Lee Spurling invites you to come and play eight-ball in Murray Bridge Interested in promoting your sports club or community group, free of charge? Email peri@murraybridge.news A couple of dozen people crowd around two felt-topped tables on a Monday night at the Johnstone Park Combined Clubrooms in Murray Bridge the air is a little more tense than usual – it’s a semi-final There are 45-second shot clocks in eight-ball one of the rules which differentiates it from other cue sports But that doesn’t stop players and spectators from chatting as they watch matches play out with players taking turns sinking red and yellow balls into the pockets of each table chatting with Murray Bridge News before his game I’ve held every executive position there is and I’ve won 30 division-one premierships in that time – we play two seasons a year Eight-ball has been in decline for the last few years. The Italian Club got sold and this (the Johnstone Park clubrooms) is about all we could find But we’re doing some good things in regards to juniors We have a team where the oldest is 15 years of age they play every week; and we’ve had a couple go to the national championships The average age group remains older … it’s a Monday night away from their lives My team is undefeated this season: Bridge Breakers you’ve got to check out how you’re going to get to the eight and pot the eight The way the balls land can give you one helluva crap game But you work from the eight backwards: this is where I’ll pot the eight work backwards and you can pot out off the break It’s actually maths – there’s geometry involved And it’s an individual sport but a team sport like batting in cricket: you’re here for yourself but doing it in a team Probably playing a carnival in Geelong over a long weekend and qualifying for the playoffs to make the state team It was a pretty epic thing to play that many frames … and to play against 32 of the best to try and qualify That and winning all the premierships and tournaments I don’t have any personal goals any more – I’ve pretty much done everything I want to do But the association’s goal is to make sure we continue so we can give the juniors an opportunity … and to have a stronger competition and more levels and those sorts of things have a few drinks; but when you get to a higher level Residents across the district are being invited to contribute to a feasibility report on services in the region Take a behind the scenes look at a movie shooting in Old Tailem Town last Thursday Police are seeking witness in a motorcycle accident Sunday night on the Princes Highway Parks in the Murraylands are being recognised by National Parks and Wildlife Service as part of their park of the month Forgot your password? Every Thursday the Get On team try & find you an edge in assessing the form for the weekend races in Victoria & around the country and Charlotte Littlefield take a deep dive into the behind the scenes world of the horse racing industry Join Ben Asgari for a full analysis on all the big races Our form men look for a winner in the early markets Weekly program hosted by Racing.com's Terry Bailey highlighted by live studio interviews with racing participants.  Every fortnight Clint Hutchison & Warren Huntly review the trials which have caught their eye & who you should be following out of the trials Join Sam Doran as he takes a look at some of the regional towns of Australia Dissect all the latest racing news and talking points with a variety of special guests A comprehensive preview show of Hong Kong racing which focuses on form Racing.com's expert team provides the latest news from the track With Hamish McLachlan & Ross Stevenson takes a look at what’s offbeat over the top & often intriguing in the great game Mike Symons and Grace Ramage on The Wrap - Sunday Edition Join our team as they look back at some of best races of the past from country to metro Relive all the classic moments in racing with the Racing.com team A celebration of the group 1 races that ensures the Spring Racing Carnival is the envy of the world Relive all the glory of Victorian Group 1 races from yesterday and beyond Racing.com personalities reflect on their 10 stand-out performers in a variety of categories Our team dissects the feature races this summer to find you a winner Brent Zerafa and Nic Ashman take a look at the stand-out performances from the weekend's racing Explore the world of racing with the A Good 3 Podcast Host Mick Wall is joined by Simon Marshall & Julian Vallance to dissect the weekend's best racing and give their best bets for around the country Racing.com shares some of the best racing stories Follow racings unsung heroes and there journeys as apart of our #LoveTheHorse Grace Ramage speaks to trainers & jockeys at trackwork ahead of the Autumn Racing Carnival Dr Turf and Ben Asgari dissect the feature races on Saturday’s metropolitan card to find you a winner A Murray Bridge man now faces firearms charges after a backyard fire led to the discovery of insecure firearms at his address Police responded to reports of an uncontrolled fire in the rear yard of a Murray Bridge address about 3pm on Tuesday 8 April it will be alleged officers discovered an insecure bolt action shotgun.  