By Nasik Swami: The Lucindale Karting Club is ready to host the biggest dirt karting weekend of the year. The Hallett Concrete 2024 Australian Dirt Kart Titles will be held at the Lucindale Karting Club between October 4-7. Speaking to The News, Lucindale Club members and racers Josh and Louis Bull have called for public support for the big event that’s happening locally. Josh is the current A2 (that’s Australia No 2) in the 200cc class (the biggest horsepower, premier class), while Louis is the current S2 (that’s South Australia No 2) in the same 200cc class.  “Come out and support us over the three-day event (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday),” Josh, who has been racing for 15 years, said. “It’s a fantastic chance to witness some of the best in dirt kart racing battle for the top spot.”  Josh said preparations for the event were going well. “We’ve spent countless […]

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 […]

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 […]

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.

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.

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...

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...

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, […]