User Profile

Peter Bannan

Locals to handle fruit fly

THE management of Queensland fruit fly in the Murray Valley has been handed to locals. The Fruit Fly Murray Valley area wide management program will end this month. Although the formal FFMV program is winding up, support for growers and home gardeners...

9 hours ago

News

Council expects strong comeback

THE head of Swan Hill Rural City Council has said the municipal planning and engineering teams are making a strong comeback after a challenging period of limited resources and staffing shortages. Chief executive Scott Barber said the teams were...

21 Jun 2025

Farming and Environment

New chief for Victorian Farmers Federation

VICTORIA’S peak farming body has appointed Charlie Thomas as its new chief executive Victorian Farmers Federation president Brett Hosking said Mr Thomas brought a “wealth of experience and knowledge” to the role, which he will assume on...

10 Jun 2025

Farming and Environment

Make sure campfires are safe

CAMPERS are being urged to be safe around campfires during the King’s Birthday long weekend. Forest Fire Management Victoria chief fire officer Chris Hardman said with cooler temperatures settling in, it might feel like the fire risk has passed, but...

05 Jun 2025

Farming and Environment

Dry autumn leads to bushfire warning

VICTORIANS have been warned of an increased bushfire risk across much of the state after a warm and dry autumn. March and April saw the fourth-highest temperatures on record, below average rainfall across much of Victoria and an extension of the fire...

04 Jun 2025

Politics

MP questions water register rollout

THE New South Wales Government is aiming to create a water register by October, Parliament has been told. Yet Member for Murray Helen Dalton said since laws were passed in October last year nothing more has has happened on the issue.“In October last...

03 Jun 2025

Farming and Environment

New directors bring scientific and on-farm expertise

BIRCHIP Cropping Group (BCG) has announced the appointment of Dr Marisa Collins and Giles Cunningham to its board, bringing deep scientific, educational, and on-ground production expertise to help shape the future direction of the organisation. Dr...

01 Jun 2025

Farming and Environment

Now the farmers got a wife

THERE has been plenty of buzz at Berriwillock since local farmer Will Simpson officially announced he and Jess Cova are engaged. For a couple coming together in the glare of a national spotlight on reality TV program Farmer Wants a Wife, they have...

04 May 2025

News

SHRCC offers free pet microchipping, rego

SWAN Hill Rural City Council residents can have their pets microchipped and registered for free thanks to a new municipal initiative. A microchip can provide pets with a permanent form of identification and allow them to be quickly returned to...

23 Apr 2025

Health

It’s time to get vaccinated against influenza

PEOPLE are being reminded to book in their annual flu vaccination ahead of the winter peak season, with free flu vaccines now available for children under five years old and other at-risk groups. Chief health officer Dr Tarun Weeramanthri encouraged...

18 Apr 2025

News

Drink-drive warning

VICTORIA Police has warned there will be zero tolerance towards drink-driving during the festive month. Analysis of recent data revealed December to be the worst month for drink-driving. Over the past three years, 2591 drink driving detections were...

10 Dec 2024

News

Top marks for debt cut

A CHANGE to student debt repayments has been welcomed by three Mallee solicitors. The Federal Government announced that from July 1 next year, it would reduce the amount Australians with a student debt had to repay per year, and raise the threshold...

10 Dec 2024