“Listen to the public”
By Nasik Swami: An elected member of the Naracoorte Lucindale Council has criticised the council for disregarding public input gathered during consultation processes. Speaking exclusively to The News, Cr Craig McGuire claimed trust towards the elected body was “at an all-time low” with public consultation and feedback mostly ignored or dismissed if it did not fit the narrative of what parts of the elected council wanted to see. Stating it as his opinion, Cr McGuire said elected members seemed...
$361,550 playground for Leicester Park
By Chris Oldfield: NARACOORTE’S Leicester Park will soon boast a new $361,550 playground. Equipment will include a double bay swing, seesaw, neo spinner, play hut, skateboard rocker, joey trampoline, slide, and even a pretend eco charger. This follows consultation with Naracoorte South Primary School’s Reception and Years 1-2 students by Naracoorte Lucindale Council’s administration. The matter was raised at the council’s January 28 meeting. Director infrastructure and services, Daniel...
Longridge achieves five-star rating
Longridge Aged Care has received an outstanding five-star rating from the National Aged Care Quality Standards, a significant achievement that reflects its commitment to providing exceptional care and support to its residents. The rating, updated in November 2024, measured the organisation’s performance against four sub categories – compliance, quality measures, residents experience and staffing. The rating, awarded by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, recognised Longridge Aged...
Sports funding
By Nasik Swami: Sporting clubs and community groups in the South East play a vital role in fostering social connections and promoting an active lifestyle. They serve as a cornerstone for bringing people together and strengthening local communities. Are government efforts sufficient to support these local clubs in towns such as Naracoorte, Penola, and Bordertown? Are enough resources being allocated to ensure the long-term sustainability of sports in the region? Last week, State Minister for...
Mining battle
By Nasik Swami: Proposed mining for rare earths elements in the Limestone Coast is facing opposition from local producers and residents. Many sections of the community are concerned about how mining would impact production in one of the state’s key agricultural regions. It’s a battle between protecting the Limestone Coast’s high-value agricultural resource, finite water assets, and rich cultural heritage and the federal government’s plan to develop critical mineral industries as part of the Future Made in Australia policy announced in this year’s budget. A coalition of regional agricultural and business leaders called The Limestone Coast Sustainable Futures Association (LCSF) has been formed to inform the community about the invasive nature of rare earth strip mining, which it believes would threaten the economic viability of the food and fibre sector and jeopardise biodiverse value, including underground water resources, and has called on the state government to intervene and halt all […]
House raids, guns, and drugs
By Nasik Swami: Two major house raids were carried out by the South Australia Police (SAPOL) in the district in the last two weeks, where multiple firearms, ammunition, a pistol crossbow, and a cannabis plant were discovered. In the first raid, a 75-year-old Naracoorte man was arrested and charged with a number of firearm offences. The News can confirm that the South Australia Police (SAPOL), with the assistance from Victoria Police (VICPOL) and Army representatives, were called to a property in Naracoorte on January 7 where the address was searched. A SAPOL spokesperson told this newspaper that the search located a number of firearms. In a second raid at an Avenue Range property, a 57-year-old Naracoorte man was arrested by police following the discovery of firearms and drugs on January 13. Following an investigation, SAPOL attended the property to conduct a search. “Police searched a shipping container, locating multiple firearms, […]
Naracoorte man arrested, guns and drugs seized
Police arrested a 57-year-old Naracoorte man yesterday after finding firearms and drugs at an Avenue Range property in the South East. Following an investigation, South Australia Police (SAPOL) attended the property at 10.30am to conduct a search. “Police searched a shipping container, locating multiple firearms, ammunition, a pistol crossbow, and cannabis plant,” SAPOL said in a statement. “A 57-year-old man from Naracoorte was charged with possess a prescribed firearm, possess a firearm without a licence, possess ammunition without a license, contravene the Firearms Code of Practice, possess a prohibited weapon, and refusing to answer questions under the Firearms Act.” The man was arrested and bailed to appear in the Naracoorte Magistrates Court on April 2, 2025. SAPOL is asking anyone with information about illegal firearms, or the possession, sale, or distribution of illicit substances, to contact Crime Stoppers at www.crimestopperssa.com.au or phone 1800 333 000—your details will remain anonymous.
Naracoorte house raided, firearms discovered
By Nasik Swami: A 75-year-old Naracoorte man has been arrested and charged with a number of firearm offences. The News can confirm that the South Australia Police (SAPOL) with the assistance from Victoria Police (VICPOL) and Army representatives were called to a property in Naracoorte on Wednesday, January 7, this week where the address was searched. A SAPOL spokesperson told this newspaper that the search located a number of firearms. “A 75 -year-old Naracoorte man was arrested and charged with a number of firearm offences,” the spokesperson confirmed.
Our Australia Day award winners
By Naracoorte Lucindale Council: The Naracoorte Lucindale Council is proud to announce its 2025 Australia Day award winners. The award winners are: Joint Naracoorte Citizen of the Year – David Steadman for his outstanding contribution to the Naracoorte Community....
