Entrepreneur festival back with a splash
Are you ready to ride the wave of innovation and entrepreneurship? Sunshine Coast’s flagship entrepreneur festival, FWD>>>FEST 25, is back from May 7–9, bringing together entrepreneurs, industry leaders, investors, policymakers, creatives and corporates.
Candidate profiles
Ten candidates for the seats of Mallee and Farrer respond to questions on a range of key issues including cost of living, national energy security and affordability, housing, water buyback and human rights violations of the Government's Covid-19 response.
An overload of cute at Darling Downs Zoo
The Darling Downs Zoo located at Pilton has been attracting attention from all over thanks to its bilby breeding program and the birth of a Capybara. Easter is of course the time for the bilby, Australia's version of the Easter Bunny, to shine.
Rod run ends on high note
Narrandera hosted another hugely successful Earlies Rod Run event over Easter 2025. The show and shine at Narrandera Sportsground on Easter Sunday was a great success with 450 cars in attendance and parked around the sports oval.
Agriculture workforce options under attack: NFF
The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has issued a stark warning that mounting red tape and increasingly complex labour laws are choking access to the workers agriculture desperately needs, placing Australia’s food security, farm viability, and regional economies at serious risk.
Gathering plenty of piping good enthusiasm in Maclean
Maclean celebrated its 120th Highland Gathering in style across two massive days of events on the Easter Long Weekend ... Over 130 competitors travelled from as far as Perth, Melbourne, and Townsville to compete in the 33 solo events on the program.
Haylluminate heralds official start to Easter
The annual Haylluminate event lit up Lachlan Street last Thursday and signalled the beginning of the Easter long weekend. Pictured in front of the illuminated Post Office are three of the key organisers of the event, local tourism team members Gaylene Stephens, Liz Moorhouse and Ali McLean.
River Murray Communities Water Transition Program
Nicola Centofanti. While many irrigators have been removing patches of wine grapes and converting to other crops, there are still many grape growers feeling the impact of ongoing low prices. With consumption of commercial wine falling globally and the large volume of wine retained in storage, there is little cause for optimism in the immediate future.
Business confidence rising? Local farmers thinking otherwise
A senior Riverland agricultural industry figure has questioned recent data supposedly showing an increase in local business confidence. The latest BankSA State Monitor survey, undertaken from 18 to 24 February, showed business confidence in the region increased by 5.4 points to 101.1 points...
Four renewables projects announced for South West REZ
Four wind, solar and battery projects have been granted the right to connect to new power lines in the South West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ). The projects are Origin Energy’s Yanco Delta wind farm, Spark Renewables Dinawan Energy Hub, Someva’s Pottinger Energy Park and BayWA’s Bullawah Wind Farm.
Election 2025 – Watch the Better Border Health candidate forum
The Better Border Health Albury Wodonga group held a health forum for Farrer candidates last week, and has published the forum on YouTube for those who were unable to attend.
Employment pathway trainee pilot program delivered on Groote: Edgington
For the first time, an employment pathway trainee pilot program for Aboriginal health workers and practitioners is being delivered on Groote Eylandt. Minister for Health Steve Edgington said it would provide a closer-to-home learning pathway for Aboriginal people in the region to pursue a career in health.
Raising a glass to regional Victoria’s best events: Dimopoulos
The Allan Labor Government is investing in the regions, supporting major events across the state which attract visitors from around the world and provide a huge boost for local economies. Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos … joined local winemakers ahead of the upcoming Grampians Grape Escape to announce more than 20 events will be supported…
Golden opportunity as fossicking area established in Mount Morgan: Last
Locals and tourists can go for gold searching for buried treasure in Central Queensland with a new fossicking area established at Mount Morgan. The recreational fossicking area has been established after the Government consented to a General Permission Area (GPA) on State land surrounding Mount Morgan No 7 Dam.
Onslow 100 Year Festival
The town of Onslow, where it is today, was settled in 1925. We are proud of its rich history, and this year we are thrilled to commemorate a significant milestone – 100 years since its establishment after its relocation!
My journey from Nepal to Western Australia: A tale of transition and reality
Omika Upadhayay. This is the story of how I left behind my home, my family in Nepal, and a budding career in agricultural research to become one of over half a million people who migrated to Australia last year—and eventually found myself working in the WAFarmers office.
Happy Easter! Victorian Goldfields Railway
Steam whistles echo through the rolling hills of Victoria’s Goldfields, heralding a journey back in time ... As the trains roll into Maldon and Muckleford, they carry more than passengers, they bring life, energy, and prosperity to a town that thrives on its past while embracing its future.
Porcupine Village: Comment by Tuesday
The Porcupine Village development has been referred under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act and is available on the EPBC Public Portal for community feedback until Tuesday 22 April.
“Kooka” has a new mate
Donald’s new kookaburra is the brainchild of Jodie Hollis, current chairperson of the Donald 2000 Committee. Jodie contacted the artist, Chris Fussell, who lives in Pokolbin, in the Hunter Valley ... The Donald kookaburra stands 5.5 metres tall, and took over two years to build.
Rodeo rocks Murrabit
Over 4,000 people poured into the Murrabit football netball ground on Saturday night for the Woodalls Ride Tuff Buckle series final. Attendees travelled from all over Australia for a chance to see the fast-paced rodeo action combined with live music and country clothing vendors.
Big Ride 25
Last Saturday a dedicated group of jet skiers called Barham home for the night as they made their way from Albury to Goolwa in South Australia to raise money for Motor Neurone Disease (MND). Dubbed the Big Ride 25 it is also hoping to create greater awareness of the disease.
Best bush bash ever
Corryong was bursting at the seams after visitors began streaming into town from last Monday for the 30th edition of the Man From Snowy River Bush Festival, breaking all records for camping numbers and crowd attendances.

