WA

John Hassell. Western Australia’s farmers are facing ‘Walls of Legislation,’ which is exactly what our members and in fact every farmer across Australia are facing under this current federal government. Walls of Legislation… or as I prefer to call it, “Another Brick in the Wall, Stopping Farmers from Farming.”

Jenny Pollard. A lifetime of table tennis service to the Victorian Table Tennis Country Championships saw Charlton’s Bill Freeman recognised with two significant awards ... Showing stellar dedication, Bill has attended every TTVCC event since 1966 – either at the tables as a participant, or in combination with his role as a committee member – a position which he has held for 40 years.

As part of a series on businesses, community groups and sporting clubs for Yanchep News Online, Betheney A’Vard visited a Carabooda tomato grower. Steve Dimitrovich from Mitri Hydroponics talks about the differences between hydroponic and traditional growing.

Jack Bradshaw. Having killed off the native forest timber industry by edict, the WA government is now taking the next step to cement its hypocrisy in legislation. Reece Whitby, the Minister for the Environment has recently introduced an amendment to the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (WA) to “lock in this Labor government’s historic decision to stop the unsustainable practice of commercial native logging”.

Serena Kirby. This year’s senior citizen of the year, Louise Swan, has put her love of horses to good use since retiring and moving to Denmark nearly a decade ago. Louise said horses had been her passion since she was five years old and when she discovered there was a local HorsePower centre, she wasted no time in volunteering to help.

Serena Kirby. Denmark Primary School’s new principal Luke Breman aims to bring calm and stable leadership to the school ... Luke said there would be a renewed focus on quality, evidence-based teaching programs across the whole school.

Patricia Gill. A return to a community focus drew 380 artists at the Denmark Festival of Voice packing seven venues for 55 acts over the recent long weekend. First-time festival director Abbie Pedersen was honoured to be part of a long legacy established by previous directors.

Out now! Available here!

Questions about heavy tankers transporting water from the Gingin proclaimed groundwater area should be directed to the Shire of Gingin, according to the Cook Government. On Friday Moore MLA Shane Love said The Nationals WA had launched a petition highlighting the effects of water transport vehicles ...

Keigan Gunther. A recent joint operation between the Australian Defence Force and emergency services led to six unexploded World War II-era munitions being destroyed on a commercial farm in Two Rocks. An ADF spokeswoman said the potentially lethal relics, unearthed by a civilian contractor during routine grid searches, dated back to the 1940s when the area served as a training ground for artillery, mortars, anti-tank weaponry and aerial bombing.

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.

An extended bus network for the northern suburb corridor will start when the Yanchep rail extension opens in July ... The new routes will improve network coverage with expanded services in Catalina Estate (Tamala Park); Eden Beach Estate (Jindalee), Trinity, Shorehaven and Alkimos Beach Estates (Alkimos), Amberton Estate (Eglinton) and Capricorn Beach Estate (Yanchep).

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...

Patricia Gill. A biochar project of over three and a half years at the Shire Waste Transfer Station has the potential to develop a world-first industry for Denmark. Through a pyrolysis unit, which heats waste in low oxygen, green waste, silage wrap and food organics would potentially be converted into a carbon-rich product capable of improving soils and animal health.

Patricia Gill. Denmark's Citizen of the Year Murray Brooker believes in always leaving a place better than he found it and continually improving and learning. The former school principal and university lecturer in child psychology has served in emergency and fire services wherever he has lived but is thankful of all the support he receives.

Serena Kirby. The Denmark Historical Society is in the process of erecting information signage along the Denmark - Nornalup Rail Trail. The 38 signs provide historical background about the origins, significance and role that the old Elleker-Denmark-Nornalup railway line played in opening up the surrounding areas for grazing and settlement.

Out now! Available here!

Kununurra Agricultural Society

Field Applied Research Australia (FAR Australia) and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) have launched a new project to transform on-farm profitability for wheat and barley growers in the high-rainfall zones of Australia. The project aims to close the gap between actual crop yields and the profitability possibilities in these zones.

Every country town has at least one building that lies abandoned or underutilised which could be turned into a house or unit that could attract another worker or family to the community. We have old train stations and roads boards buildings, there are abandoned shops in the main street, empty pubs, unused halls, even farmhouses close to town left to deteriorate.