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Pipe bomber released from custody

The man who pled guilty to transporting homemade pipe bombs along the Sturt Highway will serve his sentence in the community. Thirty-three-year-old Timacoy Jason Williams remained in custody after pleading guilty to all charges at his October 4 appearance at Griffith Local Court and was sentenced on November 20 by Magistrate Wright.

Queensland and WA farmers ending year with increasing optimism, while other states take more subdued outlook: Rabobank

Qld and WA farmers reported improved optimism heading into the end of the year, while sentiment was more subdued in other states, the latest Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey has found ... on a national basis farmers were becoming increasingly cautious about the outlook for the agricultural economy, with nearly half (47 per cent) attributing their concerns to dry seasonal conditions, while rising cost pressures are also a worry.

Port Pirie chosen as host for 2026 Country Swimming Championships

The 2026 South Australian Country Swimming Championships are coming to the Port Pirie Aquatic and Leisure Centre, running from 4–7 January 2026. This highly anticipated event, secured by the Port Pirie Regional Council, will showcase the best of regional swimming talent while bringing families, supporters, and the wider country swimming community together in the heart of the region.

The constant companion

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 ...

Youth crime kept in the shadow

The public isn’t going to learn much from official channels about the bashing – alleged – with a blunt weapon of a two months old infant, inflicting serious head injuries. Because the accused are under 18 we will not learn their names ... The known facts in this case are limited to the media release by the police ...

Zombie trees

Scott O’Keeffe. Around 15 years ago, people living in the Maleny area of Southeast Queensland noticed a decline in the health of some large mature bunya pines (Araucaria bidwillii). The crowns of the trees began turning brown, quickly followed by foliage well below the crown. Within a short time, all foliage would be shed, branches cast, and the affected tree would be dead ... Araucarian Dieback (AD) is on the move.

Nimbin artists display diversity in Gunnedah

Karen Welsh. The Nimbin Diversity exhibition, held at the invitation of the Gunnedah Bicentennial Regional Gallery, has been a new and interesting experience for both the Nimbin Artists Gallery and many of our local artists. Gunnedah could be considered to have many different values to our local region – a hot dry climate, large monoculture agriculture and a vast coal mining industry across the scenic Liverpool Plains.

The Nimbin GoodTimes, December 2024

Out now! Available here!

Sound science needed to assess carbon impacts of timber harvesting: Forestry Australia

Forestry Australia has welcomed a new study published in  Australian Forestry  peer-reviewed journal by the former chief research scientist at the CSIRO, Dr John Raison. The paper, titled "A review of the impacts of sustainable harvesting, non-harvest management and wildfire on net carbon emissions from Australian native forests", investigates the science behind claims that timber harvesting increases greenhouse gas emissions.

RFDS garden party

Robyn Schinckel. Fact: At least twice a day a RFDS crew will land in the Limestone Coast to airlift a patient. Fact: Today, the RFDS deliver more than 380,000 episodes of care across Australia every year - equivalent to assisting someone every two minutes. The Foster Street Garden Party was an absolute triumph – a collective effort that raised $21,830. hese vital funds will help keep the RFDS flying.

Farewell Shaz!

Twenty-seven years and 2.2 million boxes later, Sharon Drabsch has called it a day. Shaz, as her colleagues call her, ends her 27-year career as a box maker at the MiniJumbuk in Naracoorte at the end of this month. The 46-year-old with special abilities is not only a box maker but also a beacon of hope to those with special needs in the community.

Housing strategy

The Naracoorte Lucindale Council has developed a draft housing strategy with hopes to fix the district’s housing crisis. The draft strategy was presented to the council by chief executive officer Trevor Smart during the council’s November meeting. The draft housing strategy follows a resolution at the council’s May 2024 meeting to prepare position papers to assist the public to understand the council’s actions addressing the housing shortage in the council area and the assistance the council can provide.

Postcode discrimination

Country towns like Naracoorte are facing "postcode discrimination" when it comes to accessing mental health services and resources. That’s the view of SA Shadow Minister for Regional Health Services, Penny Pratt, who has attacked the State government for turning a blind eye to the Limestone Coast region and failing to understand the plight of families in need of mental health services.

Call for review of Victorian- approved mineral sands mines

“The Victorian Government’s approval of two mineral sands mines yesterday through Environment Effects Statements isn’t the end of the matter,” Member for Mallee Dr Webster said on Wednesday. As farmers learned of the two Mallee mines, the Member for Mallee lamented that Victoria’s prime agricultural land and the health of farming communities are not considered as significant as environmental grounds when assessing mining projects.

Allora’s all aboard for Bush Christmas

Locals and visitors made another huge turnout for this year’s Allora Bush Christmas celebration.

Mason family helps make a difference for T1D

What does fifty million dollars’ worth of hope feel like? Just ask Allora’s Benjamin and James Mason who, along with parents, Hayley and Mark, recently joined a national delegate of one hundred brave Type 1 Diabetes advocates as part of JDRF’s "Kids in the House – KITH" program, to address members of parliament in Canberra.

Proposed quarry: are we asking the right questions?

Close to 50 people crammed into the supper room at Baringhup Hall last Thursday 5 December to attend an information session about the proposed quarry at Blue Hills. Staff from Mawsons Concrete and Quarries, the company behind the proposal, presented a slide show and answered community questions.

No go for National Heritage Bid

An application to have Maldon listed on the National Heritage register has not been successful. Michele Waddington, owner of Fairbank House accommodation, completed the laborious application process and has been in discussions with heritage officers from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water for over 12 months.

Community libraries continue to thrive in the digital age

Aussies still love their local libraries, with recent data from the Australian Public Libraries Statistical Report 2022-2023 showing a rise in borrowing and in-person library visits ... Recently, Fulton Trotter Architects developed a self-serve library kiosk in a residential suburb development in Port Macquarie to cater for community reading, nestled close to the community’s playground.

CSIRO, Oxitec to tackle disease-spreading mosquitoes threatening mainland Australia

A new venture, Oxitec Australia, is taking on two of the deadliest virus-carrying mosquitos in the Pacific region – Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus – to fight the spread of diseases like dengue, Zika, and yellow fever, which claims hundreds of thousands of lives globally each year.  Launched today, Oxitec Australia is a collaboration between CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, and UK-based Oxitec Ltd, the leading developer of biological solutions to control pests.    

Caring about Carnaby’s Cockatoo: David Ward

Dr David Ward. The tongue of experience has the most truth. Old Arab Proverb ... a pair of interesting scientists, Valerie Densmore and Emma Clingan, both from DBCA , and both with actual practical experience in fire fighting and lighting ... have found that, at least on the Swan Coastal Plain, Carnaby's feathery friends may have more food where the bush is burnt frequently, with light and patchy fires every few years, rather than roaring wildfires after decades of fuel accumulation.

Pig Lures wins Lyn Wright Memorial Shield

Bev O’Halloran. For the uninitiated Pig Lures is a team of pretty good bowlers at the Allora Sports Club. In fact they were good enough to win the season’s competition which wrapped up last week … Congratulations to Chris Brown, Moley and Beetle of Pig Lures on 21 who were season winners.

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