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Joanna Tucker. Kadina CFS volunteer Justin Baxter is flying to the US this week to help fight some of the 85 wildfires burning across the country, following an SOS call put out by officials. The Moonta Bay resident ... is scheduled to reach the state of Idaho ... to start his mission, along with eight more South Australians and a host of other Australian firefighters ... Mr Baxter said he had undergone an intensive training program to be ready for the 40-day deployment.

Joanna Tucker. Wallaroo artist Debbie Seater is branching out into horror movies. The reigning Kernewek Lowender Art Prize winner has supplied works for a new film by director Simon Tait, which is being produced in Adelaide and is slated for international release.

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Five ... firefighters from Loddon Mallee departed on Friday for a month on the fireline in British Columbia ... “Our ... firefighters are well-prepared to face the challenging and remote terrain of Canada, bringing specialist skills in tree-felling and dry firefighting techniques."

Weethalle Show Society Incorporated

The Albanese Government will strengthen competitive settings through an open approach to market for the Sydney Airport Slot Manager, as part of overarching reforms to the slot system at Sydney Airport. The competitive tender to be released today (Monday 5 August) will require prospective slot managers to demonstrate how they will deliver on the Government reforms announced earlier this year, following recommendations from the Harris Review and the ACCC.

With a prediction more than 1000 older residents will need suitable accommodation by 2027 some might want the Shire of Gingin to rethink its priorities. In the past six months the shire has controversially spent more than $700,000 for land on Dewar Rd for a future recreational use while the amount of housing available for seniors remains at the same level it was in 2015.

Farmers have renewed calls for meaningful competition reform as experts warn the aviation sector faces similar problems to the supermarket sector ... While Rex’s regional routes were still in operation, NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said the similarities between aviation and supermarket concentration were too big to ignore.

Cars didn’t stop tooting as they drove slowly by the nurses, midwives and other hospital staff protesting outside Lismore Base Hospital ... The rally was to highlight the need for a 15 per cent pay increase nurses say they deserve and for better conditions.

Landslips, roads, bridges and a new clubhouse have had tenders announced by Richmond Valley Council so work can begin. Most of the projects are funded under Transport for NSW’s Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, except the Tatham bridges, which are being funded through the Australian Government’s Emergency Response Fund Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program 2022-2023.

A dangerous incident at the Lakes Creek Road Waste Management Facility last week has reignited the importance of proper battery disposal. While loading household recyclables on a truck bound for the Material Recovery Facility (MRF), a lithium-ion battery ignited within the load.

A little country show with a lot of heart – showcasing local produce and livestock and a pavilion full of creativity. In its 114th  year Trundle will be host to a great range of inflatables (12pm to 4pm) for kids of all ages to enjoy and let’s not forget the gumboot throwing competition. The markets on the day will bring you everything from the latest showbags to locally made olive oil. Wednesday August 14 kicks off with Horses and Show jumping at 8.30am, pavilion from 9am and Kids zone with animal nursery from 10am.  

Robert Onfray. Over the past two years, I have quietly compiled a significant body of evidence detailing instances of research misconduct and fraud, including data fabrication and manipulation. My story highlights how scientific research and public policies are often swayed by special interest groups and political agendas, leading to manipulation, censorship, and the suppression of data.

BeeHero's updated sensing solution, already in use worldwide, enables first-of-its-kind, high resolution heat mapping of bee activity, and features improved sensing and pollinator monitoring capabilities that enable predictive models for pollination success. ARR.News found out more about PIP 2.0 from Yuval Regev, Co-founder and CTO of BeeHero.

"It is disappointing the Commissioner did not communicate the content, and intent, directly with the membership well in advance of his speech": Acting NT Police Association President, Lisa Bayliss ... Independent Member for the Araluen electorate in Alice Springs, Robyn Lambley, described the apology on social media: "What a croc! Garma has become a ridiculous display of patronising political rhetoric and pantomime."

The Senate’s Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Reference Committee ... called for a delay in the shutdown of Telstra and Optus’ 3G networks until more is done to work out how many devices could be impacted by the shutdown (including non-phone devices). The committee has heard from a variety of different stakeholders about the impact the shutdown will have on devices that hadn’t been considered when the decision was made, including medical devices, emergency phones in elevators, and even surveying equipment.

Forestry Corporation firefighters on the North Coast are preparing for the bushfire season refreshing skills and planning for the fire season they will face in spring and summer ... North Coast and Far North Coast firefighters have attended preseason fire days near Grafton for training refreshers on equipment, fireground procedure, command, control, communications and safety.

Suzie Christensen. In the lead up to National Science Week ... we celebrate those who contribute to the world of scientific knowledge. A globally significant partnership with research scientists at the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has seen LHIB work to protect and manage threats to the critically endangered Little Mountain Palm (Lepidorrhachis mooreana or LMP).