Poachers’ Weekend turns twenty-five: Shooters flock to Donald and Minyip
Donald Field and Game (DFG) went on a hunt to figure out how long the Day 2 shoot between Donald and Minyip known as Poachers had been running for. The investigation started last year with Sarah O’Brien (DFG member) asking Tanya Clark (M&DFG member) – Tanya’s remark was, “We must be close to twenty-five.”
Allergy advice for rural Australians
A groundbreaking new platform, believed to be the first of its kind globally, is set to transform the landscape of allergy care for rural and remote Australians. The National Allergy Council, in partnership with the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), has launched allergy assistTM, a free online platform designed to provide timely, specialist advice to General Practitioners (GPs) and Rural Generalists.
Festival forges ahead
The decision to issue a planning permit to this year’s Esoteric Festival was made conditionally at Buloke Shire Council’s ordinary meeting held on Monday night in Wycheproof. The Council had announced its decision to deny a ten-year planning permit late last week following health and safety concerns, as well as emergency services regulations.
Core values
Tucked in the picturesque and fertile Harcourt Valley is a hub of apple production and its annual festival is this weekend on Saturday 8 March from 10am to 3pm at Harcourt Leisure Centre. Harcourt Applefest 2025 features activities to please every member of the family and it has grown so much that it has now spread to a larger location.
Rideshare gets the nod to operate state-wide
The state government has removed restrictions on metropolitan rideshare and chauffeur drivers, allowing them to operate statewide. Changes were expected to be gazetted last week, with rideshare and chauffeur drivers no longer required to apply for a separate accreditation to operate outside of the metropolitan boundary.
Strong year for Aussie ag beefed up by livestock: ABARES
The value of agriculture in 2025-26 is expected to be the third highest on record at $91 billion. Including fisheries and forestry, ABARES expects the sector to reach $98 billion, according to Executive Director Dr Jared Greenville.
Fire in motion: New animation platform and updates to key bushfire resources
A demand for data to inform fire management has prompted Charles Darwin University (CDU) researchers to develop a tool animating historic bushfires across Australia. The Landscape Knowledge Visualisation (LKV) Lab at CDU has recently released the Burn Area Animation Tool, a site which animates where bushfires occurred from 2012 to 2024 around Australia.
Councils take hospital fight to the streets
Towong Shire Councillors and members of the community, along with representation from other northern rural councils, assembled at a rally on the steps of Parliament House in Melbourne yesterday to push for a greenfield site for a new Albury-Wodonga hospital. The current proposal for the new Albury Wodonga regional hospital is simply inadequate, according to Towong Shire mayor, Cr Andrew Whitehead.
Local hope looks to go back to back
A big weekend is looming for first-time author, Dixie Coutts, whose book on the history of the Towong Turf Club will be launched on the eve of this year’s Cup meeting. She is also a part owner of 2024 winner Euphemia who is aiming for a repeat sucess on Saturday to join a select group to have won multiple cups.
Cohuna community turns a negative into a positive
The Nationals Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh, says the Allan Labor government has unleashed a bureaucratic blitz which will destroy community events across regional Victoria. “The first victim has been Cohuna’s Bridge to Bridge fundraiser, which has seen its traffic management charges jump from $2000 in 2024 to a crippling $22,000 in 2025,” Mr Walsh said.
AI wisdom? How does Grok 3 stack up
Large language models (LLMs) like the latest version of X’s Grok 3 have been shaking up the world of information gathering and academia. The ability of these programs to scour the web and gather data is undeniably impressive. But is the data accurate?
Green light for Murray Plains Meat Cooperative with red meat processing licence
The Murray Plains Meat Cooperative (MPMC) has officially received its licence for red meat processing, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to supporting local agriculture and providing ethical, small-scale livestock processing services.
Model to ‘reshape’ tourism
Patricia Gill. A changemakers Innovation Lab run in Denmark through Curtin University last month has developed an invitation-based model designed to reshape local tourism. This would shift tourism from a 'transactional industry' to a reciprocal exchange where visitors became part of an evolving story rather than passive consumers.
Leeton celebrates completion of first stage of Roxy Theatre with spectacular Gala Concert
The excitement was palpable at the re-opening of the iconic Roxy Community Theatre on Saturday night as the community was welcomed back officially into Leeton's 'Palace of Dreams'.
Show Society under threat
Peter Mahoney. Narrandera Show Society committee is in jeopardy as it tries to recruit new members to its ranks. Until these members are recruited the society will have no option but to close. For an organisation that has survived since the 1880s it would be a great pity for the town to lose the society and worst of all the Narrandera Show.
New MS research harnessing the brain’s healing power
A new multiple sclerosis (MS) research project designed to help the brain repair itself by activating its own healing processes has been announced as part of MS Australia's latest $5.7 million research investment. Dr Fletcher's pioneering work is just one of the 35 new research initiatives funded by MS Australia's latest research grant round, which focuses on advancing better treatments, prevention, and cures for MS.
World domination begins: RYT take to the stage
Madison Eastmond. Joining forces with other regional artists and teen ensembles in Whyalla and Bendigo for the 2025 Adelaide Festival, the Riverland Youth Theatre (RYT) will bunker down to survive an alien invasion in their new collaboration and retelling of H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds.
Pioneer is number one
The Murray Pioneer was named South Australia’s Best Country Newspaper for 2024 at last week’s Country Press SA Awards. The [Murray] Pioneer enjoyed an outstanding night at the awards ceremony, which was held at the Hilton Hotel, in Adelaide, highlighted by the best newspaper crown, which it had last won in 2019.
In conversation with Laura Black
The Clarence Valley Independent recently invited Ms Black to speak with us as a high-profile local woman in business in recognition of International Women’s Day 2025 ... Her name is instantly recognisable throughout the region as the General Manager of Clarence Valley Council ...
Goodooga Great Artesian Baths now open, ready for peak tourist season
With March marking the official start of Autumn and un-official start of the Great Outback tourist season, Brewarrina Shire Council is pleased to announce the Goodooga Great Artesian Baths are now officially back open.
Hay at the forefront of evolutionary pool safety
Hay Shire Council has embraced evolutionary AI to take the new John Houston Memorial Pool to the next level of drowning prevention with advanced pool safety.
Another bucking success for Hay Rodeo
Entrants from across Australia flocked to Hay Showgrounds. There they threw their hats in the ring to compete for buckles and impressive cash prizes.
