WA

Many will have heard of the popular memoir,  A Fortunate Life,  which follows the story of Albert B. Facey (1894 -1982), and his experiences growing up and farming in the Wheatbelt, a book that has sold over half a million copies ... As an Australian history buff, I’m always on the lookout for stories of our farming pioneers, unfortunately, they are few and far between.

Serena Kirby. Denmark Senior High School again produced high-performing ATAR students last year. Adam Turner achieved a near perfect score of 97.7 and was not only awarded Dux of the school but collected six other awards including physics and maths awards.

Patricia Gill. Shire president Kingsley Gibson says Australia Day celebrations in Denmark have moved in step with changing community attitudes and demands. Councillor Gibson said the Denmark Shire Council did not have a position on Australia Day and spoke to the Bulletin as a private citizen about tomorrow’s Kwoorabup Festival which he believed would be a safe and inclusive event for all.

Patricia Gill. "Australia has much to celebrate as a nation, and a national day presents a welcome opportunity for mature reflection on who we are, and who we could be." So says Andrea Gaynor, professor of history at WA University, who says it’s ‘odd’ that January 26, is the day for the commemoration.

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A Yanchep man, who appeared in Joondalup Magistrates Court on January 17, will remain remanded in custody until his next court appearance on February 28 ... 16 unlicensed firearms, including a sawn-off shotgun ... unlicensed native wildlife, including a carpet python snake and 34 geckos ..

David Thompson is a farmer but he’s also a cultivator of change. David runs a 3000 hectare property just outside Katanning in WA and like thousands of farmers he’s seeing the effects of man-made soil salinity first hand ... Several years ago David decided to diversify his business (from solely grain crops and sheep) and start to grow sustainable, saline-infused food products. His business, Moojepin Foods, now produces saline greens that have won numerous awards and accolades.

An agreement has been signed between the Department of Justice and Aboriginal-led service provider Kullarri Regional Communities Indigenous Corporation (KRCIC) to implement a $4 million pilot program providing a location out of harm's way for at-risk youth who are found in public areas at night.

Roger Underwood. There was an unusual event in Dryandra Forest in Western Australia in November 2023: a commemoration of 100 years of forestry management. At a large gathering in the forest, beneath the shade of a 100-year-old brown mallet plantation, speeches were made, a plaque unveiled, and this book on the history of the forest was launched.

Firefighters are battling three bushfires in the north-eastern outskirts of the metropolitan area – with residents needing to be aware warning areas have moved further into Yanchep and Yeal ... A map above accessible on Emergency WA website ... shows the warning areas associated with the three bushfires...

The Department of Communities has set up an evacuation centre at the Bendigo Centre Recreation Grounds on Weld St in Gingin for people affected by the Bindoon-Chittering bushfire, which has burnt 2600ha ... Register with Register.Find.Reunite to let your family and loved ones know you’re okay via https://redcross.org.au from any computer or mobile device, or at an evacuation centre.

When ministers drop media statements in the days leading up to Christmas, it’s usually a sign that they want to wash the decks of bad news. One such release was by WA Water Minister, Simone McGurk, who issued a carefully worded statement that ‘water priorities reset to focus on practical measures.’

Join wheelchair user Chris Kerr as she samples new disability-friendly infrastructure and equipment at Houtman Abrolhos Islands National Park. You can't help but delight in her wonder and excitement as she's able to don mask and snorkel and descend into a magical underwater world at the Abrolhos for the first time.  

Serena Kirby. A capacity crowd turned out at Rockcliffe Winery last weekend for a memorial concert for respected local musician Colin Reeves ... “Colin and I played music together for around 40 years and he had a real passion for classical guitar,"Colin's brother Michael said ... Michael’s son, Sam Reeves, is following in his uncle’s footsteps and is lead guitarist for Night Train who played at the tribute concert.

Patricia Gill. A Denmark Community Foundation-commissioned report on social isolation has found that Denmark has more people living alone than the rest of WA. Economist Juliet Grist of Rural and Regional Economic Solutions undertook desktop research and case study analysis of social isolation in Denmark.

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Is this really how harvested forests are left? Australian Rural & Regional News looks into recent statements that highlight continuing conflicting and confusing information in the public domain about connections between forestry operations and bushfires and whether prescribed burns reduce bushfire risk.

Denmark cattle farmers Michael and Laura Sinclair will make their operations more sustainable and profi table through carbon farming. They are among 43 landowners, including three Aboriginal enterprise properties, seeking Carbon for Farmers Vouchers of up to $15,000 so they can gain advice and develop carbon-farming plans.

Alison Bennett Taylor. Local beer and festive cheer were flowing when the Denmark Hotel reopened for trading under new ownership recently. More than 400 locals filled the 100-year-old building for free drinks put on by the new owners in November before the doors were closed for a quick refit in time for the summer crowds.

Crowds packed Berridge Park for Denmark’s Christmas festival, parade and Carols by Candlelight on Saturday evening. Organiser Simone Klose said the event was a resounding success with a bigger than expected turnout of locals and holidaymakers.

The thing that should be worrying farmers is not just the fact that the government has claimed the credit (and credits) for itself of not allowing landholders to clear land to help make the 2030 target, but they are now banking on farmers burying the emissions of the rest of the nation in their soil to help reach the unachievable 2050 target ... don’t sign up to any soil carbon contract until you are sure you won’t need those credits yourself when the inevitable carbon taxes arrive.