The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper

Patrick Tucker. Murrabit farmer Simon Morton was left scratching his head last weekend when he discovered his bull Speckles stuck in the verandah decking. Mr Morton said 'Speckles' had been having a rough time of it in the paddock.

Caught out thanks to Caught in the Current

Lloyd Polkinghorne, The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper

Federal politics

28 May 2026

The launch of Caught in the Current, The Dire Consequences of Politics Driving the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in Barham, celebrated a long-awaited, community-driven historical and factual resource on Australian Water Policy ... The book is explicitly designed as a factual counter-narrative and practical tool for inquiries, libraries, and policy debate.

MDBA shapes Basin language

Lloyd Polkinghorne, The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper

21 May 2026

Federal politics

A rose by any other name would still smell as sweet, but would it mean the same thing? This is the thought I was left with when the MDBA announced the "Opening trade balance set for Barmah Narrows". Notice the subtle change in language? The "Barmah Choke", which is a natural constriction to water flow within the river channel, has formed part of the operating rules that irrigators had to abide by for longer than some of us have been alive.

Farrer’s Farley: One Nation makes history in more ways than one

Lloyd Polkinghorne, The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper

Federal politics

14 May 2026

Named in honour of noted wheat breeder and experimentalist William James Farrer, the electorate, covering 126,563 square kms, had been safe coalition country ... In this election, the attacks, muck-raking and attempts to frame voters as bigots and racists appear to have been met with a big orange middle finger. Now the real work begins for Farley.

River Country Art Trail unveiled

Contributor, The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper

30 April 2026

Arts

Patrick Tucker. Towering murals, bold colour and a striking riverside sculpture are drawing fresh attention to the Murray, with the River Country Art Trail ... Spanning Barham, Mathoura, Moulamein, Moama and Tooleybuc, the trail transforms everyday infrastructure into a region-wide gallery.

Farrer election fight intensifies

Lloyd Polkinghorne, The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper - 7 May 2026

There have been just four coalition MPs in the 77 years of Farrer but all that could be about to change on Saturday. Sussan Ley held the seat for 25 years, and the previous election margins were often 11-20 per cent over the Labor candidate, although in the last election, Michelle Milthorpe got within 6 per cent with preferences, 20 per cent on the primary alone. If you think this Farrer election appears more heated than most, you may be right, 12 candidates are in the running and external forces are pumping money into not only to get a candidate elected but also to undermine others.

From the ground up

Contributor, The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper

Agriculture

23 April 2026

A soil aeration trial on a Caldwell farm has delivered strong gains in feed production, helping carry more cattle through dry periods. Working across his 1100-acre farm east of Barham, Don Hearn has spent several years trialling soil aeration, a process designed to relieve compaction and improve pasture growth.

Farmers brace for VicGrid visits

Contributor, The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper

23 April 2026

Agriculture

Patrick Tucker. Farmers across the region are preparing for a series of VicGrid visits to properties in the coming weeks, as part of ongoing efforts to conduct ecological studies linked to the proposed VNI West transmission project ... "This is the second attempt from VicGrid to get access to our properties to do the ecological study," he said.

Cohuna turns out for barefoot titles opener

Contributor, The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper

Community

16 April 2026

Cohuna is back on the national barefoot waterskiing map, with Sunday's Oz Open drawing locals to Gunbower Creek ahead of the Australian titles' long-awaited return to town. The free exhibition event gave spectators an early look at the speed and spectacle to come before the 64th Australian National Barefoot Waterski Championships got under way on Tuesday at the Cohuna Ski Run Reserve.