Shields awarded life membership
The Kerang Turf Club held its AutoPro Summer Races on the last Saturday of 2024. The eight-race card attracted trainers from across the state. However, the day's highlight was not the races but the awarding of a Kerang Turf Club Life Membership to Alan Shields.
The beautiful spots of our region
Are you looking for something to do over the summer break? If you haven’t been already, Lake Cooby, half an hour north of Toowoomba at Meringandan, is a beautiful spot for fishing, boating, bush walking and having a picnic or barbecue.
Six figure win at pub
A punter at Get Chopped Pub Greenmount is over $300,000 richer following a massive win on New Year’s Day. It took until the following day for a Toowoomba woman to realise she had scored a Keno Classic prize worth $308,777 in draw 272 at the Greenmount establishment.
Alex back on his feet
Serena Kirby. Denmark GP Alex Sleeman is learning to walk again after sustaining serious spinal injuries from a tractor accident on his property last September ... “I plan to do everything I used to do but I’ll just do it a bit differently and good luck to anyone that tells me I can’t do something.”
Experienced pilot killed in Palmers Island plane crash
Family and friends are mourning the loss of an experienced pilot and real estate agent whose son was seriously injured when their light aircraft crashed after take-off from McIntyres Airfield at Palmers Island. It is understood Coffs Harbour real estate agent James ‘Jim’ Auld, 67, and his son Robert, aged 32, took off from South Grafton airport … on Sunday, December 29.
Justification and priority assessment determines Kaniva lake not feasible
West Wimmera Shire Council has concluded that construction of a man-made lake in Kaniva is not feasible at this time, following a thorough investigation and cost analysis. Council investigated constructing a 200m by 400m lake at the Kaniva Racecourse Reserve after receiving the idea from the community.
Nhill Boxing Day races
Nhill & District Racing Club President, Bruce Beacom was pleased with the community support of the DMD Nhill Cup. While our preference was to race on Boxing Day, we understood that the extreme weather forecast coupled with the fire rating made it not possible to race on Boxing Day and at the end of the day participant, patron and equine welfare is paramount to the club and racing industry.
Wiregrass mural launch
Over fifty people gathered on Friday to celebrate the pop-up launch of the Wiregrass mural at the Kaniva Post Office. The mural depicts townsfolk queuing at the Post Office—a scene that celebrates the spirit of rural life when such places were essential for keeping communities connected.
Power restored after Cowalla bushfire while crews replacing poles
Western Power says power has been restored to all 150 customers affected by the bushfire in Cowalla, Wanerie and Karakin. Twenty power poles were destroyed by the bushfire, which was reported at 12.03pm on Tuesday, December 31.
Saving Alice in 2025: it starts today
My journalistic work in the Territory began early on Christmas Day 1974, looking down from the aircraft of Deputy Prime Minister Jim Cairns onto the Northern Territory capital that had been all but annihilated by Cyclone Tracy.
Up and away — kites take to the skies
The age-old appeal of flying a kite provided plenty of fun for young and old at Ardrossan recently when the Adelaide Kite Flying Association put on a display on the clifftop near the town’s foreshore. The event was held by Ardrossan Progress Association in conjunction with the local Christmas street party on December 20.
New junior doctors begin their internship on Yorke Peninsula
Joanna Tucker. The first cohort of interns for the new Rural Doctor Program has been welcomed to the Yorke and Northern Local Health Network at Wallaroo Hospital. The RDP is designed to support and encourage junior doctors to pursue generalist training pathways and medical careers within Yorke Peninsula.
2024 Churchill Fellowship recipient: Jo Wills
In this interview with ARR.News, Jo Wills shares some insights into museum practices that can inspire and inform the sustainability of museums in regional Australia.
Capri joins Jonny’s journey
When soldiers put their lives on the front line, long-term health challenges are almost inevitable, but assistance dogs are improving both the physical and mental wellbeing of those in need. Birchip resident Mr Jonathan (Jonny) Kemp has recently completed training with Integra Service Dogs Australia, becoming the custodian of an Integra-owned assistance dog named Capri.
The weird and wonderful side of Minlaton
Rachel Hagan. If you have only visited the iconic Harry Butler Red Devil Memorial and thought you have seen all Minlaton has to offer, you better turn back and make another stop to check out the Minlaton Museum. Inside the historical 1889 building, the near 150-year-old history of the colonial town is jam-packed into two rooms, and set out to resemble the old Trehearne general store which once occupied the museum’s space.
Concrete railway sleepers – a growing blight on the environment: Roger Underwood
Roger Underwood. I had an email from a Queensland mate the other day. “I recently took a train trip from Brisbane to Charleville” he told me, “and there were huge piles of concrete sleepers beside the line to the Toowoomba Range and elsewhere.” I knew exactly what he was talking about. In September 2024 I travelled by train from Perth to Adelaide, from Ballarat to Melbourne and from Melbourne to Sydney. Alongside every railway line along this trip were piles of “used” concrete sleepers.
Opinion – Transparency, independence, and the great koala scam: Vic Jurskis
The transcript of proceedings of the Independent Forestry Panel in teleconference with the Independent Koala Expert Panel on 1 November 2024 has been released. The Forestry Panel will oversee the destruction of sustainable forestry in NSW to 'save’ koalas.
Trump holds the keys to right to repair
As a second Trump presidency looms on the horizon, one pressing issue for America's and Australian farmers remains unresolved: the unfettered right to repair their own agricultural machinery. With both groups at loggerheads with the big farm machinery manufacturers over who gets the right to access software locks to repair complex tractors and headers, what happens under Trump could impact where this long running debate finally settles.
Transmission lines versus the environment: One family’s story
The Betts/Barbour/Hume family’s 157-year-old agricultural and biodiversity conservation property is at a critical point. It may not survive this latest challenge to its viability. If it fails, it will take with it decades of labour and investment expended on protecting an extremely environmentally, historically, agriculturally and culturally important area.
New levies legislation makes obligations clearer: DAFF
New and improved agricultural levies legislation will replace the existing framework next year, making the levy system more user friendly for participants and making it easier for them to understand their obligations. More than 50 pieces of legislation governing over 110 levies and charges – across 75 commodities and 18 bodies that receive levies – are being streamlined into five Acts and subordinate legislation.
Leaping lion returns to World Heritage-listed fossil cave
A new model of Thylacoleo, Australia’s once-fearsome carnivorous marsupial lion, was unveiled at the Victoria Cave visitor complex at the World Heritage-listed Naracoorte Caves ... The updated fossil model, a new installation at the Caves’ Megafauna Experience, features for the first time the missing tail bone and other anatomical features of the backbone revealed by Flinders University Palaeontology researchers in recent years.
Hard talk – Loss of essential services
Many essential service providers, including the government, are “abandoning” rural towns like Naracoorte in South Australia … We asked Naracoorte Lucindale Council mayor Patrick Ross, Minister for Regional Development Clare Scriven, Shadow Minister for Regional South Australia Nicola Centofanti, and Federal Member for Barker Tony Pasin why our towns are losing essential service providers and what needs to be done to help our frustrated communities.

