Transport

Narrandera and Leeton Shire Councils will be keeping their eyes open and continuing dialogue with Regional Express executives in relation to flight reductions and timing of flight schedules being resumed at the Narrandera Airport. An overview of the continued Regional Express flight reductions through until at least the end of October 2024 was considered by the joint airport management committee.

A great day was had by all who came from near and far to the Nhill Airshow 2024. Planes had been flying all week but on the morning of the show they were coming in from every direction, including the Gooney Bird up from Melbourne and a number of private planes, many of which formed part of the aircraft ground display.

City of Coffs Harbour’s bold free bus travel initiative aims to help all members of the community, including people who don’t drive. The free bus travel trial starts on Friday 19 April, and Mayor Paul Amos said it would particularly support older people who no longer drive and unlicensed teenagers...

Day after day they come from all around the district, their destination being the weighbridge south of the Donald township. This was the view from above on Tuesday morning.

After three years of fundraising by Brad and Teresa Badgery a helipad has been built for emergency use at the Goomburra Valley Campground. It ensures visitors enjoying the picturesque Goomburra Valley Campground and surrounding campsites will now have easy access to the RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter services, if needed.

Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams was in Geelong today, to mark one year of making regional public transport more affordable by capping the daily regional fare at the same price as the daily metropolitan fare. Passengers have been showing their enthusiasm for cheaper regional travel, with more than 22 million trips taken since the fare cap commenced.

Quill and Alyssa. In the lead-up to the Easter long weekend, social media pages lit up with notices from tractor pulling teams starting out their journeys towards the 46th annual Australian Tractor Pull Championships, held at Quambatook on Easter Saturday.

Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC), the world's leading manufacturer of civil helicopters, unveils the latest episode in its "Climb Higher" video series ... The newest episode transports viewers to the heart of Australia's agricultural powerhouse, in New South Wales. Here, Robinson helicopters are an indispensable tool for Riverina Helicopters, a company known for its agricultural operations and tourism expertise.

Farmers welcome amendments announced ... to delay timelines for the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard legislation, but continue to warn impacts may still be felt by Australian farmers. National Farmers’ Federation President David Jochinke was pleased the Federal Government had listened to producers’ concerns, easing the targets set for utes and some 4WDs.

Legislation for the Albanese Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard being introduced ... will be good for the hip pocket and good for the environment. This will reduce emissions from new passenger vehicles by more than 60 per cent by 2030, and roughly halve the emissions of new light commercial vehicles over the same period.

Holding signs high above their heads, a large crowd gathered in Bailey Park, Ulmarra ... to officially launch a petition demanding the NSW Labor Government abandon plans to close the Ulmarra to Southgate ferry service ... “It’s vitally important that we tell the NSW Labor Government how much this iconic ferry means to the community”: Member for Clarence Richie Williamson.

Shaun Hollis. A decorated RAAF officer who commissioned a painting to commemorate the moment which inspired his naming of the iconic Boeing E-7A Wedgetail defence force aeroplane said he could not be happier with the result. The painting, by Minlaton artist Mark Short, depicts a wedge-tailed eagle taking flight.

You could easily say that Leanne McKenzie is a high flyer - but not in the traditional sense of the word.  Leanne is a pilot but she’s also President of her local aero club in Albany WA and she’s one of less than a handful of females to hold such a position. But Leanne has another venture underway and it’s one that her aero club is actually famous for as the Albany Aero Club was once a global hub for self-built planes.

REX last week unveiled its new interline partnership with one of the world’s leading airlines, Etihad Airways. This exciting partnership between Rex and Etihad, the UAE’s national carrier, provides passengers on Rex’s domestic routes convenient connections with Etihad’s global network.

The Pacific Belles will perform at the Nhill Airshow on April 13. Swing to their dulcet tones as they sing these war-time classics. Their vintage repertoire includes songs like "Don't sit under the Apple Tree" and "We'll Meet Again." The Pacific Belles are Australia’s hottest retro-style singing trio, inspired by the music of the 1940‘s and have been referred to as "Melbourne's very own Andrew Sisters'.

City of Coffs Harbour is rolling ahead with a free bus travel plan to bolster community connection and to shine a light on the ease and benefits of public transport ... Council resolved to back an initiative by Mayor Paul Amos for a four-month trial of free bus travel on weekends in Coffs Harbour, stretching out to Bellingen and as far south as Macksville. 

Kerry Cain. Last Saturday, the Newstead Fire Brigade impressed attendees at the Newstead Pool Party by showcasing its latest addition, the Field Command Vehicle (FCV). With this specially equipped vehicle, the brigade can now respond more effectively and decisively to emergencies of all kinds and direct and deploy its appliances and personnel, as well as those of other services, as required.

Winnebago owners from four states converged on the Anchorage Holiday Park at Iluka last week, united by social media the group collectively travelled tens of thousands of kilometres to enjoy their motorhomes in the town the models were named after – Iluka ... last year’s inaugural Winnebago Iluka pilgrimage saw 21 motorhome owners from around Australia visit Iluka for an annual event that continues to grow.

Thanks go to Maldon resident Barry Murfett, who read last week’s article in the [Tarrangower] Times about a postcard (c. 1907) which pictures an early motorbike. Barry put the [Tarrangower] Times in touch with Greg Smith, the owner of an antique motorbike which is almost certainly the machine pictured on the old postcard.

Mark Blythe. Tomorrow (Saturday 2 March) at the Maldon Progress Hall you can attend the third biannual Maldon Classic Bike Show ... You will be privileged to see possibly the biggest and best display of classic pre-2000 road racing bikes anywhere in Australia.

This week I thought I would join the lack of EV charging stations across regional WA together with the Australian government's adoption of the strict new Euro 6d emissions standards and give you my views on what this is likely to mean politically and its potential to redefine Australia.