Henty Field Days showcasing its core focus of the latest in ag technology
More than $200 million worth of the latest in agricultural and machinery products will be showcased to the nation in southern Australia’s single biggest agricultural event, the 2025 Henty Machinery Field Days. The agribusiness super event is scheduled for 23-25 September and has evolved into the nation’s agricultural shop front over its 62-year history with 14 kilometres of outdoor sites.
Call for more care with burns
Patricia Gill. Five motions will be raised at the September 30 Denmark Shire Council meeting which call on the State Government to take more responsibility for prescribed burns. The motions to be put to the September 30 council meeting were drawn up at the special electors meeting held in the Denmark Civic Centre on September 11. Almost 100 people attended the meeting which the Friends of Harewood called for after delivering a 340-signature petition to the Shire.
McLaren Vale’s Grenache & Gourmet Festival returns this week: Bettison
McLaren Vale’s Grenache & Gourmet, the festival for curious palates, returns this Friday 19 September to Monday 6 October, enticing visitors to explore and experience all that Fleurieu Peninsula has on offer.
Removal of interstate hives completed as varroa surveillance continues: Scriven
All bee hives connected to South Australia’s first varroa mite detection have been removed from the state to protect SA’s apiary industry.
Naracoorte on the rise
That’s the message from Spendmapp by Geografia, which has singled out the Naracoorte Lucindale Council for its economic momentum and community-first approach ... The latest data shows local spending is climbing, visitor dollars are growing, online shopping is rising, and even ‘escape spend’ is up — a sign of household confidence and prosperity circulating across the Limestone Coast.
The Baaka Cultural and Art Centre
Baaka, our new Cultural and Art Centre, looks wonderful! All of us who've been on guided tours inside it are excited about what it will mean for Paakantji people, the town of Wilcannia and our whole region.
Labor axes successful agriculture program against its own advice: Hunter
Shadow Minister for Agriculture Lachlan Hunter MLA has slammed the Cook Labor Government for ignoring its own independent review into the Grower Group Alliance (GGA) and DPIRD Collaboration. Mr Hunter said the review, commissioned by the Labor Government, clearly recommended increased investment into the program, yet the Minister for Agriculture instead chose to axe the program entirely.
Australia’s food security at risk as farmers consider quitting: Littleproud
Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said the latest 2025 AUSVEG Industry Sentiment Report shows Australia’s food security is at risk, as two in five growers consider leaving the industry. Mr Littleproud said the decision to walk away is being affected by Labor’s anti-agriculture policies, including red tape impacting productivity and profitability...
Live4life Macedon Ranges passes important milestone — over 10,000 young people and adults in the community have now been trained in evidence-based mental health...
Innovative youth mental health and suicide prevention program, Live4Life, was first conceived and developed in the Macedon Ranges in 2010 — a groundbreaking response to a reported increase in anxiety, depression, self-harm and suicide amongst young people in the rural communities of the shire.Â
Bloomfest 2025: A spring celebration where wildflowers meet the stars
Dalgarno Street, Coonabarabran, will burst into life on Saturday 20 September 2025, as Warrumbungle Bloomfest returns with an evening of light, music, food, and community spirit under the night skies of Australia’s only Dark Sky Park. Now in its second year, Bloomfest is completely free and family-friendly, making it one of the most accessible festivals in regional NSW.
$19m budget for National Parks acquisitions
Member for Barwon Roy Butler MP asked questions in the most recent sitting of NSW Parliament, regarding future plans and budgets for the purchase of lands for National Parks and the average price being paid in his far west electorate.
Cascading, compounding and concurrent – National Climate Risk Assessment shows why climate action is so important: Bowen, Wilson, Thwaites
...The National Climate Risk Assessment (NCRA) finds that no Australian community will be immune from climate risks that will be cascading, compounding and concurrent ... Today the National Climate Risk Assessment is clear: while we can no longer avoid climate impacts, every action we take today towards our goal of net zero by 2050 will help avoid the worst impacts on Australian communities and businesses.Â
Benalla munitions agreement axed: Cleeland
The Nationals’ Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, has expressed frustration over the decision to abandon a major munitions manufacturing agreement in Benalla, labelling it a devastating blow for the local community. The Department of Defence quietly scrapped its agreement with Thales Australia to manufacture 155-millimetre M795 artillery ammunition at the Benalla munitions facility.
Queensland leads the charge with Australia’s first vanadium battery supply chain: Bates, Last
...Using vanadium sourced from Julia Creek, the Townsville facility will anchor a pit-to-port product manufacturing chain, supplying vanadium flow batteries for global energy storage markets. The project is expected to support nearly 600 jobs across North and North West Queensland, with early works scheduled for 2026 and operations to commence in early 2028.
The Pacific solution: How does it work?
Omika Upadhayay. Being a recent migrant myself, hailing from Nepal, I’ve had more than a little to do with the Australian immigration system ... One way farmers are cutting through this bureaucratic headache is by working with an approved employment provider and sourcing workers through the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme.
The great Australian skills black hole: Why the bush can’t find a mechanic, builder or plumber
Australia has not just a skills shortage but a worker shortage of any skill when it comes to finding people in the bush who actually want to work. Out there in the real world there is no longer a shortage of mechanics or tractor drivers — it’s the whole backbone of the trades. Builders, sparkies, plumbers: the people who keep farms, houses and small towns from grinding to a halt.Â
City’s first running festival is a marathon feat
Fun-runners and athletes alike will be putting their best feet forward when the inaugural Horsham Running Festival gets underway on Sunday 14 September. Top of the bill will be a full marathon – 42.2 kilometres – comprising four laps of a picturesque circuit on the banks of the Wimmera River.
Warhol heading to Mudgee as Sharing the National Collection celebrates one million: Burke
Over a million people have experienced the wonder of the national collection closer to home since it launched in 2023, and now it’s Mudgee’s turn. A collection of works by some of the 20th century’s most notable artists will travel to Mudgee Arts Precinct as part of the Albanese Labor Government’s Sharing the National Collection program.Â
Shot-hole borer threat requires urgent national action: Hunter
The WA Opposition has called for an urgent, nationally coordinated response to the spread of the destructive polyphagous shot-hole borer, following revelations that Western Australia has abandoned efforts to eradicate the pest after more than 5,000 trees were lost in the Perth metropolitan area.
Flow-on effect – a decade of science, smarter watering, healthier Basin: Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
A report released in partnership with Australia’s national science agency CSIRO, Commonwealth environmental water sustaining Murray–Darling Basin ecosystems: 10-year (2014–24) retrospective, outlines how a decade of monitoring, evaluation and reporting is optimising management of Commonwealth environmental water holdings – a public asset with a market value approaching $10 billion.
Victorian Farmers Federation statement: In response to Victoria’s Statewide Treaty Agreement
The VFF acknowledges the Victorian Government announcement that it has reached an in-principle agreement on Australia’s first Treaty. “The introduction of this legislation today will be the first time it’s been seen by many stakeholders."
Negotiations finalised for Victoria’s Treaty: Hutchins
A major milestone in Victoria’s decade-long Treaty process has been achieved with the Victorian Government and First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria reaching in-principle agreement on Australia’s first Treaty. The first negotiated Statewide Treaty Agreement brings together First Peoples, through the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, and the Victorian Government, to build a new relationship based on respect, trust and integrity.
