News

There was creativity on display at the CWA Hall recently as two separate groups participated in Resin Pouring workshops led by Craig Eibeck, who came up from Alice Springs to introduce the techniques of resin pouring.

Forestry Australia is delighted to announce the appointment of two new co-chairs to lead its Future Foresters Initiative (FFI) Committee. Alannah Rowe and David Faluyi will head up the committee made up of young forestry professionals and forest science students which aims to support career growth and foster the next generation of forestry leaders.

Ian Sauer, TFGA President believes that it is time for an independent or parliamentary review into legislation such as Land Acquisition Act 1993, Irrigation Company Act 2011, Hydro-Electric Corporation Act 1995 and other associated legislation, which allows for the authorised acquisition of land for the purpose of infrastructure ... An irrigation scheme was fully sold before the relevant GBE approached the Scott-Youngs’ and informed them they would need to acquire around 5 per cent of their land to locate a dam. This parcel included 20ha in the middle of the farm. Right outside their front door.

Mount Rascal resident Tom Campbell is off to Perth this weekend as part of the Queensland Under 21 team to contest the National Under 21 Hockey Tournament. It’s a great feat for any local player to be included in a State team, but Tom’s selection is even more impressive when you consider that he is just 16 years of age. He is the youngest member of the Queensland team.

The sixth annual Gomaren & Doctors Creek Catchment Landcare Group ‘Focus on Farms’ photography competition is underway with a wide range of categories for people of all ages. A key component of the competition is that all photos must be taken in the Darling Downs, defined as the Toowoomba, Southern Downs, Western Downs and Goondiwindi regions.

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There may have been dramas aplenty, but in true Tennant style, a brand new committee successfully brought back one of the major events of the year – our local Show ... There were still plenty of rides, food stands, sideshows and showbags to be had, as well as government stands, lots of free range politicians, including the Chief Minister, Natasha Fyles, who officially opened the Show, and market sellers with a range of goods.

Jane Richter. The early onset of cold weather in Queensland coupled with great rains in the last 12 months means there is a bumper crop of newly maturing ginger being harvested right now. And shoppers should get the benefit ... if only the retail giants would pass on the huge cost cuts that they have been enjoying for at least the last month ... The wholesale market sale price in Sydney recently dropped to below $7 per kilo for fabulous fresh large-sized mature ginger, and yet the product is still being sold at $45 or more per kilo by the major retail chains.

The town came alive during this year's Maldon in Winter Festival. Over the course of 17 days, locals and tourists delighted in art, music, poetry, plays and performances ... EDGE Galleries opening of 'Shroud' by sculptor, photographer, filmmaker and installation artist, Gary Deirmendjian was well-attended. Visitors were treated to a thought-provoking performance by gallery owner Simon Dow as part of the exhibition.

Out now!

Out now!

Serena Kirby. Denmark Senior High School students are making progress with the restoration of one of Denmark’s iconic wooden boats, Tiki. The restoration began last year after now-retired teacher, Pete Logan, suggested it as a project for the school’s recreational pursuits course.

Patricia Gill. The Denmark Environment Centre is lobbying to block the building of a network of nine mountain bike trails in 68ha of Mt Hallowell’s lower south eastern slopes ... Speaking on behalf of DEC, Murdoch University sustainability lecturer Nicole Hodgson says the high physical impact of building mountain bike trails is not compatible with sustaining the conservation and cultural values of a precious Class A Reserve.

Two women, Alice Halden and Ayla Young, will feature in Narrandera's Artist of the Month in the Wide Open 2022 program, which features a variety of artists' work each month throughout the year ... Ayla will have 10 charcoal drawings on display while Alice has 10 photographic prints, seven water-colours and two oil paintings in the exhibition.

It’s been seven weeks since the election in which Labor promised it would deliver the basin plan in full. Last week, a private jet jaunt around selected parts of the basin saw Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek doubling down on the promise ... Once again, the plan rolls on with decisions made on high and an attitude of propaganda rather than collaboration and information sharing. I suppose when one body implements, oversees, reviews and funds the science, it would be hard to get any outcome other than the one they seek.

It took just eight days for a community solar farm project planned at Grong Grong to reach its $750,000 crowd-funding target ... Under the scheme, the investors who signed up in the crowd-funding campaign join other seed investors in owning 90 per cent of the shares in what is the first crowd-equity-funded and owned solar farm.

Chris Oldfield. Six pipers, a drummer and dancer recently stirred spirits and awakened the old stone walls and wooden floors of the Naracoorte Hotel – and its patrons. With music almost loud enough to reach the old cemetery, where our Scottish settlers rest, some talented pipers and a drummer had also travelled from Mount Gambier for a Toast to the Tartan.

The online dance project harnesses the creativity of children across regional WA, to celebrate familial relationships. Children aged 4-7 have worked together with adults they love, to create their own dance performance through a series of games masterminded by inspirational choreographer Sandi Woo.