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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Festival application refusal
The Buloke Shire Council has advised the organisers of the 2025 Esoteric Music Festival to cancel the event due to Council officers recommending the refusal of a planning permit based on significant health and safety concerns. With the Festival’s previous five-year planning permit expiring after the event last year, an application for a new ten-year permit was submitted in September 2024, with approval required to enable this year’s event to be held in Donald from 6 to 11 March 2025.
Another successful fishing classic at Kyalite
A phenomenal weekend was enjoyed by a whopping 400 competitors. Plenty of fish caught over the weekend and it was hard work with the weather conditions ... There were incredibly impressive prizes on offer, thanks to a lot of highly generous sponsors.
Joining forces to save tourism industry
The town’s focus in 2025 will be on a fight for survival of the travel industry and the nearly 400 members of Tourism Central Australia will need to join forces. That was the unanimous view of the 150 people who attended the organisation’s AGM yesterday evening.
“OK”! What a weekend!
Jenny Pollard. As the adrenaline rush from "OK Motels" subsides, Charlton can reflect on how the modest little festival, which began back in 2018, has now grown into a full-on, "all-of-town" experience as 800 visitors descended on the "Friendly River Town" to make last weekend’s event one for the record books.
Wagga Wagga’s Tits & Toggles Black Tie Ball, 15 March 2025
Ready for a night that's equal parts glamorous and meaningful? Come to Wagga Wagga for a masquerade charity ball for a mighty cause - to raise $100,000 for a special x-ray machine that will be a big help for breast and prostate cancer patients.
Lake Meran Festival huge success
The second annual Lake Meran Festival was held last Sunday afternoon with hundreds of visitors coming along to enjoy the music, community, a great afternoon by the lake and to take a look at the star of the event, Grumpy the Turtle. Weighing in at almost one tonne, Grumpy was designed and built by Bendigo artist Moz Moresi ...
Get your sunflower fix this Sunday
A property near Clifton is hosting Sunflower Sunday from 10am to 3pm giving visitors the chance for spectacular photographs and to take home their own sunflowers. Sunflower Sunday is a fundraiser for Clifton Community Health Services (CCHS).
Windmill Cafe reopens with fresh new look and visitor services
Kaniva's Windmill Cafe and Visitor Information Centre has officially reopened, unveiling a stunning transformation that blends modern outback style with enhanced visitor services. The renovation and rebranding, led by Jemma Hill, have given the cafe a stylish new look...
Coastal plan out now
Sarah Herrmann. Community consultation is now open on the draft Yorke Peninsula Coastal Access Strategy 2025-2035, with members of the public invited to share their feedback via a survey ... Consultation sessions have already been held with local landholders and progress associations, 4WD representatives and the tourism sector.
Biodiversity Trail final installations complete
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.
Be at Beulah for “Wide Open Spaces”
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.
Billy, Bobby and Bluey to be bigger and bolder in Beauy!
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!
Five metre lizard sculpture plus new entrance sign – what’s your thoughts?
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.
Feds to acquire Rex if no buyer found
The federal government will acquire Regional Express if the collapsed airline fails to find a buyer – a move which would make it the first nationally-owned carrier in three decades ... Administrators from EY were appointed to oversee the business ... but have so far been unable to secure a buyer ...
Pilots love flying here
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.
