News

Bailey Armstrong from the Gold Coast has taken out both the 700m and 2km Ocean Swim events at Yamba, on Sunday. Bailey said that he was feeling a bit of pressure during the 700m event, which was the first event of the day.

Family and friends are mourning the loss of an experienced pilot and real estate agent whose son was seriously injured when their light aircraft crashed after take-off from McIntyres Airfield at Palmers Island. It is understood Coffs Harbour real estate agent James ‘Jim’ Auld, 67, and his son Robert, aged 32, took off from South Grafton airport … on Sunday, December 29.

Nhill & District Racing Club President, Bruce Beacom was pleased with the community support of the DMD Nhill Cup. While our preference was to race on Boxing Day, we understood that the extreme weather forecast coupled with the fire rating made it not possible to race on Boxing Day and at the end of the day participant, patron and equine welfare is paramount to the club and racing industry.

Over fifty people gathered on Friday to celebrate the pop-up launch of the Wiregrass mural at the Kaniva Post Office. The mural depicts townsfolk queuing at the Post Office—a scene that celebrates the spirit of rural life when such places were essential for keeping communities connected.

Hay Lions continue to pave the way towards another solid AFL season, announcing several player signings to round out 2024. The club has also unveiled a skilled and experienced coaching team.

Hugh Schuitemaker. Maintaining momentum – after a solid first two years of existence – is the goal of the new president of the region’s second largest football league. Former Brown’s Well Football Club president Andrew Schultz has been announced Murray Valley Football Netball League (MVFNL) president, taking over from inaugural chair – and former long-serving Riverland Football League chief – Neil Martinson.

Hay Shire Council and Hay Lions Football and Netball Club joined forces once again for their much-anticipated annual native fish restocking event in the Murrumbidgee River at Hay late last month. Around 6600 Murray Cod fingerlings were released near Sandy Point, marking another significant step in enhancing the local aquatic ecosystem.

Christine Webster. A volunteer organisation committed to preventing crime in the Waikerie area has gone into recess after 34 years of operation. Waikerie Neighbourhood Watch met for the last time at a lunch at the Waikerie Club on 5 December.

Hugh Schuitemaker. Senior Riverland politicians have questioned the potential benefits of a multi-million dollar environmental plan to use treated wastewater – rather than Murray River water – to water public areas and “to supply some industries”. The Federal and State Governments last month announced $20.9m in funding to build infrastructure allowing local governments to substitute Murray River water with storm water, treated wastewater or other alterna-tive water sources.

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Western Power says power has been restored to all 150 customers affected by the bushfire in Cowalla, Wanerie and Karakin. Twenty power poles were destroyed by the bushfire, which was reported at 12.03pm on Tuesday, December 31.

My journalistic work in the Territory began early on Christmas Day 1974, looking down from the aircraft of Deputy Prime Minister Jim Cairns onto the Northern Territory capital that had been all but annihilated by Cyclone Tracy.

The age-old appeal of flying a kite provided plenty of fun for young and old at Ardrossan recently when the Adelaide Kite Flying Association put on a display on the clifftop near the town’s foreshore. The event was held by Ardrossan Progress Association in conjunction with the local Christmas street party on December 20.

Joanna Tucker. The first cohort of interns for the new Rural Doctor Program has been welcomed to the Yorke and Northern Local Health Network at Wallaroo Hospital. The RDP is designed to support and encourage junior doctors to pursue generalist training pathways and medical careers within Yorke Peninsula.

This piece emerged from an extended dialogue with the WA Minister for Police regarding the new firearms regulations released just before Christmas. I revised my original opinion article to incorporate the Minister’s direct responses, as they address many of the key concerns raised during the reform process.

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