Hard Talk – Loss of essential services
By Nasik Swami: Many essential service providers, including the government, are “abandoning” rural towns like Naracoorte in South Australia. Many regional towns in the South East are losing—or have already lost—essential services such as banking, postal, Medicare,...
Sunrise musical hit
In a Galilee far, far away…. The Sunrise Christian School Naracoorte held its 2024 Christmas musical at the Town Hall last week. The musical, an interplanetary exploration to discover the Glory of God throughout the universe, and beyond, focused on showcasing the true...
Postcode discrimination
By Nasik Swami: Country towns like Naracoorte are facing “postcode discrimination” when it comes to accessing mental health services and resources. That’s the view of SA Shadow Minister for Regional Health Services, Penny Pratt, who has attacked the State government...
Farewell Shaz!
By Nasik Swami: Twenty-seven years and 2.2 million boxes later, Sharon Drabsch has called it a day. Shaz, as her colleagues call her, ends her 27-year career as a box maker at the MiniJumbuk in Naracoorte at the end of this month. The 46-year-old with special abilities is not only a box maker but also a beacon of hope to those with special needs in the community. “I did it. You can do it—just go for it,” she shared, smiling during an interview with The News. Shaz’s contribution to the wool industry has been labelled as “remarkable” by her colleagues. A rough estimate by MiniJumbuk on the number of boxes Shaz had made over her 27 years at the factory averages 78,000 per year, around the 2.2 million mark over 27 years. “Each box has three passes of tape to construct, this equates to 6.6 million passes, and at an […]
In confidence
By Nasik Swami: Is it necessary for our local councils to exclude the public from meetings under the confidentiality provisions, and what impact is this having on transparency? Recently, The News has observed how councils interpret the confidentiality provisions of the Local Government Act 1999 (SA) (LG Act). On occasions, some councils have listed about three matters in their public agenda under a heading “Confidential Items” or “Matters the CEO Recommends be Considered in Confidence”. This newspaper questioned Naracoorte Lucindale Council mayor, Patrick Ross, and the Minister for Local Government, Joe Szakacs, if going into confidence was a “fair and transparent process” and what message this sends to the ratepayers who attend these public meetings. Mr Ross said the question of going into confidence on various matters was always on his mind. He said the Act (LG Act) was clear and gave clear advice on the issue, and the CEO, […]
“I am different”
By Nasik Swami: “I will be doing things differently because I am different.” That’s the words of Cr Abigail Goodman, the Naracoorte Lucindale Council’s newly elected deputy mayor. Cr Goodman was elected to the position last week at the council’s November 26 meeting. She takes over the role from Cr Monique Crossling, who held the position for the last two years. Cr Crossling was elected as presiding member of the council’s Strategic Assets and Planning (SAP) committee, taking over from Cr Damien Ross. Cr Goodman and Cr Crossling were both nominated for the role of deputy mayor, and Cr Goodman was elected 6 votes to 4 votes in a show of hands. She will serve in the role for the remainder of this council’s term—another two years. In an interview with The News, Cr Goodman acknowledged the work Cr Crossling had done during her term as deputy mayor. “I acknowledge […]
Memorial cricket match for Jason
By Nasik Swami: Lucindale hosted a Twenty20 cricket match at the Cricket Club in honour of police officer, Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig on November 17. Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig was killed in the line of duty at Senior, outside Bordertown last year. According to SAPOL, the club hosted the event, beginning with a brief ceremony acknowledging Jason’s service, sacrifice and his deep connection to the Lucindale community. This was followed by an address from Inspector William Humphris, on behalf of the Limestone Coast Local Service Area, and a presentation by Cops for Kids charity of the inaugural Jason Doig community scholarship grant, SAPOL said in a statement. Following the presentations, both sides competed in a Twenty20 format cricket match. The event was attended and well-supported by the local community, police and members of Jason’s family. The Lucindale Cricket Club came away with the win and were awarded the Memorial Shield, […]
Sunrise musical hit
In a Galilee far, far away…. The Sunrise Christian School Naracoorte held its 2024 Christmas musical at the Town Hall last week. The musical, an interplanetary exploration to discover the Glory of God throughout the universe, and beyond, focused on showcasing the true...
Postcode discrimination
By Nasik Swami: Country towns like Naracoorte are facing “postcode discrimination” when it comes to accessing mental health services and resources. That’s the view of SA Shadow Minister for Regional Health Services, Penny Pratt, who has attacked the State government...
Farewell Shaz!
By Nasik Swami: Twenty-seven years and 2.2 million boxes later, Sharon Drabsch has called it a day. Shaz, as her colleagues call her, ends her 27-year career as a box maker at the MiniJumbuk in Naracoorte at the end of this month. The 46-year-old with special...
In confidence
By Nasik Swami: Is it necessary for our local councils to exclude the public from meetings under the confidentiality provisions, and what impact is this having on transparency? Recently, The News has observed how councils interpret the confidentiality provisions of...
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