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By Chris Oldfield: Around 82,500 cattle and 480,000 sheep grossed $149.9 million last financial year at the Naracoorte Regional Livestock Exchange, South Australia’s largest saleyard facility. Currently valued at more than $13.3 million by Naracoorte Lucindale Council it is also considered one of Australia’s premier saleyards, helping to underpin Naracoorte’s economy. For almost 51 years the NRLE has created ongoing employment for stock agents, truck drivers, meat buyers, PIRSA agents, EPA officers, farm workers, canteen staff, council workers, fuel companies and the nearby Teys abattoirs which employs more than 500 people. While the Naracoorte Lucindale Council owns the asset, it is mostly funded by farming families. NRLE operations Last financial year 84 percent of more than $1.8 million was raised from farmers via yard fees. A truck wash pumped in another 13 percent, and paddocking fees – 3 percent. The facility returned an operating surplus of $902,297.20 for the council. […]

By Nasik Swami: It’s an unusual story—one we hardly get to hear or read about in Naracoorte. It’s a story of our small community and our people coming together to help raise funds to alleviate the sufferings of women and children in a community and country not part of Australia—Mengaumenau, Papua New Guinea (PNG). Imagine finding yourself in a place where there is no one at all to help you deliver your baby. No facilities of any kind. No medicines of any kind. And to get to the nearest help, you have to walk two hours to reach the side of a fast-flowing river that is 60m across. To get to the other side of that river, you will have to get help to build a raft—or you could chance it on the huge vine footbridge that the villagers built. A woman who recently tried it fell through the rotten […]

By Chris Oldfield: A COMPLAINT has been lodged against the Adelaide-based chairman of Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN), Dr Andrew Saies, over his alleged conduct towards SE cancer patients. Among claims against Dr Saies are allegations he comes from a position of privilege by suggesting financial issues confronting SE cancer patients travelling to Adelaide and unable to work for many weeks or months could easily be nullified if they took out income insurance.  The orthopaedic surgeon has rejected as “unfair” the complaints made by LC Radiation Therapy Working Group and says the LCLHN board “is committed to improving outcomes for all cancer patients in the Limestone Coast”. The alleged conduct of Dr Saies is contained in a letter to Health Minister Chris Picton and copied to Premier Peter Malinauskas. The letter is signed by Naracoorte’s Lachlan Haynes on behalf of Limestone Coast Radiation Therapy Working Group, of which he […]

Mayor calls on the public to voice their concerns. By Nasik Swami: If you want “first-world telecommunications” and improvements to the digital infrastructure in your area, make sure to let the government know. That’s the plea from Naracoorte Lucindale mayor Patrick as the government rolls out the 2024 regional telecommunications survey, focused on improving regional connectivity. Mr Ross says complaining about the challenges and not doing anything about them does not help, but having your say is what will make the difference. The 2024 Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee wants to hear about your experiences accessing and using telecommunications services in regional, rural, and remote Australia. According to the Department of Infrastructure, the review is an opportunity for people living and working in regional, rural, and remote Australia to share their views and experiences using telecommunications services. Every three years, a Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee is established to conduct […]

By Nasik Swami: It was an emotional but proud day for the parents of late Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig, the Lucindale police officer killed in the line of duty last year. The late Brevet Sergeant Doig’s mother, Faye Edwards, and her husband Rob were part of the Police Legacy National Wall-to-Wall: Ride for Remembrance memorial service in Lucindale last week. As part of the Ride for Remembrance, more than 100 current and retired SA Police officers’ rode from Fort Largs to the National Police Memorial in Canberra in honour of fallen colleagues, including Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig. This year, the riders carried the name of Brevet Sergeant Doig. Ms Edwards welcomed the Wall-to-Wall riders in an emotional memorial service in Lucindale, saying the family was blown away with so many people riding in honor of their late son. School kids from Lucindale were also part of the memorial service to […]

