Plains Producer - The Star Of The North

Call out for commemorative coronation plaque assistance

Back on Tuesday, June 29, 1953, the Girl Guides planted 12 Celtis and 13 Caucasian Ash trees along the western side of Main North Road in Clare to commemorate the coronation year of Queen Elizabeth II. The trees between Paxton and Houghton street were dedicated to the memory of the fallen in World War II. […]

The Heart of Mintaro

THE Magpie and Stump Hotel in Mintaro has received a major facelift, with new publicans, Paul Rosenich and Amanda Henry, breathing new life into the historic building. While it’s the first time both of them have owned their own pub, Paul and Amanda have managed sporting clubs before, and have had experience in the environment […]

Walk this way

COMBINED Clare Schools and centres held their biennial walkathon along the Riesling Trail followed by an activity session on the Clare oval recently. More than 600 students from Clare High, Clare Primary, St Josephs, and Vineyard Lutheran Schools, with Clare Valley Childrens and The Gums Childcare Centre, came together for a group effort in the […]

Life membership for Julie

Burra Pony Club stalwart, Julie Keane was presented with life membership to the Pony Club Association of South Australia (PCASA) Northern Zone over the weekend. Julie has been a dedicated member of the Burra Pony Club and the Northern Zone for many years. Her commitment to the club is unwavering and she has introduced dozens […]

Peterborough celebrates Youth Week

SA Youth Week kicked off in Peterborough last Friday night with the town’s ‘Peterborough Street Play, Our Future Done Our Way’ event. Funded by the Department of Human Services SA Youth Week funding program, the event was hosted by the Peterborough Youth Action Committee (PYAC). Read the full story in our online edition: http://plainsproducer.realviewdigital.com

Bash builds C.O.L.A. at Booborowie Primary

The opening of a new Covered, Outdoor Learning Area (COLA) at the Booborowie Primary School was held last Tuesday, April 10, the project enabled through a $79,850 Variety SA grant, which was donated and presented to the school in September 2017 during the Variety SA bash tour in Burra. Special guests, John Gibbs and Simon […]

Gold for gold as Burke brings home the shield

Burke team won the overall shield for the first time in nine years at the St Joseph’s School, Clare, sports day last Friday. The gold team finished top with 421 points, followed by Mackillop (blue) on 388, Lennon (red) on 375 and Cleary (green) on 369. Helping the team bring home the shield, Burke also […]

Last drinks call shocks Boob

The recent announcement of the closure of the Booborowie Hotel has roused mixed emotion from the residents of Booborowie, with a majority expressing sadness, and unexpected shock that it has closed. It was announced through Alf’s Booborowie Hotel facebook page on April 6, stating “Due to a lack of business the Booborowie Hotel will be […]

SA’s Lavender Trail finally set to open

It might be only just set to officially open, but the Lavender Trail linking Murray Bridge, weaving and winding past Monarto, the Barossa Valley and through the Mid North along the “rain shadow of the Mount Lofty Ranges” to Clare has been at least 21 years in the making. It has been a mammoth effort […]

Grand gates of Martindale restored to former glory

Martindale Hall’s grand entry gates have been restored to their former glory thanks to a group of volunteers from the Friends of Burra Parks and staff from Natural Resources Northern and Yorke. Natural Resources Northern and Yorke landscape ranger Darrin Bennett said 12 people participated in the working bee, focussing their attention on restoring the […]

Murals depict local heritage

The Rhynie Community commissioned local artists Kerry DeCarlo and Marion Bodsworth to paint public murals depicting the history and heritage of the district at the shelter shed in the town’s parking bay. There will be four panels in total, with two already completed and causing a conversation topic for visitors and residents – the remaining […]

Snowtown’s stunning showpiece

The main street of Snowtown will soon have a stunning new tourist attraction. Adelaide artist, Joel Van Moore and employee Sam Brooks, have been working day and night, creating a bold masterpiece on the old water tower which is located adjacent to the ARTC Provision Centre on Railway Terrace, behind a row of Aleppo pine […]

Blyth based archery club on target

An archery club is well on target to begin at the Blyth Sport and Recreation Ground in the coming months, and a meeting will be held on September 24 for anyone interested in joining. Former international archery competitor, Steve Werfel, of Sevenhill, said it was a sport for everyone, with competitors as young as 10 […]

Southern Saints make a statement

Eudunda/Robertstown Southern Saints made a statement at Clare on Saturday stunning the South Clare Demons to sneak home by 15 points. David Cluse was back in the drivers’ seat as coach of the Saints, Josh Freeman, Jayden Higgins and Ben Perkins were making their debuts and Dane Pfitzner and Sam Nietschke were back. Eamon Featherstonhaugh […]

