CATEGORY

Transport

Labor incompetence leads to prolonged shutdown of local train lines: Cleeland

More frustrations are expected for the region’s train users, with passengers on the Seymour and Shepparton train lines set to face almost two months of bus replacements as whole sections of the lines will close for a staggering 55 days between September and November.

Rolls-Royce enthusiasts roll into Maldon

The Rolls-Royce name is imbued with suggestion and symbolism, not all of which is really to do with cars or mechanicals. We live in changing times, and the group of Rolls-Royce (and Bentley) owners who visited Maldon on the weekend were just another bunch of car enthusiasts who were happily chatting about bearings and gearboxes...

Sunday drivers

Every vintage vehicle enthusiast rolled out on the right side of bed on Sunday 10 August, it seemed, and decided to hit the road. It was the right weather for Sunday Driving, with markets and cafes drawing visitors, so the streets of Maldon were lined with cars of all kinds.

Holden driving to the main stage during Motorfest 25

If you ask members of the Grafton Vintage Motor Vehicle Club how special Holdens are, you’ll be told a variety of different answers, each one overflowing with praise, pride, and passion ... A popular annual attraction which features a huge line-up of classic and vintage vehicles including race cars, motorcycles, trucks, and vans...

A “Cannonball Run” through Nhill

John Williams. Nhill was the halfway marker for outlandish speed records set in the 1950's by car drivers who took enormous risks. Risk of death and risk of arrest, but all survived. The test was who could drive from Melbourne to Adelaide in the fastest time in highly illegal speed runs on the Western and Dukes Highways, which at the time were rubbish roads.

Nhill host Variety Bash

It was a busy weekend for members of the Rotary Club of Nhill and the A&P Society with 107 cars and 350 crew from the Variety Bash visiting Nhill. The Rotary Club has been communicating and planning with event organisers for the past few months in readiness for the arrival of the 'Bash'.

Changes to the aviation system called for

The tragic death of a 53-year-old Hatfield man in a recreational aircraft crash near Balranald has renewed calls for reform. The incident exposes a concerning divide in how Australia responds to aviation fatalities ... Despite the fatal outcome, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) will not investigate.

Houseboat hooray: Renmark dry dock to support local houseboat community

The Riverland houseboat community will have access to critical maintenance services as part of a new partnership between Renmark Paringa Council and Smooth Flow Group. The Renmark dry dock, which had previously served large river vessels, will soon undergo preparatory works by Smooth Flow Group to allow the service and maintenance of smaller boats, delivering essential infrastructure to support the region's houseboat community.

Freight Plan key to ag sector’s success: VFF

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has welcomed the release of the Victorian Government's Victorian Freight Plan 2025-30, describing it as a positive step toward strengthening the freight network and delivering improved outcomes for Victorian agriculture.

Mayor defends controversial levy

The much maligned Public Transport Levy, which sees Toowoomba Region residents fork out money regardless of where they live in the region, has been defended by Mayor Geoff McDonald. Mayor McDonald said Council was aware that many residents, particularly in rural and regional townships, had provided feedback on the value of the levy…

Time to reopen the Northern Rail Line — and councils must lead the way: Siri Gamage

Dr Siri Gamage. It’s been over three decades since trains last ran north of Armidale toward the Queensland border. But the question is no longer why the Northern Railway Line should be reopened—it’s why not, and when ... Reactivating the disused railway line could deliver enormous benefits for both NSW and Queensland. The infrastructure may be old, but the opportunity is very current ... There are five compelling reasons to revive this corridor ...

30 years celebration

Nhill's Westvic Spares celebrated their 30th year in business on the weekend. They hosted an event ... with over 300 people in attendance. Owners John and Wendy Rethus have grown their business from humble beginnings to become a major supplier of spare parts throughout the area ...

CAPA Conference takes flight: Powell

For the first time, the flagship event – CAPA Airline Leader Summit Australia Pacific 2025 – is being held outside a capital city, highlighting Cairns’ growing importance as a hub for regional aviation and tourism. 

Wimmera community to benefit from local auto auction

A “deceased” auction, August 10, has considerable personal interest to families living in the wider Wimmera region. The auction features some exceptionally rare passenger vehicles, circa late 1930s to the mid-1960s.

Fraser Island’s darkest day: The 1970 tourist bus tragedy

Fraser Island can certainly tell a few tales, and here is one of the saddest. On July 22, 1970, a routine sightseeing trip to Fraser Island turned into a disaster that claimed seven lives, marking the darkest day in the island’s tourism history.

Flyer found in wreckage

The body of a pilot missing after his plane crashed in the Snowy Mountains near Khancoban has been located in the debris. A rescue helicopter located the plane near Khancoban ... after it went missing on a flight from Wangaratta to Moruya with pilot 74-year-old Bega man, David Stephens, on board.

MFS water carrier joins Olivewood Museum

Sebastian Calderon. A historic fire truck which serviced the Renmark district for two decades now has a new home at a local museum. The vehicle will share space alongside a Garford fire appliance from the early 1900's, as a key exhibit at Olivewood museum, aiming to honour the region's rich firefighting history.

INEOS Automotive and Rural Aid form critical partnership to enhance its rural capability

INEOS Automotive has announced a new partnership with independent charity, Rural Aid, that is set to bolster the organisation’s critical support capability in regional Australia ... Through the partnership, INEOS will offer financial assistance and provide a fleet of nine (9) of its Quartermaster utes to Rural Aid’s counsellors and disaster support personnel...

Tiny Homes On Wheels – an affordable housing option

As the housing crisis hits our community hard, the appeal of the Tiny Home on Wheels (THOW) has risen. The My Home Network Tiny Homes On Wheels working group have developed a confidential survey ... to improve appropriate uptake of THOW as affordable housing in our Shire and elsewhere.

Penny-farthing bicycle c.1880

Ross & Trevor Neale. This is a Penny-farthing or high wheeler bicycle made by Rouges & Co Limited as model No. 2 with a 54inch (137cm) front wheel diameter. It is an example of an early type of bicycle which was popular during the 1880s.

Long-awaited outback relief welcomed: Pederick

The Opposition has welcomed the State and Federal Government’s announcement to establish a barge crossing at Cooper Creek on the Birdsville Track, delivering long-awaited relief for outback communities and freight operators. Shadow Minister for Regional Roads, Adrian Pederick said this is something that should have been addressed months before the Birdsville Track was flooded…

Funding to support industry transition – phase out of live sheep exports by sea: Collins

The Albanese Labor Government ... announcing further details of the $139.7 million sheep industry transition assistance package to support the phase out of live sheep exports by sea. The release of this detailed assistance package follows a series of industry co-design workshops held in Western Australia earlier this year.

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