SA

Marathon paddlers from around the nation converged on the Murray River last weekend for South Australia’s premier long-distance event, the Riverland Paddling Marathon (RPM). Run by the Marathon Canoe over the June long weekend each year, the RPM has become a staple of the marathon calendar since its inception in 1988.

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Shane Smith. This year will mark the 80th anniversary of the greatest operation undertaken during World War 2. Operation Overlord the invasion by allied forces at Normandy France 6th June 1944 ... Four members of the RAAF from Naracoorte were directly involved in this invasion to free the people of France and Western Europe from Nazi rule.

Rain across four states has failed to dampen demand for fodder to feed drought affected livestock. Australia’s most trusted rural charity, Rural Aid, said the sigh of relief from farmers who received rain in the past week was almost audible such was the desperation of some; none more so than producers in south-western West Australia where the region had experienced its driest conditions on record.

Christine Webster. Lowbank farmer David Schmidt is feeling more optimistic about the grain growing season after the end of a dry spell spanning more than four months. Some rain finally arrived in the region on Thursday and more showers fell on Friday ... “You would not classify it as an official break in the season,” Mr Schmidt said.

An average residential rate increase of 5.68 per cent – or $82 – is likely across the Berri Barmera district for 2024/25, after the local council cut its rate in the dollar to combat skyrocketing valuations ... Residential valuations alone –made by the Adelaide-based Valuer General – across Berri Barmera will rise by a whopping 15.28 per cent, or almost $186 million, in 2024/25. “With the State Government’s capital valuation growth so high, council has resolved to reduce the rate in the dollar across all property types,” Berri Barmera chief executive officer Tim Pfeiffer told The Murray Pioneer.

Hugh Schuitemaker. Ensuring water buybacks can be made from Riverland communities while the “local economy stays strong” is the aim for a senior South Australian politician. Deputy premier, and Minister for Environment, Susan Close said – during a recent visit to Calperum Station – methods to ensure water buybacks that had minimal negative impacts on regional communities were being discussed. “As a state government, we’re still working – mainly through Primary Industries – with the region,” Dr Close said.

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Willliam McShane. Edithburgh’s new $1.8 million sports and community centre was unveiled on Sunday, June 2. The project, funded by the Australian Government, was one of four initiatives on Yorke Peninsula to help the region’s recovery after the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires at Edithburgh, Yorketown, Price and Port Vincent.

Joanna Tucker. Suicide awareness organisation SOS Yorkes is on the brink of collapse unless more volunteers can be found immediately ... Chair Ann Clothier said, if SOS Yorkes — which was founded in 2015 and stands for Stamp Out Suicide — cannot find a new secretary and treasurer in the next few weeks, the service will cease at the end of this month.

Sarah Herrmann. Kadina Memorial School created its biggest whole-school artwork yet as part of National Reconciliation Week ... More than 1400 students’ and staff members’ handprints went into creating a rainbow eucalyptus tree on a large canvas ... “It looked quite bleak when it was just a few little handprints… but once we got a third of the primary school on there you could see it start to take shape."

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Australia’s farmers are expected to plant 23.55 million hectares to winter crops this year – up more than three per cent on 2023 – despite a mixed start to the season across the country, Rabobank says in its 2024/25 Australian Winter Crop Outlook ... This year’s winter crop planting – representing a 3.6 per cent increase on 2023/24 though down 1.8 per cent on the five-year average...

It’s scary and a superspreader. That’s how a Keith farmer and elected councillor of the Tatiara District Council has described the situation involving the spread of African lovegrass in the Upper South East ... Lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula) is a long-lived tussock-forming grass usually growing 30 to 120cm tall.

If all goes according to plan, Naracoorte will have a new early learning and childcare centre by mid-to-late 2025. Work on the $2million facility located at the unused former TAFE building is set to commence this September.