Life on the land can be tough, but an online tool helps farmers cope with factors beyond their control
A website launched in 2018 to give farmers practical strategies to cope with factors beyond their control has proved so successful with rural communities that it has now been expanded. With further input from farmers and generous funding from multiple philanthropic organisations, ifarmwell has updated its content and features and broadened its reach and expertise.
Keith Hospital model unveiled
Gabrielle Duykers. A newly proposed healthcare model for Keith and District Hospital would see it move into the public local health network, but 24/7 care has been excluded from the plan ... As part of the transition, the current Keith and District Hospital Governing Board could potentially morph into a Health Advisory Council (HAC), a consultative body which works with SA Health to provide advice on health service needs and priorities for the community.
TEYS – the canary in the coalmine
Sheryl Lowe. "What followed ‘saddened” me, Member for MacKillop Nick McBride MP said on 5THE FM radio. “I realise there is a lot of fear around covid but Teys employees were refused service at businesses in Naracoorte and there was even a threat of the Woolworths Fuel outlet closing so staff wouldn’t have to serve them. The media continued to connect the outbreak to Teys but, Teys was the ‘canary in the coal mine,’ if you like. They detected covid in Naracoorte but were not responsible for bringing it to Naracoorte. It was already there.”
New principal for Naracoorte
Gabrielle Duykers. Naracoorte High School has gained a new principal, Lynette Corletto, who says she is passionate about inclusive education and helping students link their learning to future pathways.
Foster & District Agricultural Show, 26 February 2022
Sammy Spark. The Foster & District Agricultural Show is back at the beautiful Foster Showground for 2022. Saturday 26 February 2022 will bring our community back together again to celebrate the region’s hard work during tough times and showcase agriculture in our region.
Pigs, pumpkins and ponies – 152nd Milton Show – 4-5 March 2022
There is excitement in the air, with preparations for the show well underway. Show President, Ken Leslie, reports that, despite having to cancel last year's show due to the COVID pandemic, the enquiries and entries for this year's show are coming in and people are keen to get involved.
Mozzie Mob helping Tennant eliminate dengue mosquito
A dengue mosquito elimination program is gaining traction in Tennant Creek, a year since the dengue mosquito, Aedes aegypti, was found in the town. A team of five NT Health staff, known to the locals as the Mozzie Mob, are conducting property inspections to review backyard items that can hold water to treat them for mosquito eggs or larvae.
Tarrengower Prison rehabilitates 500th greyhound
Tarrengower Prison is celebrating the rehabilitation of its 500th foster greyhound, ‘Boston’, who was trained through the Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP), which is designed to give four-legged companions and prisoners a new lease on life.
Talking Water – Kwatye Angkeme: A campaign to address Alice Springs’ water future
Tracy Jones, Desert Knowledge Australia. A group of local organisations and independent parties have joined forces in Alice Springs, NT, with the support of the Northern Territory Government, to address the town’s water future. The Talking Water Collective delivered a short, intense campaign during October-November 2021 to prompt awareness and build stewardship around the town’s water security, sharing key facts about water resources and consumption, and contributing to the NT's Strategic Water Plan.
New Barellan PO owners excited to provide services
Sean Cunningham. Barellan Post Office, which is also the town’s financial centre, is under new ownership. The new owners Fiona Kibble and Cameron Rouse believe that investing in the post office has been the "best decision" they've made in a long time.
Big Paddock Farm
Delicious lamb straight from the source is what Big Paddock Farm is all about. Fifth generation farmer, Tom McConnell, and partner, Leona Chan, are bridging the gap between the dinner table and the paddock.
‘Return our stolen trailer – no questions asked’: Tiny house charity makes plea
A tiny house charity has had one of its disaster relief trailers stolen. The Container of Dreams charity builds homes for bushfire impacted people and runs workshops on turning containers into homes.
Max sniffs out koala habitat
Geoff Helisma. Volunteer environmental organisation, Clarence Valley Environment Centre (CEC – established 1989), has released the results of a survey it commissioned, “to undertake koala scat detection [using a specifically trained] dog … in the Shannondale area, [in order] to assess koala presence/absence after the droughts, fires and floods”.
Teen shows leadership, community spirit and her love of horses
A member of the Woodridge Horse and Pony Club, Two Rocks teenager Chenin Hislop has been nominated by president and chief coach Morag Gemmell in the 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards WA in the regional service award category.
Evasive action required to limit stable fly
There have been increased reports of stable flies in the Shire of Gingin and other areas due to unseasonably wet conditions over winter and spring that enabled larval developmental sites to stay active for longer. Stable fly is primarily a pest of livestock, especially cattle and horses but it also affects humans, dogs and other animal pets.
Rio reshuffles positions after major resignation
Weipa will get its own general manager again after the sudden resignation of Michelle Elvy paved the way for Rio Tinto to shuffle the deckchairs on its bauxite business ... Shona Markham will take the reins at Weipa, moving from Rio Tinto’s Bell Bay Aluminium operations in Tasmania.
Dog-loving croc trapped at Cooktown
A large male croc has been removed from the Endeavour River at Cooktown after it developed a taste for local dogs ... Due to its large size, the crocodile must be dealt with as an ‘iconic crocodile’ under Queensland’s conservation laws.
Government signs up rural GPs after 19 months
Chris Oldfield. A fresh agreement between SA’s rural doctors and the State Government has been signed. The agreement, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), aims to ease a rural GP crisis sweeping the State, affecting country health care and hospitals, including Naracoorte. Government contracts expired 19 months ago, causing grave concerns for SA branches of the Australian Medical Association (AMASA) and Rural Doctor Association (RDASA).
Cath does Coonawarra proud
Gabrielle Duykers. In the latest addition to her many accolades, Cath Kidman of Wynns Coonawarra Estate has been crowned Viticulturist of the Year at the recent 2021 Women in Wine and Spirits Awards. Ms Kidman was one of 50 finalists to win one of the 18 award categories, with recipients spanning across 12 countries and regions around the globe.
Exhibition tackling social isolation
Make sure to visit the Newstead Arts Hub this February to see a collection of portraits taken by local Anglican Church Reverend Darcy Vaughan. The exhibition, open during the weekends, tackles issues of social isolation and how our communities function when faced with anxiety and uncertainty.
