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Sport

Sails, sea and hard work

Greg Twelftree. SA author and journalist Max Fatchen wrote: "It's not hard to imagine the square-rigger days when the sou'wester sweeps up Spencer Gulf, hustles past Wardang and sends whitecaps racing and fishing boats rolling at their moorings by Port Victoria jetty" ... From the 1870s to 1949, farmers toiling in the dry, dusty paddocks of Koolywurtie and Wauraltee would glance seaward as 100-metre long, four-masted barques filled the horizon.

Port Vic turns 150

Greg Twelftree. Celebrate 150 years of Port Victoria and Wauraltee over the March long weekend, Friday 6th to Sunday 8th, with a jammed-packed program offering something for everyone. We will welcome a flotilla of two Tall Ships and other sailing vessels from the Port Adelaide Sailing Club, the Cruising Yacht Club of SA and the Wallaroo Sailing Club at 3pm on Friday, March 6.

Largest Country Week tournament brings major economic win for Greater Shepparton

Greater Shepparton City Council is proud to announce the successful delivery of the 2026 Country Week tennis tournament, which saw an estimated $4 million boost to the region’s visitor economy. Council partnered with Tennis Victoria, Shepparton Lawn Tennis Club and Mooroopna Lawn Tennis Club to host the event, which is the largest lawn tennis competition in the world.

Tough times take a toll on small business

A mainstay of the Corryong CBD will close its doors at the end of the month. Hobie's Sports Store has been an iconic business in the town's main street for 75 years but changes in people's purchasing habits over recent years and the current economic climate has forced the hand of owners Mick and Kerrie Butler ... Ron Hoban purchased the hairdresser and tobacconist shop in the early 1950s, at the height of the construction of the Snowy Mountains Scheme.

West Coast fishing ban causes south coast congestion

Warren Blackwood MLA Bevan Eatts has accused the State Government of rushing the demersal fishing ban and causing a sharp rise in boat traffic on the South Coast. He says that boat ramps are overcrowded, tourism infrastructure under strain and there is no support in sight. Since the closure of key recreational and commercial fishing areas, there has been daily congestion at Windy Harbour, Walpole, Peaceful Bay and Denmark.

100 per cent for the families: how a ‘Redneck’ idea raised $4.38 million for Country Hope

How Tammy and Gavin Gilbert turned a simple idea into $4.38 million for Country Hope, and why, ten years on, it's still going strong. It started with a conversation. Gavin Gilbert had been on a couple of car rallies, loved them, genuinely loved them, but something about the way they were set up nagged at him ...

Celebrating the life of Nathon “Wombat” Houghton

More than 1,500 people gathered at Brooms Head last Saturday, drawn together by love, loss and shared memories, to celebrate the life of local legend Nathon "Wombat" Houghton. In just ten short days, a group of close friends rallied together to organise a farewell that truly reflected the man Wombat was — open-hearted, inclusive and deeply connected to the ocean.

Ellie in the spotlight again

Clifton State High School student Ellie Stenzel from Greenmount is becoming quite a personality as a result of her love of all things equestrian. The young lady stepped onto a wider stage last year when she became part of the bid by Toowoomba to become an equestrian centre for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

Moulamein sisters earn Barastoc call-ups

Gus van Hart. Two Moulamein sisters are set to pull on New South Wales colours at Barastoc 2026 after both landed surprise representative call-ups in different squads. Barastoc is an annual three-day interstate polocrosse carnival featuring representative state teams from across the country.

Inverleigh Dachshund Derby, 1 March 2026

Get ready for big excitement on little legs at the Inverleigh Dachshund Derby! This much-loved local event brings a whole lot of joy—and a fair bit of chaos—as dozens of determined sausage dogs line up to sprint, wobble and occasionally wander their way toward the finish line.

WA Labor must reveal greyhound racing’s future: Hunter

The Cook Labor Government and the Minister for Racing and Gaming, Paul Papalia, must clearly state whether they support the future of the greyhound racing industry in Western Australia following serious animal welfare incidents at Cannington Park and ongoing uncertainty facing the sector.

Different action on WA demersal ban

While the WA Labor Minister for Fisheries announces the release of pink snapper fingerlings in Cockburn Sound south of Perth as part of their West Coast Demersal Recovery package, the Nationals WA continue to hold forums for fishers impacted by the demersal fishing ban and call for a parliamentary inquiry.

New champions crowned at NSW Country surf titles

Cudgen Headland SLSC has almost returned to the summit of Country surf sports but there's still plenty of racing to go after a day in which competitors of all ages earned a slew of medals at the 2026 NSW Country Championships at South West Rocks.

West Coast shark fishers caught up in demersal ban

A Lancelin based shark fisher says there has been no commercial fishing in the West Coast bioregion between Lancelin and Tims Thicket (south of Mandurah) for nearly 20 years ... Mr Stokke, who also partners with his brother in a western rock lobster boat, said he thought the ban was probably targeting the wet liners but they (the shark fishers) were thrown under the bus with them.

Show Society confidence in games bid

Allora Show Society is moving ahead with an attempt to become involved in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games after discussing the potential for a multi-function stables complex at the showgrounds. It is anticipated that the complex would cost around $1.5 million and would become a valuable asset at the showgrounds beyond the Olympics.

Cup draws pilots from across Australia and overseas

More than 75 pilots competed in the recent Corryong Cup Hang Gliding competition on Mt Elliot including entrants from all over Australia and some from Norway, America, England and Ireland ... "So much fun was had that it is likely to become a regular event!"

Alexander brothers smashing records

An unforgettable day for West Wimmera Warriors cricket and brothers Nathan and Bradley Alexander in Saturday's one day match. The day score final scores as Warriors 3/395 to St Mary's 10/151. In incredible scenes it saw Nathan Alexander - score 230 runs from 126 balls, including 17 4s and 14 6s.

From the Rockies to home: Mikaela Hurst’s global journey on horseback

In the dusty yards of a local feedlot, on a horse twice her size, Mikaela Hurst effortlessly moves cattle under the unrelenting Australian summer sun. But beneath the wide-brimmed hat and even wider smile lies a specialised skill set that is rare.

Go like the wind – Big week of sailing in Wallaroo

Austinn Lane. It was a big week on the water in Wallaroo, with the 51st Tasar national championships held at the local sailing club from January 12 to 17. The event attracted 37 teams of two sailors each, who travelled with their craft from around Australia.

Commercial fisher supports call for mandatory recreational reporting

A commercial fisherman affected by the Cook Government’s decision to permanently close the West Coast bioregion from Kalbarri to Augusta for demersal fishing says it should be mandatory for recreational boat fishers to provide data on their catch on the day they fish.

Is there a future for the Snowy Mountain brumbies?

Colleen Krestensen. With the repeal of the Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act 2018 (NSW), the Australian Brumby Alliance and brumby rehoming organisations are deeply concerned that the NSW Government and NPWS will move to quickly slaughter the remaining brumbies by aerial culling or other lethal methods ... The ABA strongly believes that with the brumby population in Kosciuszko National Park now as low as 579 horses, and the perceived density problem addressed, there is time to review how the remaining horses are managed and to make animal welfare an imperative.

Fishing community “ropeable” and cannot be ignored: Love

Leader of The Nationals WA Shane Love says if growing unrest to Labor’s demersal fishing bans is any indication, the Cook Labor Government has bitten off more than it can chew and badly underestimated the strength and unity of Western Australia’s fishing community ... "The fishing community is ropeable, and rightly so," Mr Love said.

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