Hawks soar straight to the top

The RSMU Hawks began the 2018 season in style on Saturday, smacking North Clare by 59 points at Riverton and soaring straight to the top rung. Roosters’ new captain Nick Rowe had no hesitation in pointing north after winning the toss with the aid of a 3-goal wind in damp conditions with Tom Stevens, Dallas […]

Rams off to a flyer

The BBH Rams made a flying start to the 2018 season at Mintaro on Saturday taking care of the Min/Man Eagles by 31 points. BBH had Robbie Bartee, Tim Torzsok and Blair Buchanan making their debuts for the club with Thomas Drew a welcome return and Casey Cooper was coaching his first game for the […]

Broughton Cup back at the Cats

The Broughton Cup is back in Cats territory after Blyth/Snowtown defeated the BSR Tigers by 16 points in the opening game of 2018 at Snowtown on Saturday. The Cats bolstered their list over the summer with Caleb Lloyd, Scott Atkinson, Tyson Salter and Cameron Giles all back and Ricky Wiseman was making his debut at […]

The name’s Austin 007

Balaklava’s John Tiller and his Austin 7 teammates, had success in their first outing in the Regularity Relay at the Eastern Creek track in NSW over the Easter weekend. From 35 teams, and with a combined total of 128 actual laps, the Austin 7 team came second with 283 points. The team consisted of regulars […]

Top results for BCS at Santos

Burra Community School was represented very well at the recent SSSSA Athletics carnival held at Santos Stadium with 17 students from years 8 to 12 forming part of the Lower North Zone team. The team came fourth overall and recorded a high number of first, second and thirds, and the students did a great job […]

Flame of Hope inspires Clare

Travelling through regional SA, the Olympic torch arrived in Clare last Wednesday from Port Pirie, carried by athletes and escorted by South Australian police officers. The Special Olympic Athlete National Games are running in Adelaide this week from Monday to Friday, with 1000 athletes with an intellectual disability competing in 11 sports. Sports include athletics, […]

500 kilometres covered

PARK RUN Clare Valley celebrated its 100th event on Saturday morning. Event directors, Sheridan Laws and Kathy Adams, were in awe of the turnout, with 77 registered participants, which is the event’s highest attendance to date. “Sheridan and I were absolutely blown away by the support from the regulars and the visitors,” Kathy Adams said. […]

Simon second in sprint stoush

BALAKLAVA V6 sprint car driver, Kym Simon, has enjoyed consistent form in recent weeks, with two second placings in his past two meets. Kym, with crew including parents, Gary and Christine, along with Shane Pike, headed to King of the Riverland, based at Renmark, over the March long weekend,. He finished fifth on the Saturday […]

Classically Clare

CYCLISTS from across Australia visited the Clare Valley over the weekend for the 2018 inaugural Clare Classic. Riders participated in three events, the 160km Maxi challenge, the 110km Classic challenge, or the 50km Social challenge. Local rider, Annabel Cox entered the Classic challenge and was first female across the line and fourth overall. Annabel was […]

Quick movement the key

MALLALA faces more changes than usual heading into 2018, with Jason Earl taking the reins after Steve Lubcke’s six-year tenure. The town’s oval also has a new dynamic with the installation of the cricket wicket in the centre square over recent months. It has taken about eight weeks for the grass to settle which has […]

No more sweat – bring on the wet!

Last week’s unseasonally hot weather, backed up with severe winds on the Wednesday and Friday, saw quite a bit of land change hands. Weekend rainfall totals were not enough to do much more than dampen down the dust. Farmers are looking to the skies for an increasingly less likely Anzac Day break to the season. […]

Bringing gains to low rainfall systems

A nine-year study of the impact of livestock on paddock health and farm productivity in a low rainfall environment has revealed grazing generates multiple benefits for mixed enterprises. Conducted at Minnipa on the Eyre Peninsula, the study demonstrated many agronomic and financial advantages that can be achieved by incorporating livestock into the rotation. The long-term […]

Hart welcomes Emma as new regional intern

The Hart Field-Site Group has welcomed Emma Pearse as its new regional intern for 2018 while farewelling 2017 intern Dylan Bruce, who said he leaves with a load of experience and networks under his belt to continue his career in grains research. The regional internship has been jointly funded and supported by the Hart Field-Site […]