By Nasik Swami: He is our top cop. Naracoorte’s Senior Constable Chris Mailley has been awarded the 2024 South Australia Police Officer of the Year.  The 59-year-old received the Rotary Club of Unley award for his dedication to the local community and work in assisting domestic and family violence victims.  Originally from the United Kingdom, Senior Constable Mailley became a police officer almost 30 years ago.  “I feel very humbled to be receiving this award. It’s nice to be awarded later in my career as it shows, like so many police officers, we don’t lose our passion for what we do,” Snr Constable Mailley said.  And he says he’s not slowing down anytime soon as “he’s not done yet”. “I’m hoping to see the Upper South East achieve the best domestic violence support in the state.” Commissioner of Police Grant Stevens congratulated the regional police officer on his award and […]

Issue One: Food Prices. Respondents: Premier Peter Malinauskas and Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia. By Nasik Swami: The News is introducing a new series called Hard Talk, focusing on in-depth interviews with hard-hitting questions on issues relating to communities like ours. Through this series, we aim to ask our leaders, bureaucrats, and decision makers to respond to the various issues affecting our community—our businesses, our farmers, our workers, our children, along with our health, education, and industry networks; What is working well and what is not? Hard Talk is simple. It’s about holding your elected representatives accountable and demanding the change that’s needed. If no change is needed, we can promote that too. In our first issue, we focus on the rising food prices. We questioned Premier Peter Malinauskas and newly appointed Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia. An affordable daily diet has edged too far away for many. Food prices have risen […]

Last week, the Naracoorte Cub Scouts had an exciting visit to the Naracoorte Council office. They were joined by Mayor Patrick Ross and Deputy Mayor Monique Crossling to learn how council operates, how a council meeting is run, and toured the council office. The Scouts explored the building, viewed historical maps of Naracoorte, admired the honour boards, and checked out some old surveying equipment. Picture: NLC.

By Chris Oldfield and Nasik Swami: NARACOORTE Lucindale Council CEO Trevor Smart has resigned after six years in the top job and is looking forward to spending more time with his family. Mr Smart has spent 41 years in local government and six years with Naracoorte Lucindale Council. In a bid to help the council transition to a new CEO, he will stay on until the end of February, unless a new executive is found beforehand. Mayor Patrick Ross said he advised elected members of Mr Smart’s decision last Friday and staff were also informed on the same day. “His resignation letter, which I forwarded to all elected members with a covering note from myself of when I received it, is a letter of resignation and retirement,” Mr Ross said. “Trevor Smart is very good at his job. For a first-time council member/mayor, to have a chief executive officer of […]

Students, teachers and staff members of Naracoorte Primary School marked the Book Week parade last week by dressing up in their favourite characters from a book. Picture: Naracoorte Primary School Facebook Page.

By Nasik Swami and Chris Oldfield: Health Minister Chris Picton claims the Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) has implemented several changes to improve the care being provided to the people of Lucindale, following input from the community. But the Lucindale community disagrees with the minister and after being excluded from several meetings, says it still has not been consulted. Many residents report nursing services still have not returned to previous reliable or adequate capacity. Earlier this year the State Government cut phone lines, removed vaccines and virtually shut down the Lucindale Health Centre nursing services – as previously reported by The News. It did so without warning and without consulting the community, forcing elderly, sick and frail people with no driving ability to travel 80 kms round trips and more for nursing services. A high-level meeting was held at Parliament House last March between Mr Picton, his LCLHN representatives, […]

By Chris Oldfield: AROUND 5,000 or so grey-headed flying foxes, often called fruit bats, currently have two main camps – one near Naracoorte and the other around Mount Burr. The flying foxes can carry the deadly Lyssavirus and Hendra virus – anyone scratched or bitten must seek urgent medical attention. Even dead bats are considered too dangerous to touch, particularly as the highly fatal Lyssavirus has been found in SA bat populations. With a wingspan of up to one metre, they can weigh as much as one kilogram. During the day bats can be seen roosting upside down in their “camps”. At dusk they leave their camp to forage for food up to 20 kms away, sometimes much more, returning at dawn. They usually like to feed on nectar from flowering gums. One of the main camps for flying foxes locally is in pines near the Naracoorte Caves. But readers […]