WA

Serena Kirby. WA College of Agriculture Denmark’s open day last weekend also marked 80 years since the school was established. To commemorate, education dignitaries were on hand to unveil an old collegians society plaque ... Principal Rebecca Kirkwood said she was proud of the school’s achievements as it was now widely known for its excellence in cattle and dairy programs.

WA College of Agriculture Denmark student Ella Smith won the Junior Paraders title at the recent Beverley Show ... In Junior Paraders, students lead heifers, bulls and steers and are judged on their ability to control the animal which can be a 600kg bull.

Serena Kirby. Preparing for fire season should be a year-round job and leaving it until summer was too late. This is just one piece of advice Murray Brooker gave at his bushfire ready sessions. Murray is the lead facilitator of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services-led Denmark bushfire ready program that is run by community members.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has reported a surge in Aussies dying. In 2022, there were 75,593 deaths that occurred by May 31 and were registered by July 31, which is 10,757 (16.6 per cent) more than the historical average. May alone saw 16,124 deaths, 1,922 (13.5 per cent) above the historical average. Of those deaths, 4,465 were attributed to Covid-19, though it is hard to distinguish died ‘with’ from died ‘from’ Covid-19.

Out now!

Many years ago one of my tasks involved assessing rehabilitated mine sites to see if they had attained the agreed "completion criteria" and could be accepted back by Government for ongoing management ... Some years later, a mining proposal was rejected by the EPA and I was approached by the company for advice on an "environmental offsets package" that could be acceptable ... What we managed to achieve was some expenditure in the local area/community with local decision-making.

Research measuring the scale of grain and profit lost during harvest has found Western Australian growers have an opportunity to prevent harvest losses which were estimated at $300 million in 2021. Findings from the 12-month Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) investment, led by Grower Group Alliance (GGA), have been compiled from a study conducted across 75 sites during harvest 2021.

Dynamic sustainable farming duo Sylvia Leighton and Peter McKenzie were awarded the 2022 Australian Government Landcare Farming award for their work on Wilyun Pools Farm, a 1214ha property near Wellstead on the south coast of Western Australia ... “Sylvia and Peter serve as an inspiration to the farming community across Australia. Their motto of ‘seeking balance’ exemplifies what landcare farming is all about: production, community and environment,”: Minister for Agriculture Senator Murray Watt

A family fun day filled with so much to do and see. There will be activities, displays, food vendors, competitions, arts and crafts, horses in action, animals, kids rides, lawn mower races, entertainment, fireworks and much more!

The Murdoch University research team - working with local industry including Synergy, Bluewaters Power Station and South32 - investigated the feasibility of using fly ash and other industrial by-products and waste materials as an ingredient in a low carbon concrete product called 'Colliecrete'.

The past committee of the former Yanchep Redhawks Junior Cricket Club has recently agreed to distribute its unused funding to support local junior sporting clubs in Yanchep and Eglington ... 'Sport is such a valuable part of any community especially in these times of financial uncertainty that affect many people and sporting clubs': Robert Murphy, former YRJCC president.

"Getting out and about on bikes is a great way to keep fit, engage with nature and enjoy the beautiful landscapes and cultural heritage of the region. And for keen riders, the new trails which will be opened in 2023 include a 200 metre elevation change from the top of Mt Lennard to the Collie River, featuring some long descents and leg-pumping climbs": WA Sport and Recreation Minister, David Templeman.

New opportunities to build in the growing regional hub of Karratha are now available, with the release of a range of residential and commercial lots in the Pilbara city. Ten large homesites at the award-winning Baynton West residential estate are being offered for sale ... At the nearby Tambrey Neighbourhood Centre, expressions of interest will soon be sought from developers for two commercial sites at the emerging mixed-use precinct.

Bob Rees knows only too well that life can change in an instant. And that instant hit him hard when he was on a motorbike trip through Africa with his wife Chris. A reckless driver slammed head on into Chris and Bob’s bike and the result was catastrophic. Chris lost her life, Bob lost his wife and also lost the use of his legs ... it is not just the lack of access to the NDIS that has led Bob to speak out, it's also the obstacles that people with disabilities have to deal with when moving around in public places; especially in country towns.

Grain growers across the wheatbelt have gathered to hear the latest advice for managing mouse damage to crops this growing season at a series of in-paddock workshops with Steve Henry, leading mouse expert and research officer from Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO. The field walks visited 11 locations across four days, from Calingiri down to Beaumont, as part of a Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) investment addressing increased mouse activity in WA’s grainbelt.

Patricia Gill. The Shire of Denmark is reviewing local laws concerning the keeping of cats with a limit of two animals older-than-six months per household being considered in an effort to curb the feral population. The Shire will also have more power to restrict the movement of cats and those that cause a nuisance ... consultation is underway on the proposed rules which the Denmark Shire Council will likely consider in September.

Serena Kirby. The Denmark Art Club has breathed new life into the old Murphy’s workshop since it opened for classes earlier this year. Bought by art teacher Kendel Lynam, and her husband Nick in 2020, the once dilapidated shed has undergone a major transformation and created an artistic hub for young and old students.

Out now!

A new online apiary system enables beekeepers to more efficiently apply for, manage and share sites, adding value for Western Australia's globally-significant apiary industry. The new system was developed by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), and provides approvals for apiary sites in WA's national parks and conservation reserves, as well as on pastoral leases, mining tenements and unallocated Crown land.

Frank Batini’s article (The role of academics in influencing the perceived threat from climate change) highlights how data can be misused to achieve an end. The ‘peer review’ process is intended to ensure that scientific findings are credible and justifiable. But with the frenzy to publish for academic standing and the proliferation of journals wanting to accommodate them, the peer review process often fails under the pressure ...ARR.News asked a few questions of Jack.