Looking back on 25 years of hitchhiking in the Pilbara, Kevin has many tales to tell
By Alistair Bates
At 12 years old, Kevin Guiness was rebuilding engines on an outback cattle station. Now, the Yindjibarndi elder reflects on what kept him going.
#Work #IndigenousAustralians #RuralandRemoteCommunities #HumanInterest #IndigenousCulture #RegionalCommunities #AlistairBates
How townsfolk bought a beloved building without going to a bank
By Emilia Terzon
For its passionate members, saving a historic goldrush-era pub to protect their cooperative was about "economic democracy" and keeping the property out of developers' hands.
#RegionalCommunities #CommunityOrganisations #History #RealEstateIndustry #EnvironmentallySustainableBusiness #SustainableLiving #EmiliaTerzon
Housing crisis turns caravan park owners into 'landlords' of last resort
By Madigan Landry
The housing crisis is landing at the doorstep of caravan parks and owners like Greg Homer, who says the transition from tourism operator to landlord is taking a toll.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-05/housing-crisis-has-impact-on-caravan-parks/106051650
#RentalHousing #TourismandLeisureIndustry #RealEstateIndustry #Homelessness #RegionalCommunities #MadiganLandry
This 18-year-old is the first badged netball umpire in a wheelchair
By Alice Walker
Brodie Taylor has changed the game of netball by overturning disability preconceptions to become the first person in a wheelchair to attain national netball umpiring accreditation.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-05/brodie-taylor-wheelchair-umpire-netball/106055516
#Netball #PeopleWithDisability #Sport #RegionalCommunities #AliceWalker
From 99 to 15 cases: How outback region reduced preventable disease
By Abbey Halter and Maddie Nixon
A lack of access to clean clothes and sheets led to high rates of heart disease in this outback Queensland town. But an Indigenous-led washing initiative is changing health outcomes in the region.
#HeartDisease #IndigenousAustralians #RegionalCommunities #HealthPolicy #AbbeyHalter #MaddieNixon
Australian-backed bid gathers pace to restart Tahmoor mine
By Kelly Fuller
A local consortium is rushing to put forward a bid for the mothballed Tahmoor coal mine, saying it wants the site reopened quickly to protect hundreds of jobs.
#MiningandMetalsIndustry #Coal #BusinessEconomicsandFinance #CreditandLending #RegionalCommunities #KellyFuller
Compressed air energy storage is coming, but how does it work?
By Katherine Spackman
Broken Hill will be the location of Australia's first large-scale compressed air energy storage system. What is it and how does it work?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-05/compressed-air-energy-storage-explainer/105999452
#RenewableEnergy #RegionalCommunities #EnergyResearch #EnergyPolicy #Technology #EnvironmentalTechnology #KatherineSpackman
Six foreign nationals found in remote WA detained by Border Force
By Gareth McKnight and Vanessa Mills
A group of six foreign nationals are detained by authorities after two of their group were found in WA's remote Kalumburu community by an off-duty police officer.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-04/six-foreign-nationals-found-in-kalumburu-detained/106101444
#Immigration #RegionalCommunities #GarethMcKnight #VanessaMills
Air force and Olympians team up for special Christmas exercise
By Baz Ruddick
With Olympians on board and a cargo of presents, the Royal Australian Air Force is getting a head start on Santa with Exercise Christmas Hop.
Flag planted for Upper Eyre's proposed $5 billion desalination plant
By Declan Durrant
The long-awaited decision for a Northern Water project has arrived — but it has come with environmental contention.
#WaterSupply #EnvironmentalImpact #Water #EnvironmentalHealth #EnvironmentalManagement #RegionalDevelopmentandPlanning #RegionalCommunities #StateandTerritoryGovernment #DeclanDurrant
Two teenage boys charged over fire that destroyed 30 classrooms
By Melinda Hayter and Jostina Basta
Two teenage boys have been charged over a weekend fire that extensively damaged Deniliquin High School in the NSW Riverina.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-02/two-teenagers-charged-over-deniliquin-high-fire/106089568
#Fires #Police #RegionalCommunities #PublicSchools #MelindaHayter #JostinaBasta
NSW schools warn of potential further closures amid increased bushfire risk
By Melinda Hayter
Public school parents in New South Wales have been advised school closures may occur on days of elevated fire danger.
#Bushfires #PublicSchools #RegionalCommunities #MelindaHayter
NSW community in shock after fire destroys two buildings at high school
By Elloise Farrow-Smith and Nicola Ceccato
Alternative arrangements are being made for hundreds of students at Deniliquin High School after a fire tore through two buildings containing a library and classrooms.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-30/deniliquin-high-school-fire-investigation/106083316
#IndustrialFires #PublicSchools #RegionalCommunities #ElloiseFarrowSmith #NicolaCeccato
Hopes garage memorabilia collection will boost rural town tourism
By Eliza Bidstrup
A former truck driver has sold his 200-piece collection of garage-themed memorabilia to a regional local government in hopes it will drive tourism to the area.
#CarEnthusiasm #Hobbies #History #RegionalCommunities #ElizaBidstrup
'Naughty Boy' pelican munches on seagulls and plays dead for tourists
By Brianna Melville
Locals say this cheeky pelican has a personality unlike any bird they have ever seen.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-29/naughty-boy-pelican-delights-tourists-kalbarri/106073082
#Animals #TravelandTourism #RegionalCommunities #HumanInterest #BriannaMelville
Parents fear music exam 'gold standard' slipping in parts of Australia
By Rebecca Dollery and Daniel Mercer
It is held up as the "gold standard" of music testing in the country, but there are claims the Australian Music Examinations Board is letting down talented students.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-29/claims-standards-slipping-at-ameb-as-regions-revolt/106074654
#MusicEducation #RegionalCommunities #Music #RebeccaDollery #DanielMercer
Celebrating 110 years of Girl Guides in WA
By Rosemary Murphy, Ela Bristow, and Anna Cox
The uniforms and pledge may have had a revamp, but the learning, friendships and camping trips at Girl Guides are just as relevant for a new generation more than a century after the organisation first began.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-29/girl-guides-western-australia-celebrating-110-years/106001684
#CommunityOrganisations #RegionalCommunities #Volunteering #History #RosemaryMurphy #ElaBristow # #AnnaCox
Barnaby Joyce's kingmaker says he left voters behind in 'act of treason'
By Peter Sanders and Kristy Reading
The MP's resignation from the Nationals surprised no one, but drew ire from members of the party. Those on the ground in his electorate have a more mixed view.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-29/barnaby-joyce-resignation-voter-reaction/106077566
#PoliticalParties #NationalPartyofAustralia #PaulineHansonsOneNation #AustralianFederalElections #RegionalCommunities #FederalParliament #PeterSanders #KristyReading
Fresh charge for Pheobe Bishop accused
By Grace Whiteside
Kieren Daniel Mittelheuser has been charged with attempting to pervert justice, along with accessory to murder.
Regional pharmacist wins award for dedication to patients and community
By Sarah Buchecker
A north-west Victorian pharmacist is being celebrated for his contribution to his local community after winning an award for going the "extra mile".
#PharmaceuticalIndustry #CommunityOrganisations #RegionalCommunities #HumanInterest #Health #SarahBuchecker
