Business

The doors closed on Kyogle’s National Australia Bank on Thursday, October 19. The closures of bank branches across regional Australia has been happening with regularity in the past five years and continues with the Kyogle closure.

Jess Liddy. Grayson Patterson, of Wallaroo, is lucky to be alive. The 2-year-old went into cardiac arrest in June, after a barbecue smoker fell on him. If it wasn’t for the GoodSAM app, and the quick response from an off-duty ambulance officer to deliver life-saving compressions and care, the outcome could have been a lot different.

Queensland company Gold Hydrogen officially commenced drilling for natural hydrogen on southern Yorke Peninsula on Tuesday, October 11. The company is seeking to prove a large natural hydrogen field exists in the area, after geologists discovered nearly 100-year-old records from oil and gas drilling tests in the area.

The Liberal Opposition has hosted a forum and invited the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners to discuss the proposed new GP payroll tax – with fears the new patient tax will force doctors to raise fees or even close their practices, driving more people to our already stretched emergency departments.

Organisers of the all-new Bundanoon Folk Festival this November 24-26 say it’s heart-warming to see the village community rally to lend their time and skills to bring the Festival to life ... The vision is to build an annual Folk Festival unique to Bundanoon, that connects and showcases the village, supports local businesses, and creates gigs for regional artists along with crowd-pleasing national talent. Among fun live performances will be music, song and spoken word.

Lockyer Valley Regional Council says the integrity of the Insurance Council of Australia should be questioned, following months of unanswered correspondence from the region’s Mayor ... “Following the 2022 floods, the Insurance Council advised us they were willing to engage and could encourage insurers to undertake consistent and meaningful assessments for those impacted from flooding, but unfortunately it seems to have been empty promises": Mayor Milligan.

Farmers are urging the Australian Government not to sign an impending trade deal with the European Union unless major improvements are put on the table for Aussie farmers. Preliminary negotiations are underway in Brussels this week ahead of a meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Trade Ministers’ meeting in Osaka next week. NFF President Fiona Simson said farmers were fearful of being sold out at the 11th hour.

Ahead of what may be a final push for the Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement (A-EU FTA) negotiations, the Australian red meat industry is adamant that the Australian Government maintains its stated objective of securing significant increases in market access for red meat. Industry representatives will travel to Osaka next week to coincide with Trade Minister Farrell meeting with his EU counterpart, and encourage the Minister to continue the mission of ‘levelling the playing field’ for Australian beef and sheepmeat access to the EU.

It’s the Byron Bay Film Festival, so there's always going to be surf films ... Topping the bill is Emmy-winning filmmaker Paul Taublieb’s documentary Ground Swell: The Other Side of Fear, which poses the question: what prompts big wave surfers to travel the globe to find absurdly colossal waves to throw themselves into, tackling natural forces in a contest that any rational human would see as insane?

The Palaszczuk Labor Government, and in particular Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick, have in recent days been complicit with Glencore in the signing of an entirely unnecessary “death warrant” for the city of Mount Isa. On behalf of the community of Mount Isa, and the 1,200 jobs that hang in the balance, this needs to be called out.

A Coonawarra cabernet sauvignon has claimed top honours at the Limestone Coast Wine Show, outclassing 443 other entries from 62 exhibitors. Yalumba’s 2021 Sanctum Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon won the Bill Redman Trophy for Best Wine of Show ... Chief of Judges Philip Rich said the winning red, which retails for under $30 a bottle, impressed from the outset.

In 2018 the Territory Government established a combined oncology and cardio service at Alice Springs Hospital, celebrating 5 years of operations in September this year. Since its opening, the service has treated 12,000 patients, and allowed residents to receive care locally. The service provides culturally appropriate care to Aboriginal patients and their families...

The end goal of the recent Maldon Inc Kangaroo Art Project was finally realised last Friday when the much-anticipated Mylab Five VET ultrasound machine was installed in the treatment clinic at Red Box Wildlife Shelter. The ultrasound machine will assist volunteer Senior Veterinary Surgeon Dr Mark Sayer in expediting diagnosis of internal injuries in kangaroos.

Sheafs tossed, utes pushed, gumboots thrown, horses paraded, Clydesdales ‘clopped’, sheep shorn, ribbons worn, bands delighted, puppets thrilled, dogs jumped, flowers impressed, quilts amazed, artwork admired, photos discussed, bars attended, food tempted, smiles beamed, children played, laughter echoed, winners cheered… yes, the 159th Maldon and Baringhup Annual Spring Show was a crowd-pleasing success last Sunday.

The Australian Hide Skin and Leather Exporters Association (AHSLEA) along with 27 other international leather industry organisations, is calling on the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) to recognise the positive impact of natural materials such as leather on people, lives, and livelihoods and as a means of directly mitigating climate impact ... AHSLEA Executive Officer Dennis King said over the last four decades Australian leather processors have implemented a range of exciting sustainable initiatives to reduce leather’s carbon footprint including adopting cleaner tanning technologies and practices.

Australia’s agricultural workforce is steadily growing and changing, with more women and young people joining the sector. The ABARES Insights Snapshot of Australia’s agricultural workforce shows the changing state of the agricultural workforce based on data from the 2021 Census of Population and Housing.

The 180MW project, owned by Octopus and developed by RES, created 150 jobs in regional Queensland at its construction peak. State-owned CleanCo has a long-term power purchase agreement with the Dulacca Wind Farm to acquire 70 per cent of the output (or 126MW), meaning that the renewable energy generated here in the Western Downs will support CleanCo to provide affordable, clean energy to its customers.

Reducing planning red tape was on the agenda at the Denmark October Ordinary Council Meeting, with two planning policies proposed to make life easier for building and business in Denmark. The review of the policies was brought forward in response to the community asking for less ‘red tape’ through Denmark’s Strategic Community Plan Our Future 2033, with both newly reviewed policies approved by Council.

The Corryong Historic Machinery Club is welcoming returning participants, visitors and locals to its 2023 Rally this weekend; the first event since 2019 following the ‘Black Summer’ bushfires, the pandemic and a ‘big wet’.

Many visitors and locals are preparing for this year’s 7th Annual Khancoban Poker on Saturday October 28th. This year proceeds from the day and the auction that night will be going to Country Hope which provides emotional and financial support to country families who have a child diagnosed with cancer or other life- threatening illness.