SA

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.

Lachlan Dand. For the first time since 2021, one of the most prestigious events on the Rowing SA calendar last weekend returned to Renmark ... Renmark Rowing Club president Tony Townsend said the weekend was a "success" as over 740 rowers hit the water for more than 185 races across the two days, including some competitors coming from interstate.

Hugh Schuitemaker. Advocacy for South Australian irrigators in an upcoming Murray- Darling Basin Plan review will be crucial, according to a Riverland politician and regarded figure on water management issues. Former Chaffey MP Karlene Maywald was a guest speaker at the Renmark Irrigation Trust (RIT) annual general meeting, held last month at Hotel Renmark, with the topic being Our Murray River: Hindsight and Insights.

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Yorke Peninsula’s fragile coastline needs protection, and a 10-year strategy is being developed to safeguard its future. The Draft Guuranda/Yorke Peninsula Coastal Access Strategy 2025-2035 is being led by the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board. NYLB general manager Tony Fox said the strategy would aim to balance sustainable coastal access for off-road vehicles, while preserving fragile ecosystems and Narungga cultural sites ...

Wilson McShane. After starting her drag racing career nine months ago, Harvest Christian College, Kadina, student Bailey Hawke claimed her first-ever victory at the South Coast Nationals (junior dragster) in Portland, Victoria, at the weekend (December 7 and 8). Hawke, 13, began drag racing in March and has since had seven runner-up performances across Australia.

Wilson McShane. If Minlaton’s Ivan McMahon is asked to pin down exactly what he does in his spare time, he might have a hard job answering. Ranging from being a school bus driver, former shoe shop owner (70 years), husband to Carlene and proud dad of three — Travis (Polocrosse Association of SA secretary), Scott (former North Melbourne footballer) and Layton — McMahon is a jack of all trades.

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An independent report by a leading consultant shows that the Labor’s Party’s ‘renewables only’ energy plan will cost Australians at least $642 billion, according to the federal Opposition. “This is five times more than they have told the Australian people,” Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Ted O’Brien said.

“I will be doing things differently because I am different.” That’s the words of Cr Abigail Goodman, the Naracoorte Lucindale Council’s newly elected deputy mayor. Cr Goodman was elected to the position last week at the council’s November 26 meeting. She takes over the role from Cr Monique Crossling, who held the position for the last two years.

If the plan was to accelerate environmental degradation, wipe out family farms, increase costs, and dramatically reduce water availability, then the Murray-Darling Basin Authority would have achieved top marks ... While the Wentworth Group has been advocating for more water buybacks, which will no doubt aid the water trading industry returns, while doing very little to address the fundamental failings of the Basin Plan, local Independent Member for Murray, Helen Dalton, has released a 13-step plan to aid in getting the current trainwreck back on the rails.

Lachlan Dand. It is little secret for those who have completed year 12 studies that it’s one of the biggest years some can face, as high schooling days draw to a close. With exams, prom, and graduation all wrapped up, students at the Renmark High School (RHS), have one piece of official duty left. Students will head to the Gold Coast this Sunday morning for the Australian Volleyball Schools Cup, which was previously held in Canberra and Melbourne, running until 15 December.

Hugh Schuitemaker. Riverland stone fruit growers have seen "large amounts" of certain crops wiped out at a critical time, following last week’s heavy rainfall ... "We all appreciate a good rain, and we all need it of course – especially the farmers – but the reality is that it does do a lot of damage, in terms of stone fruit, depending on timing'; Summerfruit SA executive officer Tim Grieger.

The demolition process of the Wunkar silo is almost complete. Wunkar local, Terry Smith, captured the removal of the three-cell, 6000-tonne silo that was carried out last week, with the concrete structure that stood for 64 years now rubble.

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