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By Nasik Swami: Teys Naracoorte facility, which currently employs 475 workers, will not experience any major changes to staffing levels following its recent acquisition by American food and protein industry giant Cargill. A joint spokesperson for Teys and Cargill confirmed to The News that the acquisition will have no “significant impact on roles” at the Naracoorte site, addressing concerns about potential workforce changes. “Together, the Teys family and Cargill have built a strong legacy, and Cargill remains committed to ensuring continuity and stability for Teys employees,” the spokesperson said. “Cargill recognises that it is the people who have made Teys a great place to work and will honour our commitment to providing satisfying and meaningful career paths in Australian agriculture. “We do not anticipate any significant impact on roles,” the spokesperson said. Teys Investments Pty Ltd and Cargill announced on June 5 that a wholly owned subsidiary of Cargill had […]

The atmosphere was filled with warmth and excitement at Sunrise Christian School Naracoorte last Thursday, as students came together to honor their beloved grandparents. The school celebrated Grandparents Day under the heartfelt theme “Moments and Memories,” offering a beautiful glimpse into the bonds that span generations. Grandparents were warmly welcomed into classrooms where students had prepared a variety of activities—from special interviews and nostalgic photo presentations to fun board games and a lively round of giant Connect 4. The day also featured touching performances including choir renditions, piano pieces, and student-made PowerPoint tributes. Guests were treated to scones, soup, and coffee, adding a cosy, comforting touch to the celebration. It was a day marked by laughter, gratitude, and lasting connections—a true tribute to the enduring love between grandparents and grandchildren.

By Chris Oldfield: A $240m Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is proposed for a site 3.5km west of Naracoorte by renewable company ACE Power.  The project will be known as the Kincraig Battery and 60 people are expected to be employed during its construction phase, with two to four people required long term to maintain it. Development manager Fraser Woodley said there were a number of reasons why ACE Power identified the site as an ideal location for one of its projects.   “These include securing a parcel of land directly adjacent to the Kincraig substation, as it has available capacity to connect a new battery and means no new transmission lines are required to connect the project,” he said.   “In terms of geography and environmental considerations, the site is relatively flat, and cleared of vegetation where the battery will be located, which means it is considered as having low environmental […]

By Nasik Swami: A Naracoorte Lucindale councillor has voiced strong criticism over the council’s decision to keep $8,600 in its budget for post-meeting “meals and drinks” but reject a proposal to waive burial fees for children under the age of 10. Speaking to The News, councillor Craig McGuire expressed disappointment following the council’s recent May meeting, where his motion to waive all cemetery charges for children up to 10 years old—excluding plaque expenses—was voted down. During the meeting, council CEO Kelly Westell tabled a letter received from Olivia Savvas, the member for Newland, representing the Select Committee on Stillbirth in South Australia. The committee received evidence in relation to unexpected fees grieving families faced when farewelling their babies. Ms Westell said, through the letter, the committee encouraged the council to waive fees for babies and children. “The waiving of these fees would have little cost impact on the council but […]

By Nasik Swami: The reopening of Naracoorte’s Kincraig Hotel this December under new ownership is set to bring a much-needed boost to the local economy with the creation of 50 new jobs for the community. Development works on the multimillion-dollar, five-star accommodation are advancing, with the project’s completion anticipated to rejuvenate the local economy through its diverse offerings. In an interview with The News, Peter Johnson, director of the Dean Group—the new owner of the property—shared that a range of hospitality-related job openings will soon be announced, with a strong focus on hiring locally. Local resident Zac Andrews has been appointed as the venue manager, with a mission to “connect locals through locals,” emphasising community engagement and homegrown hospitality. Mr Johnson said the revamped multi-faceted venue will provide a family-focused offering for local residents, including a 24-room modern accommodation, corporate meeting spaces for local businesses, an open bar, and a […]

By Nasik Swami: “This is an emergency”. That is the urgent message from Naracoorte Lucindale mayor Patrick Ross, who has issued a heartfelt appeal to the government for immediate support for farmers grappling with severe drought in the area. Mr Ross emphasised that the widespread impact of the drought challenged the outdated belief that farmers can always manage on their own. “When hundreds are impacted by a natural disaster, we call it an emergency. This drought is impacting tens of thousands, and yet it is being left up to individual farmers—already stressed and battling to keep their farms operating and animals fed—to reach out for help,” he said. “I understand that drought no longer needs to be declared in a region for farmers to be eligible for assistance,” he said. “But let’s call it: this is an emergency.” The mayor’s appeal comes on the heels of a compelling message shared […]

