Vic

For a second, I thought I had stumbled into the mellow haze of Woodstock, but this pungent aroma had no buzz or medicinal properties. It was all about fibre and the seed. Western Murray Land Improvement Group’s 7-hectare flood irrigation trial had over 70 attendees from as far away as Queensland. Five varieties were included in the trial to see what grows best in our region.

The Nationals leader and Member for Murray Plains has condemned a move by the Andrews Labor Government to suck a significant slice of revenue out of the pockets of regional newspapers. Mr Walsh said the Nationals strenuously opposed the Regulatory Legislation Amendment (Reform) Bill 2021, which means more than 400 requirements in Victoria that must be published in print media could potentially be pushed online to a central government website.

Mansfield District Racing Club, Media Release, 16 February 2022 The Mansfield District Racing Club is thrilled to be running an Autumn race day and hopes...

John O'Donnell. A collection of dramatic and informative photos of the 1952 bushfires.

Experience picnic racing at its best at this unique racecourse high up in the Australian Alps. With 6 trophy races and a wide range of side attractions the Hinnomunjie Picnic Races is the perfect family event for the holiday weekend.

Young artists are being encouraged to showcase their talents on one of the busiest weekends in Port Fairy for the chance to win some great prizes – including a spot on the 2023 Port Fairy Folk Festival Program.

A Charles Sturt University research project into planned burning ignites possibilities for conservation and restoration of critically endangered grassy ecosystems.

Simon Dow. Esteemed artist and Archibald winner in 2018, Yvette Coppersmith, judge of this year’s Maldon Portrait Prize titled I Be Human, addressed the finalists for the prize at the exhibition opening, at EDGE Galleries in Maldon. Yvette expressed her delight at the quality and diversity of the exhibiting portraits. This made her task of selecting the winner, Gabrielle Martin’s portrait ‘The Ecologist’ all the more challenging.

Make sure to visit the Newstead Arts Hub this February to see a collection of portraits taken by local Anglican Church Reverend Darcy Vaughan. The exhibition, open during the weekends, tackles issues of social isolation and how our communities function when faced with anxiety and uncertainty.

Nicole Funston. Maldon Pony Club kicked the new year off with a huge weekend of showjumping. On Saturday the club held a twilight freshman’s showjumping event.

East Gippsland in the far SE corner of Australia, has long been seen as the stronghold of many natural values including old growth and rainforests and remarkable wildlife species that evolved with and still depend on these healthy, intact habitats.

The adorable Greater Glider is in trouble. It is threatened by fire and logging and its population has crashed by over 80% this century ... VicForests – a logging company owned by the government – wants to clear much of what’s left of the Greater Glider’s habitat.

Over 30 attendees turned out for the land reclassification public hearing on February 3. Lot 1 DP1267277, Gonn Road, Barham is the proposed site for Barham’s new micro-abattoir ... While the hearing was focused on the land reclassification, topics raised by speakers were broad, from the benefits of the development to those who felt a lack of consultation and concerns over the process.

After 14 years as a rural journalist, Sophie Baldwin is aiming to transform her passion for rural communities to a potent political voice for the federal seat of Mallee. Ms Baldwin believes it is time for Mallee to have an independent voice.

Kirstin Nicholson. Two local cricket stalwarts have been honoured with a new annual shield. Bruce Milthorpe from Cohuna and George Keath from Leitchville have been recognised for the many years of dedication and work they have put into their local cricket clubs.

Dederang Picnic Race Club

“Sea spurge is now reappearing in NSW, this time in more regional and remote areas of NSW, and we suspect it’s spreading from Victorian and Tasmanian beaches .... A spraying program is underway, using a highly specific biocontrol agent of sea spurge, a fungus, which is native to France" : James Griffin, NSW Environment Minister.

After announcing the Mornington Peninsula Bowls Region (MPBR) as the new location for the 2022 Carnival late last year, it is with mixed emotions that we now advise that the Carnival will not be moving to the MPBR, and will instead be held in Echuca Moama, hosted by the Campaspe Playing area of the Bendigo Campaspe Goldfields Bowls Region (BCGBR).

Ecological planned burning is a land management tool applied to promote positive benefits for a local environment. These benefits include stimulating dormant seed banks in the soil profile, reducing the vigour or eliminating weeds, nutrient cycling and the removal of biomass - all of which promote biodiversity and ecosystem health.