International

Victorian Daniel ‘Chucky’ Sanders has claimed his maiden Dakar victory, marking KTM's 20th Dakar win and becoming the second Australian to triumph in the gruelling race. ‘Chucky’ is no stranger to the top step on the world stage; he has represented Australia at the International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) and has won titles.

Serena Kirby. Laughter yoga is part of everyday life to Kim O'Meara ... Since becoming a laughter yoga facilitator Kim has guided tens of thousands of people in therapeutic laughter sessions ... her work in Rwanda is undoubtedly the most remarkable.

Changed eating patterns due to the rising use of anti-obesity drugs, a shift towards in-home alcohol consumption and increasing demand for dairy products tailored to older consumers are among some of the top global trends in food and agri set to be felt in Australia in the next five years, according to a new series of podcasts from Rabobank.

Christine Webster. Riverland West certified organic horticulturist Bruce Armstrong is creating a niche market for his produce supplying wholesalers and customers in Adelaide, Melbourne, and the region ... "It usually took about 12 to 18 months to make an income from the organic wine, and this is why we started growing the organic vegetables," Mr Armstrong said.

On the first anniversary of the Victorian state government’s closure of Gippsland’s native forest industry, France’s rebuilt historic Notre-Dame Cathedral has been completed in all its glory – and French timber was at the heart of this historic project. The oak hardwood timber used came from trees in French forests between 80-150 years old, with some more than 200-years-old.

A pilot international exchange program between Canada, the UK, New Zealand and Australia has been developed to offer participants an opportunity to gain diverse perspectives as well as foster personal and professional growth ... “The pilot international exchange program offers a unique opportunity for emerging leaders in forestry and forest management to participate in a 3-month paid international work placement,” Ms Martin said.

Charlotte Williamson, an 18 year old from Hodgson Vale, will compete for her country at the World Youth Endurance Championships in Romania later this year. An incredible three out of the seven young and junior riders selected for Australia at the International Federation event are from the Toowoomba area.

The Corryong Cup Hang Gliding Competition concluded on the weekend with 76 pilots vying for the honours. Competitors came from all over Australia and also included international pilots from Norway, PNG, Poland, New Zealand, Indonesia, Austria, America, England, Ireland and Tasmania.

Local star athlete Georgia Foster has sprinted her way to an incredible triumph at the Colgate North Island Games in New Zealand, bringing home not one, not two, but three gold medals! Competing in the Under 15 category, Georgia dominated the track, taking first place in both the 100m and 200m, and delivering a stellar performance as the anchor for the victorious 4x100m female relay team.

Madison Eastmond. After more than two decades of teaching a second language to Renmark High School students, Jasmine Sotiroulis has received national recognition for her contributions in Riverland classrooms and the broader South Australian teaching community.

The ever-increasing number of stories of the difficulties faced by landowners when dealing with transmission network builder, TransGrid, points to an organisation with no knowledge of, and no interest in learning about, the land, and the peoples living on that land, through which they are building those networks.

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.

Jenny Pollard. A half century of international support was celebrated by the Charlton Action for World Development (AWD) Group last Friday night with the milestone occasion also bringing a bitter-sweet end to the small, but passionate entourage ... Including former guest speakers, foundation members and many supporters, the evening was a testament to the desire to create tangible benefits and build understanding about places and people whose lives, cultures and situations were so different to the Charlton locale.

French-born violinist Marie Limondin clearly remembers the day she bought her much-loved violin.  She was 12-years-old and it was already clear to everyone that Marie was not only a passionate player, she was also a very good one.  When the day came to upgrade her child’s violin to an adult-sized instrument Marie, along with her music teacher and parents, headed to Paris’ legendary rue de Rome ...

On November 29, twenty students and four staff flew to Cambodia to immerse themselves in a cultural experience and to participate in community service ... The group spent three days at a school in Siem Reap renovating and painting both the classrooms and the outside of the school.

...Uncle Owen Whyman presented as part of an Indigenous panel at COP29 during the ‘United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’ in Baku, Azerbaijan. Uncle Owen is a respected Wilcannia community leader, volunteer board member of the Indigenous Peoples’ Organisation, Chair of the Paroo-Darling National Park Co-management Committee, Deputy Chair of the Mutawintji National Park Board of Management, board member of North-Western Water Council, and founder and convenor of the Indigenous - Aboriginal Party of Australia (IAPA).

Herd contraction in the world’s four largest beef-producing nations – the US, Brazil, China and Europe – is expected to lead to the first reduction in global beef supply since the Covid-19 pandemic, altering trade flows in the year ahead, Rabobank says in a recently-released research report. In its latest (Q4) Global Beef Quarterly, titled Navigating declining global production, uncertainty in 2025 … Brazil and the US are likely to lead declines in beef production next year.

Sarah Herrmann. Calls for increased local consultation as part of the progressing Moonta Mines World Heritage bid were made at a community forum last week. The forum gave those interested the opportunity to quiz UK-based World Heritage consultant Barry Gamble, who had travelled to the Copper Coast for the official celebration of the tentative listing...

Lessons and learnings from one of America’s largest fairs will be on show in Australia in February. Ray Allison, Chief Development and Strategy Officer from the Indiana State Fair, and Second Vice Chair of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE), has been announced as the first of two keynote speakers at the Agricultural Shows Australia 2025 Conference.