Health burden too heavy: Community demands local dialysis unit. By Nasik Swami: Making more than a three-hour round trip to Mount Gambier Hospital and spending five hours on a dialysis chair each week is a tough routine for Ros Tregoweth. Living on a farm near Lucindale with her husband and children, Ms Tregoweth undergoes kidney dialysis to manage her condition. She follows a mixed dialysis regime—performing peritoneal dialysis at home six nights a week and making a weekly trip to Mount Gambier for haemodialysis. Her demanding travel schedule, which includes navigating long distances and avoiding wildlife like kangaroos, has pushed her to join others in advocating for local dialysis services to be offered at Naracoorte Hospital. Dialysis patients and other stakeholders are urging the government to establish a dialysis unit and offer renal services at Naracoorte Hospital. For many already struggling with health issues, the financial and emotional toll of […]

By Chris Oldfield: THE member for Barker, Tony Pasin, is one of the few SA Liberals to have a seat in Canberra following last Saturday’s federal election. Mr Pasin campaigned throughout his 65,206sq km electorate by personally attending numerous local events and gatherings as well as via local newspapers and social media. The only other SA coalition member in Canberra’s House of Representatives is Liberal Tom Venning, representing the seat of Grey which is 908,595sq km. At the time of press, the Liberals appeared to be losing one of their three senators up for election. SA elects six senators every three years. The Liberals have usually secured three positions, Labor two and Greens one. But at the time of press, a 21-year-old Labor woman, Charlotte Walker from the factional Left, seemed likely to become a third senator for the Labor Party. Naracoorte’s Monique Crossling was unable to get close to […]

By Chris Oldfield: CR Crash Downward has queried the impact of a 5 per cent rate rise on the district’s farmers already paying thousands of dollars each week to feed their livestock. Naracoorte Lucindale Council relies on the district’s farming families to fund around 60 per cent of its proposed $12.726m rate revenue. An average 5 per cent rate rise is projected by the council’s administration as part of a draft 2025-26 budget and business plan. All up, the budget seeks a total income of $22.676 million. In addition to rate revenue, it has budgeted for other income:  * Service charges – $2.248m. * Statutory charges – $263,000. * User charges -$2.52m. * Grants, subsidies and contributions – $4.301m. * Investment income – $359,000. * Reimbursements – $154,000. * “Other income” – $106,000. The council’s proposed capital works program prepared by its administration includes significant projects in and around Naracoorte. […]

Farmers call for a hand up, not handouts By Nasik Swami: Pushed to their limits by an unrelenting drought that is taking the heaviest toll on their mental well-being, farmers across the district are expressing deep frustration. Many farmers have dismissed the government’s $55 million relief package as woefully inadequate, labelling it “a drop in the ocean.” In the 2022–23 fiscal year, the state’s primary industries—comprising grains, livestock, horticulture, wine, seafood, forestry, and dairy—generated $18.5 billion in revenue, marking a seven percent rise from the previous year. According to the government, this sector was responsible for 51 percent of the state’s total merchandise exports and directly employed more than 76,000 people. Local farmers say the ongoing dry conditions are not only affecting their livelihoods but also having a huge impact on their mental health—with many now suffering in silence. Burdened by the soaring costs of livestock feed, high-interest loans, dwindling […]

By Nasik Swami: If you haven’t had the chance to visit the poppy installation at Naracoorte Town Square, you’re truly missing a stunning display of craftsmanship. This powerful tribute, featuring around 1,500 hand-knitted poppies arranged on a five-by-five-metre net, was created by Naracoorte’s heartfelt group known as the “Poppy Girls” in honour of the courageous ANZAC soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom. Though their name might sound whimsical, the “Poppy Girls”—a close-knit group of anonymous friends—have poured genuine emotion and respect into this meaningful project. Sharing the story behind the project, the group’s Lesley Cook told this publication that the installation was a tribute to all the brave ANZACs who paid the ultimate price for our freedom, to those who returned with injuries, both visible and invisible, and to the amazing animals who served alongside them. Ms Cook said the inspiration behind the Naracoorte ANZAC poppy installation came […]

By Nasik Swami: The community has called for better access to specialist healthcare services and further development of local health infrastructure within the district. This was strongly voiced during the Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) public consultation for the development of the clinical services plan, which wrapped up on February 28, 2025. The goal of the consultation was to engage the community in identifying what matters most in advancing local healthcare services. This publication reached out to the health minister for an update on the consultation process and the community feedback gathered. In response to our inquiry, the LCLHN provided answers via a South Australia Health (SA Health) media advisor. We asked: Could you share how the consultation process unfolded? Did it align with LCLHN’s goals and expectations? Can you provide the number of both in-person and online (“Your Say”) submissions received specifically from the Naracoorte Lucindale District? What […]