports and promote Australia as a reliable and responsible supplier to the world.
Bellingen Show returns bigger and better than ever
Janene Carey. A record-breaking number of people poured through the gates of the Bellingen Agricultural Show on the weekend of May 8-9. Show Society President Gillian Anderson said this year’s COVID-safe requirements were also an opportunity to make the administrative side of the show more efficient by moving ticket sales and entries online.
Professional fisherman full of praise for Weipa
Mark Berg has fished all over the world and been to most parts of Australia – including Cape York – but he’d somehow skipped Weipa. His life changed last week when he returned from a fishing trip with Far North Fishing as part of his television series, Mark Berg’s Fishing Addiction ... “It’s got to be the best place in Australia for fishing offshore with light tackle ... if not the world.
Fishing Classic public holiday locked in
Weipa residents will enjoy a public holiday on Friday, September 3 after the date was able to be changed to accommodate the Weipa Fishing Classic. The annual event will be held from September 3 to 5, with the expectation that the fishing days will be Friday and Saturday in a small change to the format.
Road finally open: tourism operators eye massive season
Cape York’s tourism season has officially begun after the Peninsula Developmental Road was opened to travellers at 4pm on Friday. Businesses all over the Cape, from Laura to Weipa, Portland Roads to Bramwell Station and the Archer River to Punsand Bay are expecting 2021 to be the busiest season on record.
Remote community leading the way on renewables revolution
The tiny outback community of Marlinja has taken its first steps towards its goal of becoming a leader in remote renewable energy generation with the launch of a solar-powered community centre this week. The Marlinja Community Centre is a partnership between the Marlinja community and Original Power’s Clean Energy Communities Project which is working to empower Indigenous communities to take the lead on the remote renewables revolution through incubation of community-owned solar projects across the Northern Territory.
Walgett Show – still going strong!
Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th May, 2021. Walgett Show is the main event on Walgett Show Society's calendar. It is held at Walgett Racecourse and Showground, typically on Mother's Day weekend each year. The Show brings together Walgett Shire residents and visitors are welcome.
Nyngan Show will be a whipper!
The Nyngan Show will be held this Sunday 9th & Monday 10th May. We have a great line up of events and entertainment, including Walter Whip who'll be conducting a workshop during both days and performing at the rodeo Sunday night and before the fireworks show on Monday night.
The Winemaker – The regions, the vines
We select a wine, in a restaurant, a bottleshop, or - so as to not show my age – online. In making this choice one considers variety, region, vintage, style as well as reputation of the brand, price, medal stickers on the bottle and personal preferences – just to name a few ... Winemakers like to pick grapes at what they consider to be optimum ripeness, a balance of sugars, acid and flavour development which best suits the wine they wish to make.
20th Ord Valley Muster on this month
The 20th Ord Valley Muster, from 21 to 29 May 2021, features an outstanding line-up of over 30 events across nine exciting days including two nights of side splitting comedy, a real county rodeo, fringe shows, cultural experiences and performances, a traditional Corroboree, a secret suppers series, Art in the Park, music, early morning bliss with floating yoga boats and a family-friendly closing party that includes a diamond dig.
AWMA opens its doors
Kirstin Nicholson. Cohuna business, AWMA, opened its doors to the public last month providing an insight into what the business does ... Fish exclusion screens, penstocks, water control gates and trash screens are just some of AWMA’s products, each of which, is unique. Each is designed, engineered and manufactured specifically for the customer, the site, and for each application, in-house, in the industrial estate right here in Cohuna.
Local land values go gangbusters
Narrandera, Lockhart and Temora shires are among the hot button areas in regional NSW for rural dryland property with prices reaching a staggering $12,000 per hectare. According to the Rural Bank’s overview of 2021 Australian farmland values released on Tuesday, cropping land in the Riverina is highly sought after.

