By Nasik Swami: The establishment of a radiation therapy service in Mount Gambier for the South East has been scrapped. An independent feasibility study has found that the establishment of a radiation therapy service in Mount Gambier for the South East to deliver cancer care is not “currently a safe, sustainable, or financially viable option”. The design and planning of the new Mount Gambier Cancer Care Centre have been on hold while the feasibility study into radiation therapy services was undertaken. The feasibility study has recommended changes to how cancer care is delivered in the region. The Limestone Coast Local Health Network Governing Board announced that it would pursue changes to the cancer treatment regimen, reduced requirements for travel, and the establishment of dedicated local cancer leadership, as well as advocate for adequate compensation for travel. LCLHN governing board chair, Dr Andrew Saies, welcomed the report’s findings and thanked everyone […]

By Chris Oldfield: NARACOORTE based radiotherapy working group chairman Lachlan Haynes has vowed “we won’t give up” following a $110,000 feasibility study rejecting South East radiation services. Meanwhile, the $243million Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) is aiming to spend $4.3 million of federal funding for radiation services on a Cancer Consult Suite at the Mount Gambier Hospital. According to the LCLHN’s meeting minutes, it decided to do that in February 2022, before it hired Health Q to do a feasibility study. “This is a decision that treats us in regional South Australia as second-class citizens, especially those with cancer,” Mr Haynes said. “The former Coalition Federal Government put $4.3 million into a radiation therapy service for the South East. “The Malinauskas Government can’t even put $1.3 million towards running it. “But it can spend $42 million on a football oval at Lyndoch. Where is the sense in that? “Other […]

By Nasik Swami: It was a lucky escape for a truck driver in Frances, outside of Naracoorte. This after the truck he was driving, loaded with hay, caught fire on July 25. According to the Country Fire Service (CFS) 17 firefighters on four CFS trucks had to attend the tray-top truck fire.  “The truck was driving along Frances Road at just before 5pm, when its load of hay burst into flames, CFS confirmed.  “The driver pulled over, and a nearby farmer who witnessed the incident drove his tractor over and helped by unloading the burning hay, which prevented further damages to the $500,000 rig.” CFS crews worked hard to extinguish the fire, however, the 30 large hay bales and parts of the tray top were destroyed.   According to CFS, total loss is estimated to be at $130,000. Investigations into the incident continue.

By Chris Oldfield: SA LIBERAL leader David Speirs has cancelled plans to return to Scotland for another family wedding. But speculation continues as the State Government urges a leadership challenge. In a statement issued at deadline for press last week, a spokesperson for the Leader of the Opposition said the Liberal Party was “incredibly united” under his leadership. The comments came in the wake of claims Mr Speirs had issued an ultimatum to his colleagues, urging them to mount a challenge to his leadership. Mr Speirs had returned to Scotland for a cousin’s wedding when the State Budget was released, and was hoping to return for another family wedding soon.  But that meant possibly missing the first week of Parliament on top of missing the release of the Budget.  As a result, disgruntled Liberals had leaked to several media outlets, including The News. Labor then seized on comments Mr Speirs […]

By Nasik Swami: The avian influenza (bird flu) outbreaks have caused some gaps on supermarket shelves, prompting temporary buying limits. Naracoorte’s two main supermarkets, Woolworths and Foodland, have so far escaped from this, with their suppliers in South Australia not being affected. The supermarkets have confirmed their supply of chicken and eggs to customers remain normal and safe. Responding to questions from this newspaper, Naracoorte Foodland said they had an impact on their egg supply but were able to source them from their other suppliers. “That has enabled us to get some regularity back in supply,” Naracoorte Foodland said. “We know one of our main suppliers who supply our Foodland eggs has been the most impacted, but they have been dealing with other issues before.” The supermarket chain said at the moment, supply of eggs was not so much of an issue for South Australia. “We are just monitoring. We […]

South East free-to-air TV viewers suddenly deprived of Sky News Regional – as of last week – “deserve better”, a state MP says. People across the South-East and the state’s Riverland – plus sections of NSW – lost access to Sky News Regional on Monday 1 July after Sky’s affiliation agreement with WIN Television ended.  It means popular opinion programs like Outsiders, The Bolt Report, Sharri, The Kenny Report and Paul Murray Live are no longer available to viewers in these areas, along with the raft of news offerings on Sky.  One Nation MLC Sarah Game said her office received calls from the South East about the blackout last week. She said the decision was a slap in the face to locals looking for some political balance in their everyday viewing. “I consider Sky News one of the most important news and opinion services across Australia’s media landscape, providing crucial […]

Naracoorte’s new pole dancing studio to open soon By Nasik Swami: Naracoorte’s Stacey Windsor is on a mission to change mindsets on pole dancing and promote the popular artform in town. Also known as Dee-Dee, Stacey is opening a new pole dancing studio in Naracoorte, giving the young and the old the opportunity to learn and to love pole dancing. She wants to remove the stigmas associated with pole dancing, the most argued being that it is an artform “strictly for the male gaze”. The News recently caught up with Stacey and spoke to her about why a pole dancing studio in Naracoorte. This is her story. The News: Please give a bit of background about who Stacey is? Stacey: I grew up in Naracoorte, attending my mother Debbie Davis’s School of Dance from the age of three. I left Naracoorte to pursue my dream of being a long-haul flight […]

By Nasik Swami: The Naracoorte Lucindale Council has adopted its 2024–2025 Annual Business Plan and Budget, with a strong focus on the road network and Naracoorte Regional Livestock Exchange (NRLE). According to the council, the plan and budget that were adopted at the council’s June meeting also focus on keeping rates as reasonable as possible due to the current economic climate. For this financial year, the Council endorsed a 5 percent increase in general rate revenue of $12.25 million, with operational expenditure of $21m – an increase of $1.4m from 2023–2024. “Of the total rateable properties in the Council area, 54.23 percent will experience a rate increase of between 0-5%, and 7.59% will receive a rate decrease,” the council stated. The total capital spend in the 2024–2025 budget is $10.5m, with $6.8m allocated to road and stormwater infrastructure upgrades and $2.5m allocated to NRLE infrastructure upgrades. The council’s patrol grading […]

South East free-to-air TV viewers suddenly deprived of Sky News Regional – as of last week – “deserve better”, a state MP says. People across the South-East and the state’s Riverland – plus sections of NSW – lost access to Sky News Regional on Monday 1 July after...

Naracoorte’s new pole dancing studio to open soon By Nasik Swami: Naracoorte’s Stacey Windsor is on a mission to change mindsets on pole dancing and promote the popular artform in town. Also known as Dee-Dee, Stacey is opening a new pole dancing studio in Naracoorte,...

By Nasik Swami: The vulnerable in the district are choosing between heating and eating this winter. If they turn on heating to keep themselves warm during the chilly nights, many say they will be faced with eye-watering power bills. So, what does the public do? The News asked our decision makers to explain why we have one of the highest electricity prices in the world and what is being done to give regional South Australians some relief. Naracoorte Lucindale mayor Patrick Ross says the new electricity cuts announced by the state government which equates to $63 for average households and around $512 for small businesses “does not go very far on a winter heating bill”. Mr Ross said he has been wading his way through the Australian Local Government Conference motions for next week, and one of the large areas of concern for local governments throughout South Australia is energy […]

By Nasik Swami: The Naracoorte Lucindale Council has adopted its 2024–2025 Annual Business Plan and Budget, with a strong focus on the road network and Naracoorte Regional Livestock Exchange (NRLE). According to the council, the plan and budget that were adopted at...