Owen pool opens, but hiccups for Hamley

IT was a case of better late than never for Owen residents, when repairs to their local swimming pool were completed just before Christmas. While these repairs were short-term renewal works only, with Balaklava pool closed indefinitely and Hamley Bridge’s pool undergoing major repairs before reopening this summer, residents in the Wakefield Regional Council (WRC) […]

Mindless mentality

HEARTLESS thieves are spoiling the holidays for many local residents, the latest being the theft of two unique farm gates at the Nicholls property near Tarlee. “We still can’t quite believe someone stole the gates,” Annie Nicholls said. “They actually weigh a lot and would have taken three to four people to carry, plus a […]

Treasures, not trash!

One man’s ‘preloved items’ is another man’s treasure, except when it is just pure trash. The majority of the community donate preloved items to the CVCO Burton Street Thrift Store out of the goodness of their hearts and these items are always welcome. Unfortunately, due to unprecedented theft and dumping of rubbish, dirty, broken and […]

Lachie heads to the Doggies

FORMER Clare local, Lachie McNeil is heading to Victoria to join the AFL’s Western Bulldogs after being chosen in the rookie draft last Thursday. “I was at work as a storeman when I got a text message and I rang my parents to tell them – it was amazing but there was a lot of […]

Wehr’s Giant moment

FORMER Balaklava Peckers footballer, Jacob Wehr, is ‘over the moon’ after he was selected by GWS Giants in last Wednesday night’s AFL draft. GWS (Greater Western Sydney) had picks at 12, 15 and 58, before swooping on Jacob with their last pick at 59, which was also the last AFL pick of the night. “I […]

Where there’s a Will…

NOT to be completely outdone by his older brother, Campbell, North Adelaide’s Will Combe became the first North Adelaide player to win the Powerade Breakthrough Player Award. Less than a week after Campbell claimed the Magarey Medal, Will Combe got the nod on the weekend as SANFL’s best emerging talent after establishing himself as a […]

Ratepayers and residents riled up

A decision by Adelaide Plains Council’s (APC) council assessment panel (CAP) last month to grant approval for a horticulture development, which could see the construction of up to 10 greenhouses in primary producing broad-acre farming land near Mallala, has been met with strong criticism by the local residents’ group. Adelaide Plains Ratepayers and Residents Association […]

How does your garden grow?

The community garden at Apex park needs your help. If you’d like to learn about gardening organically, obtain fresh fruit, veggies and eggs, help with chook care, have your own garden plot or just help out with gardening jobs, the community garden group invites you to attend its spring open day on Saturday, October 10 […]

Nat wears heart on her sleeve for outback fashion label

If you spot Andrews farmer Nat Sommerville looking a little brighter than usual, it may be thanks to her new work shirt which has been designed by an outback fashion label in honour of inspirational women from the bush. Nat joins Buy from the Bush founder Grace Brennan and National Farmers’ Federation president Fiona Simson […]

Travel South Australia, darlings

There was glitz, there was glamour, there were sparkles and a giant pink Hummer when Hans – the Boy Wonder from Berlin – came to the Clare Valley last week. Most importantly, there was national attention, all in the name of the South Australian Tourism Commission’s Welcome Back SA promotion campaign. Hans rolled into the […]

Oh George, you’re a crack up

Four-year-old George Matters from Spalding loves his chooks. No one ever anticipated it would make him a global sensation, but that is exactly what he has become after his sister Polly, 11, filmed him talking about his pet chook ‘Mowvin”. Parents April and James posted the funny video to Facebook to share with a few […]

Dust off the boots – Marrabel bull ride is back!

Dust off the cowboy boots and akubras as the Marrabel Bull Ride is coming up again on Saturday, February 29. Held at the Marrabel showgrounds from 7pm, the Waterloo Wind Farm Marrabel Bull Ride will showcase some of the nation’s most accomplished bull riders matched against an all-star line up of super-fit bucking bulls. Thanks […]

Taking businesses to the region

Wednesday marked the release of the Plains Producer’s inaugural annual Regional Business Directory, a 72-page publication listing most businesses across our large circulation area. It is a source of reliable information not only for locals, but newcomers to the area who may be unfamiliar with what the region has to offer. A copy will be […]

Protecting Country Press

Recent threats and disingenuous claims by global tech giants Google and Facebook, provide a stark and compelling reminder of why Government intervention is necessary to force these two global behemoths to the table to negotiate with news media businesses; the subject of their current posturing, Country Press Australia president, Bruce Ellen said. The negotiating framework […]

Clare Valley visitor’s centre goes ‘live’

A new ‘live chat’ function is now available on the Clare Valley Regional Tourism website to make it even easier to get information from the visitor servicing team when planning a visit or a day out in the Clare Valley. Clare Valley Wine, Food & Tourism Centre manager Paula Jones said the new website feature […]