History of SA’s pastoral protector

REPORT: Primary Industries SA EARLY exploration of South Australia’s northern arid lands in the late 1830s and early 1940s was followed closely by pastoral occupation. The early settlers were unaware of two things – the capacity of the country to carry stock at sustainable levels, and the impact of the dingo on their sheep flocks. […]

Girl power as vintage wraps up

It was a case of girl power for the O’Connor Harvesting team this vintage with Jan O’Connor, owner and logistics coordinator, Gitte Fraser machine harvester operator and Melissa Eaton owner of Valley Vine Works and machine operator leading the harvesting team (pictured above). With vintage almost finished, O’Connor Harvesting’s Frank Nicholls says yields were down, […]

Farming’s next generation eyes expansion as baby boomers retire

A significant number of farming assets will be passed on to the next generation as the baby boomer population looks to retire in the next decade, representing a great opportunity for farming families to expand and diversify their businesses. That’s the view of 2016 Nuffield Scholar, James Dempster, who was supported by the Grains Research […]

All roads lead to the Yunta Picnic Races

MARK April 28 on your calendar, as you dust off the Akubra and head to Yunta for the 2018 Yunta Picnic Races and Gymkhana. The day features five races and 23 gymkhana events run in four age groups, with four led events for the under eight year olds to complement established junior events. It’s a […]

Spirit of the Games at CWA

Adelaide Plains SA CWA got into the spirit of the Commonwealth Games at its meeting last Monday night. Former Olympian and good friend of president, Emma Tiller, Renae Maycock, spoke to the group about her love of volleyball. Renae grew up in the Adelaide hills, and attended a special interest volleyball school, where her love […]

Healthy turn out for expo

RICHARD’s Clare Valley Terry White Chemist held its first Health and Beauty Expo last Thursday night. Customers were treated to demonstrations of products by knowledgeable representatives and also a chance to sample before they purchased. Many customers did not realise what each brand had to offer, but by the end of the evening, had had […]

The new Ten Tenors?

Adelaide Plains Male Voice Choir (APMVC) is holding its annual concert on Sunday, April 29 in the town hall at 2pm. The concert will feature Leah McGeorge, who won the APMVC scholarship at the 2017 Eisteddfod. Leah will not only give some solo performances, but will join the choir for some other songs, with some […]

David battles in shoot out

HOYLETON’S David Chapman wasn’t going to leave anything out in the shooting park at this year’s Commonwealth Games, and while he made it to the finals in the 25m rapid fire pistol event, just missed out on a medal, ending up in fourth position. After stage one last Thursday, David was in eighth position, just seven […]

Interschool swimming carnival

Will Noel waiting for the marshal’s approval before leaving the pool. Read the full story in our online edition: http://plainsproducer.realviewdigital.com

More asbestos found in APC

Asbestos containing material (ACM) has been found at a further four sites within the Adelaide Plains Council area following the discovery of about 450 tonnes of ACM dumped at the Two Wells Transfer Station in October last year. APC staff found hazardous material at Stony Point Reserve, Mallala Resource Recovery Centre, and two sites at […]

Community planting days coming up

The Adelaide Plains Council recognises the importance of the coastal area and management required of the environmental assets along our coastline. In partnership with the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resource Management Board, Adelaide Plains Council (APC) will host two family friendly community planting days in May 2018. APC invites you to join it […]

Ramsey’s Grey electorate to meet Northern Expressway

ADELAIDE Plains and Mid North areas will be shifting into the Federal Electorate of Grey following redistribution of South Australia’s electoral divisions released by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) last week. The seat will stretch from Two Wells and the Northern Expressway to the Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales borders. Other […]

Two Wells set for second BP servo

TWO multi-million dollar service station development applications have been lodged with plans to build the sites within five kilometres of each other at Two Wells. Incredibly, both will carry the BP logo, although with different owners. A brand new site has been proposed on the Augusta Highway at the intersection of Middle Beach Road, with […]

BUDGET BLUES

Concerned councillors curtail release of Adelaide Plains business plan Adelaide Plains Council will not release its 2018/2019 draft Budget for public consultation this week, as councillors voted against its current form at Monday night’s general council meeting. The vote came despite the recommendation of the Audit Committee to endorse the budget. After four workshops to […]

Northern Wakefield areas to join huge rural electorate

RURAL districts including Mallala, Balaklava, Riverton, Kapunda and Clare areas could become part of the federal Grey electorate when draft boundary realignments are announced on Friday. The redistribution is driven by population quotas, with both Barker and Grey electorates requiring an increase in voters. Given their respective static population growth, Wakefield is the nearest candidate […]