Business

AFL legend Robert ‘Dipper’ DiPierdomenico is among those encouraging Australians aged 50 years and over to be aware of their risk of the disease during shingles awareness week, which runs from February 24 to March 2. Mr DiPierdomenico and fellow shingles awareness week ambassadors journalist Shelly Horton and news presenter Deborah Knight have all experienced first-hand the pain and impact of shingles.

The final art installations for the Men’s Sheds Biodiversity Trail have now been installed in Nandaly, Watchem, and Nullawil, completing this unique community-led project in ten towns across Buloke Shire. Featuring handcrafted avian and insect homes, the trail has been a collaborative effort between the Men’s Sheds in Birchip, Charlton, Donald, Wycheproof and Sea Lake, local artists and community members, Landcare and Buloke Shire Council.

GWMWater has received a critical planning approval which will allow work to commence in zone four of the East Grampians Rural Pipeline Project. Zone four will extend rural water supply to landholders in Willaura and Moyston.

Agriculture, fisheries and forestry is well placed to take on future challenges and opportunities, according to the latest ABARES Snapshot of Australian agriculture. Sector value and production have continued to grow over the past 20 years with another strong performance expected in 2024-25.

Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), a leading animal welfare organisation, has released its APAC EggTrack 2024 Spotlight. As the 2025 deadline for numerous global, regional, and local commitments approaches, the Spotlight highlights Australia’s standout leadership in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region for advancing cage-free egg commitments.

A new terminal line of beef genetics which produces maximum productivity, efficiency, and sustainability has been successfully bred in Australia for the first time. Queensland cattle producers Nick and Kate Boshammer of NB Genetics reached a milestone over the weekend, confirming the birth of Australia’s first NuEra T14 calves...

For 18 months the kiosk at Casino Memorial Hospital was closed ... Now Kellie and Geoffrey Clarke from Evans Head have taken over the kiosk.

Exorbitant prices for groceries in outback stores are often the subject of outrage but are rarely dealt with a great deal of logic ... Why should the public purse kick in $50m over four years from 2025-26 to provide remote stores with low-cost access to about 30 food products?

The phrase ‘learning curve’ suggests a gentle incline, but when Jan Elliott and Lee Mead talk about their journey to becoming Postmistresses, they describe a very steep slope indeed. They have recently been reflecting upon their six years running Maldon Post Office, between 2006 and 2012, in light of the repaint of the Main Street pillar box.

"I focus today on energy policy, because this is a government that 97 times promised before they were elected that they would reduce power bills permanently by $275 per annum. That promise was officially broken on January 1, this year. They hate us talking about it. It was a big promise, it was a bold promise, and it is broken": Member for Mallee, Dr Anne Webster.

Beulah’s “Wide Open Spaces” Music and Family Festival is coming on March, 8 and 9, 2025. Held on the green grass, under shady trees beside the Yarriambiack Creek, there is plenty of space to relax, dance, and enjoy the music, food and refreshments with friends and family.

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) says the Essential Services Commission’s decision to grant Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) an electricity transmission licence must not be treated as a license to steamroll landholders in the path of planned renewable energy projects. Amongst a raft of new powers, the licence enables TCV workers to legally enter farms and carry out preparatory works for the VNI West powerline without the need to obtain landholder consent. 

Hygiene factors are the “don’t pass go” elements which are fundamental to any team ... Motivators are the intrinsic factors that directly inspire people to perform, feel a sense of belonging, and find satisfaction in what they are doing.

Rural, regional and remote Australians are dying at higher rates than their urban counterparts, with avoidable deaths in the regions nearly four times higher, according to new data released today by the National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA).

One of Queensland’s most loved events in the Scenic Rim Clydesdale Spectacular, the richest Clydesdale Show in the Southern Hemisphere will this year be held in Beaudesert, taking over the showground on the weekend of June 14 and 15. The announcement was celebrated today by three magnificent harness horses – Billy, Bobbi and Bluey!

Sean Cunningham. Anyone want a five-metre lizard (Eastern Bearded Dragon) sculpture in town and a new entrance sign which could cost $300,000? This was the hot topic of conversation during Narrandera Shire Council’s meeting on Tuesday.

The recent Corryong Paragliding Open - a round of the Australian championships - once again proved popular with flyers and spectators although a couple of mishaps during competition could have had more serious consequences. "The Corryong area is a world class flying area and Mt Elliot is one of the best paragliding and hangliding mountains in Australia," said Dave Gibbs from competition host Airtribune.

A Victorian coroner has ruled a pilot who died in a crash near Lucyvale should not have been issued with a licence because of his limited flying experience. Cinematographer and adventurer, Matthew Farrell (42) died in a light sport aircraft crash at Lucyvale on September 18, 2022.