Vic

Campaspe Shire Mayor Cr Rob Amos said the Council’s first Economic Development and Tourism Summit held on Friday, 21 July 2023 was an outstanding success. More than 150 business, industry and community leaders attended the summit which was a key plank of the council’s engagement process to develop a new five-year Economic Development and Tourism Strategy for the shire.

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The Murray–Darling Basin Authority provided advice to the Hon Tanya Plibersek, Minister for the Environment and Water that full implementation of the Basin Plan will not be possible by 30 June 2024 ... With 16 key SDLAM projects unlikely to be operable by 30 June 2024, the Authority estimates a shortfall in water recovery of between 190 and 315 gigalitres.  

Last week the community of Nhill was surprised to find the Nhill Railway Station fenced off and out of bounds to the community, without any consultation, after being deemed unsafe for public use by the Australian Rail Track Corporation. Local resident Margaret Millington said it was a sad situation and that "Sadly, the Nhill station is now inaccessible to passengers wishing to travel on the Overland.

For four decades, the Speed Lions Club has been responsible for bringing the Mallee’s largest agricultural event to fruition each year. It’s no mean feat for the dedicated group of 26 volunteers, who work tirelessly behind the scenes to organise the two-day event, showcasing the latest in agricultural machinery and technology.

John Williams. Also known as a "Lone Pine" the tree began life in Nhill as a germinated seed planted outside the Monomeeth Aged Care Homes in Clarence Street. The story of the tree began in 1970 when well-known local identity Tammy Dickinson, accompanied by Joe Morris and Fred Wubbling, travelled to Gallipoli in search of the grave of Tammy’s Uncle, Thomas Dickinson.

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From an abandoned gold mine to one of country Victoria’s most admired sporting complexes – that’s the story of St. Arnaud’s Lord Nelson Park. The capacious Park is home to a variety of activities, including football netball, hockey and harness racing, and to the St. Arnaud Sporting Club, overlooking the playing field.

Peter Hibberd. To be inducted into Racing Victoria’s jockey program is a dream for many aspiring jockeys. To win at your first race ride and join a very elite club, that is something else. Last Friday at the Donald racing centre all these dreams were realised when 25-year-old apprentice jockey Sarah Field won her first race at her first ride on the aptly-named Field Of Flutes.

Grain producer groups have unified to oppose a flawed planning application which would diminish export capacity for the nation’s grain supply chain and wealth generation for rural communities and the national economy. Grain Producers Australia and GrainGrowers have backed calls by the Victorian Farmers’ Federation Grains Council to reject the Planning Application submitted by the Hamilton Group, to build office space at the Geelong Port.

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An attendance of 350 of all ages was entertained by George the Farmer at the Birchip Public Hall ... “I think it’s very important, especially living in a rural location, that we give our young people equal opportunity and expose them to live productions,” organiser Carling McEvoy said. Whilst also providing  entertainment, George the Farmer concerts aim to educate children on where their food comes from and inspire the next generation of farmers.

The state government has been accused of using a landmark Victorian climate report, which was written without any input from forestry researchers or the forest industry, to prematurely close the native forestry industry. These forestry groups resent the lack of consultation and have attacked the intellectual content of the report ... The report was written without any contribution from leading forestry experts – Forestry Australia, which represents forest scientists, forest managers and timber growers; Forest & Wood Products Australia, the sector’s chief research and marketing arm; the Victorian Forest Products Association; and leading forestry academics.

Congratulations to Donald High School Student Hunter Wingfield, who has been selected to represent Team Victoria at the Australian Championships in Tweed Heads NSW from September 12 to 15.

Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll confirmed the Labor Government has entered a new $11.5 million three-year agreement to fund the historic service, guaranteeing a future for the Overland train, which has run between Melbourne and Adelaide since 1887. This Government investment will ensure the twice weekly service – which stops at Murray Bridge, Bordertown, Nhill, Dimboola, Horsham, Stawell, Ararat and Geelong will continue to run for the next three years.

There was tension at the Blue Hills Quarry community consultation meeting last Tuesday as workers, locals, farmers, neighbours and consulting experts thrashed out a path to progress while navigating considerable concerns. One woman introduced herself as a concerned local who lives on the Baringhup Maldon Main Rd and is worried about truck traffic.

Viv Markham. There’s a serious problem in the community at the moment, and that problem is housing ... Those even further down on their luck are camping out in tents, caravans and cars - out in the bush and on the outskirts of our towns ... And what is being done to help those doing it tough?

Henle Gardens is a lavender farm and garden business that resides on a stunning 17 acres just on the outskirts of Maldon, and its blossoming life sprung from a brush with death. Just three years ago, farm founder Joshua Ruff peered beyond the veil of mortality and returned with some hard-to-come-by wisdom.