News

The passion to grow and expand their recycling business has earned Cooktown locals Kenny and Steffi Reid a Queensland-wide award nomination for sustainability. Their company Auswaste began operating in the Containers for Change scheme in Cooktown back in 2019 and has now become a vital cog in providing access to recycling right across the Cape.

Champion mare Verry Elleegant was crowned Australian Racehorse of the Year following an outstanding season that encapsulated five Group 1 victories. The winner of more than $9.3 million in prizemoney, Verry Elleegant’s racing season was highlighted by her wins in the Winx Stakes, the Caulfield Cup, Turnbull Stakes, Chipping Norton Stakes and Ranvet Stakes.

The 2021/22 Tennis SA State League season has been officially launched by the  Tennis SA State League All Stars  on the Eyre Peninsula ... The state’s highest level competition visited regional South Australia for the first time, with eight Tennis SA State League players joining six local tennis players to create Team Red and Team Blue.

Australia and Singapore are developing a Green Economy Agreement (GEA) to further accelerate both countries’ transition towards a green and sustainable future, and help to create good jobs and lower carbon emissions. The GEA will look at practical initiatives to promote and facilitate trade and investment, including lowering the regulatory burden on businesses. It aims to remove non-tariff barriers to trade in environmental goods and services and to accelerate the uptake of low emissions green technology.

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall has been presented with a ground-breaking opportunity for the State to work with the District Council of Tumby Bay on significantly refurbishing the Tumby Bay Jetty to benefit cruise ship tourism on Eyre Peninsula, as well as tourism and the community at large.

The Queensland Government has approved the preparation of legislative amendments to grant a 20-year extension to allow beekeeping to continue in national parks until 2044 ... The decision will formally extend beekeeping permits for a further 20 years in certain national parks that were created as part of the SEQ Forest Agreement in 1999.

Two of South Australia’s provincial cup meetings will be boosted by a significant prizemoney increase for their feature races. Racing SA has today announced both the Gawler Cup and Strathalbyn Cup will benefit from substantial prizemoney lifts, effective immediately. The increase will bring them into line with both the Murray Bridge and Balaklava Cups.

Friends of the Koala. A koala so badly injured from the catastrophic Black Summer bushfires, vets didn't think she'd make it, has been spotted in the wild with a joey. Ember was found in November 2019 walking on the burnt ground in Whiporie, New South Wales after devastating fires swept through the area ... Some 18 months later, in the same area where she was released, Ember has been spotted with a joey of her own. She was sighted thriving in the wild with her joey by the person who rescued her – Ros Irwin.

Kate Scanlon. Due to COVID lockdown we haven't had many preschoolers coming to play ... but we have still been connected! Through regular emails, Class Dojo, phone calls and Zoom group times we have been able to continue our connection with children and their families.

The forecast of a wet spring in many key sheep producing regions in Australia will drive the national flock to over 70 million head in 2021, according to Meat & Livestock Australia’s 2021 October sheep industry projections.

Byron Shire Council and the NSW Environment Protection Authority are investigating two illegal dumping incidents in the Byron Shire ... In both cases the materials were remnants from renovations including fibro sheets, some of which were asbestos, tiles, timber and a fridge.

The overwhelming success of the State’s first Outback Lifesaver program last summer will see the concept return to Wagga Wagga early next year. Wagga Wagga City Council and Royal Life Saving NSW will again partner in the delivery of the program which gives youngsters the chance to learn lifesaving water safety skills at pools and inland waterways.

Tasmania’s lakes and waterways are enjoyed by thousands of recreational anglers and their families and friends and the Tasmanian Government wants to encourage more Tasmanians to take up angling. The Government has released its Strategy to Increase Participation in Tasmania's Inland Recreational Fishery 2021-28 on national Gone Fishing Day.

The McGowan Government has welcomed the announcement of a new co-operative of northern pastoralists to own and operate northern Western Australia's only abattoir. The Kimberley Meat Co-operative (KMC) will acquire the beef processing facility 100km east of Broome, operating the facility on a contract based with its members and processing at least 40,000 head of cattle per year.

The SA State Government’s latest Crop and Pasture Report indicates South Australian grain production is set for 7.98 million tonnes, close to the 10-year average of 8 million tonnes. SA Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development David Basham said South Australian farmers may be able to capitalise on unfavourable conditions in other world grain producing countries.

Local Land Services has joined forces with landholders on the North Coast and is achieving phenomenal results in the fight against cane toads. Recent cane toad control efforts in northern NSW have resulted in the control of over 10,000 adult and juvenile toads on 62 private properties affected by this invasive pest species.

On returning from Tokyo, some of Australia’s top equestrian Olympians have pitched in to help Pony Club Australia with their Virtual National Championships this year. Andrew Hoy, Shane Rose and Kevin McNab took time out of their schedules to record questions for the National Quiz competition. All the Olympians were Pony Club alumni (past members) who have previously shared their enjoyment and knowledge gained from their Pony Club years. Atlanta gold medallist Wendy Schaeffer, who rode her Pony Club horse at the Olympics, also contributed questions.

BlazeAid Tumbarumba camp returned in July this year with a plan to assist fire affected farmers in the southern region of the Snowy Valleys. Despite the rain interruptions and the state-wide lockdown for Covid, the camp remained operating, even when, at one stage, they were down to two volunteers ... The small crew in Tumbarumba put in the equivalent of 287 days helping farmers since July. The work included over 11km of fence removed, averaging 63 m per day. The camp also rebuilt a total of 18kms of new fencing.