Caffeine-infused chocolate to create a sweet buzz
Castlemaine local, Stefan Dannhausen, is set to become the Goldfields region’s answer to the Easter Bunny, having launched his new owner-managed business, Dimpex Import and Wholesale. Interested in starting out on his own but initially unsure what type of business he wanted to run, Stefan drew on fond memories of enjoying SCHO-KA-KOLA with his family as a child to come up with a business idea that allowed him to explore his German heritage.
Lack of child care at Kingston hits federal parliament
Chris Oldfield. The lack of child care for around 50 families on a waiting list at Kingston has been raised in the Australian Federal Parliament. “Those in this chamber have heard me speak about Kingston South East and a lack of childcare services before,” Member for Barker Tony Pasin told parliament ... “A farming region devastated by fire, and parents unable to earn off-farm income because there was no childcare service available."
Master class with Mark: vital propagation skills passed on
Serena Kirby. Mark Parre is busy passing on his skills and knowledge to the next generation because, after nearly 30 years with the Shire of Denmark, retirement looms ... “The work is the greatest reward and when I revisit a site I planted up years before and see the diversity of flora and fauna it really makes my heart sing.”
Grace follows in great grandmother’s footsteps
Over 30 years ago Lockhart resident Jean Urquhart competed in the final of the State Rich Fruit Cake Competition held at Sydney’s Royal Easter Show and now this year her great granddaughter Grace Cox is following in her great grandmother’s footsteps.
Local Health Advisory Committee
Joan de Bondt. The Barham Local Health Advisory Committee (LHAC) is holding a free two-day course, ‘Mental Health First Aid’ on May 5 and 6 ... The members of the Barham committee meet once a month to identify local service needs, to discuss ways to improve access to services, and to assist in planning and development. They provide valuable input into planning health services and in informing the local community of the availability of services. They encourage members of the public to raise their concerns and to offer suggestions about programs that they would like to see implemented.
Mason is on track
Kye Mason of Cohuna represented Victoria at the 2022 Australian Track & Field Championships in Sydney last week. Competitors from across Australia and New Zealand converged on Sydney for the championships which were held from March 26 to April 3.
History made as direct flights between Busselton and Melbourne take off
Jetstar has commenced the first-ever commercial air service between Melbourne and Busselton, opening a new gateway into Western Australia that is set to boost the local tourism industry by allowing interstate visitors to fly directly to the South-West.
EPA promises to be transparent about post flood oil sludge investigations
The Environment Protection Authority has done assessments of those Broadwater homes with hydrocarbon contamination. Hydrocarbon includes oil, diesel and other fuels. A specialist consultant is doing soil assessments and sampling from the yards of affected properties. The results of this testing will be provided to residents and used to decide remedial strategies.
Dean’s home was covered in toxic oil sludge during the floods. Who will take responsibility?
Dean Wilson faces a daunting clean-up of his Broadwater home. As the water receded after the March 1 flood not only was his home full of mud but there was a thick layer of oily sludge on his kitchen benchtop, in the laundry and in his garden. Everywhere. “My backyard and fruit trees are covered in toxic oil,” Dean said.
Bowling clubs come together to assist South Lismore BC
With borrowed shoes, uniforms and bowls, the South Lismore team put the trauma of losing their homes and beloved Bowling Club behind them to show the true grit this little club really has. They didn’t win the bowls but just being there could surely be seen as victory enough.
Paging a second contest in 2022
Emma Pritchard. After polling strongly in the 2019 Federal Election with more than 43000 votes, the Australian Labor Party’s candidate for the seat of Page Patrick Deegan has spoken of his confidence in gaining additional support and momentum ahead of the 2022 Federal Election.
First spice orders replace imported kalonji
The burgeoning northern Australian spice industry has moved from concept to impact with the first orders secured to replace 100 tonnes of imported kalonji seed ... “We’re currently contracting farmers in Queensland to supply seed to meet this first order, and we’re looking for more farmers to work with us as we build this industry across northern Australia to tap into the booming demand for spices around the world”: Lewis Hunter, AgriVentis Technologies.
2022-23 Budget: Australia’s future population
The population projections for the 2022‑23 Budget include population growth and components at the national level out to 2032‑33 and 2025‑26 for states and territories.
Pixie Hanson wins at NSW Surf Life Saving Championships
Luke & Dani. For those of you who remember Pixie Hanson running laps of the airstrip before school (with Elsie, Millie, Ruby and Gale), or charging down Intermediate Hill, or blitzing the LHICS cross country race, you may have wondered why she was always moving faster than the rest of us.
Happy crowds, town-wide earnings and welcome tips
Maldon’s annual Town-Wide Garage Sale made for a busy Saturday in and across town. With just shy of 70 households opening their gates and putting their unwanted treasures out for sale, the cash was flowing, and visitors and locals alike enjoyed wandering amongst the diverse collection of stuff on show.
Blokes on postie bikes delivering prostate cancer awareness
Chair of the not-for-profit foundation Robert Glover told the Times, “We’ve raised over 1.5 million dollars since the beginning, and every dollar we raise goes to the cause. We pay for our own petrol, accommodation and food. The funds raised have provided transperineal biopsy machines and specialist care for rural hospitals around Australia, and today’s ride will assist in providing two more machines, one for a hospital in Shepparton and another for Hobart.”
Growing Abundance is back!
Growing Abundance helps minimise food waste in our community by organising volunteers to help pick the fruit that isn’t able to be harvested by the owners. We are doing a call out for anyone who has excess fruit on their trees that they are willing and wishing to get help harvesting and distributing.
Hood takes Adelaide
Gabrielle Duykers. Naracoorte-born leader Lucy Hood has won the seat of Adelaide, ousting Liberal frontbencher Rachel Sanderson ... After a two-year campaign she emerged victorious, along with her party, SA Labor ... Ms Hood said she considered her rural upbringing a strength, and wanted to bring “country values” to her electorate.
Transmutation wins national award
Sheryl Lowe. Successful Robe business, Transmutation, is owned and operated by Brad and Narelle Scott and has just received national recognition by being announced winners in the Australian Small Business Championship Awards (2021) ... Naming the business Transmutation, is a clever play on words for the award-winning business which is based, like the meaning of the word, on changing the form of plastic bread tags into sought-after retail items.
More cases of Japanese encephalitis in SA piggeries
There have been two more detections of Japanese encephalitis (JE) in South Australian commercial piggeries. This brings the total number of cases in South Australia to six. The latest detections are in the local government areas of Clare and Gilbert Valleys and Goyder. This is in addition to existing detections in the following local government areas: Loxton Waikerie, Murray Bridge and Coorong.
New bat influx in Casino. Plus feedback wanted on Kyogle flying fox plan
A second influx of little red flying foxes has arrived in McAuliffe Park in Casino. Little reds are highly nomadic and will move on again before too long but with a lot of habitat destroyed by recent floodwater, the flying foxes may make their way into residents’ yards.
State revises rate peg decision
Geoff Helisma. An initiative to incorporate population growth as a primary factor when deciding the annual rate peg for NSW councils has been rejected before its implementation. In early 2021, the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) began a review that would include population growth in its calculation of the rate peg, and, upon its adoption, set the rate peg at 0.7 per cent for 2022-23 financial year ... attendees at the Local Government NSW Special Conference disagreed with the IPART, the OLG and the former minister.