Further searching revealed three gel blasters and another firearm as well as a large quantity of various ammunition and firearm parts a 54-year-old Murray Bridge man was subsequently arrested and charged with multiple firearms offences including possess firearm without a licence possess insecure firearm and possess ammunition without a licence He was bailed to appear in the Murray Bridge Magistrates Court on 7 July Anyone with information on illegal firearms in the community can report it anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au These photos are free to view. Help Murray Bridge News photograph more local events by subscribing today Volunteers from the region played as extras in a movie filming in Old Tailem Town This weekly feature is brought to you by Spry Holdings – supporting locals is our priority Murray Bridge locals flocked to Old Tailem Town as volunteering extras in the filming of The Sundowner a new period movie set in Australia’s rural past The call-out in early April was met with overwhelming enthusiasm with dozens of volunteers donning vintage costumes to take part This comes less than a month after new owners Danny and Tina Squires officially took the reins at Old Tailem Town The shooting day comes soon after new owners Danny and Tina Squires (bottom left) took over who volunteered his time said it was a beautiful and interesting day - especially as a nice break from his normal activities the main characters were walking down the street walking up and down dodging old motorcycles and trucks Organisers say there may be further opportunities for community involvement as filming continues and before it's scheduled for release in late 2026 Police are seeking witnesses after a motorcyclist was forced off the road by a truck traveling on the wrong side of the Princes Highway at Poltalloch on Sunday police and emergency services responded to a motorcycle crash on the Princes Highway between Wellington and Meningie The rider was critically injured and airlifted to hospital for treatment Initial investigations indicate that the motorcycle was forced off the road by a truck travelling in the opposite direction veering onto the wrong side of the road and into the motorcyclist's lane Anyone who was witness to the crash or dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestopperssa.com.au  A 28-year-old woman has been caught going 80km/h over the speed limit in Monarto South last Wednesday a Holden sedan was allegedly detected on the South Eastern Freeway travelling 180km/h in a signed 100km/h zone The woman from Woods Point was reported for extreme speed exceeding the speed limit and breaking provisional licence conditions She was issued a 12-month instant loss of licence and her vehicle was impounded and she will be summoned to court a Murray Bridge man was charged for allegedly returning a positive result to a drug test on Sunday after police pulled him over on Bridge Street The page you're looking for could not be found or you may have followed a broken link on another site You may also have bookmarked a page on our old site that no longer works The best way to find what you're looking for is to search This story is free to read. Help Murray Bridge News tell more stories like this by subscribing today The Coorong District Council is planning to map and address a lack of childcare within the region In response to the district being identified as a childcare desert in 2022 the council has engaged Community Early Learning Australia (CELA) to map the local need in more detail Childcare deserts mean there is a total absence of services or there are too few available to meet demand The council hopes the report will highlight shortages in childcare and early education and provide recommendations on addressing the needs of the community Coorong district residents and ratepayers are being encouraged to voice their concerns and to highlight challenges and viable solutions many farming families were looking to seek employment outside of the farm “Several of our townships are expected to continue growing over the next decade and childcare availability will be one of the key factors for families when making the decision to move to our district,” he said “It’s important that we accommodate and support this growth.” The feasibility report is scheduled for completion in July In 2022, a report found the Coorong district had an insufficient number of childcare vacancies to accommodate the current and projected growth of children aged under four years In more recent data which included not only daycare/childcare but preschools the Coorong had 0.392 facilities per child – up from 0.119 three years ago In South Australia the average number of places per child is 0.479.  A recent Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care found that the South Australian Department for Education had resisted the expansion of its rural care program involving providing early childhood education and care services It’s not surprising that regional and remote areas were found to have a much higher percentage of childcare deserts around Australia The report also stated that in regional areas it was doubly important to unlock additional working hours for parents where there was such a shortage of workers The Coorong community will be able to provide feedback online and in person until 5pm on May 30 In person drop-in community sessions will held in school libraries on the following dates: Parks around the Murraylands are being recognised through the National Parks and Wildlife Service's Park of the Month program you could spend every day of May in a different park and only scrape the surface of what there is to see and do NPWS district ranger Jared Pippos encouraged people to explore the region by day and night the parks are home to an array of significant plant and animal species,” he said “The Murraylands' parks are unique as they offer something for everyone from activities such as walking and wombat watching to four-wheel-drive adventures and stargazing.” Birdwatchers can enjoy a special bird watching walk in the conservation park on Friday The walk will be led by naturalist Phil Barron and volunteer rangers taking visitors through an area that is home to precious bush birds including the diamond firetail bike riders will be able to enjoy a beginner-friendly mountain bike ride through the scenic trails of Kinchina the 1-2 hour session will explore easy and enjoyable trails ideal for those new to mountain biking Other activities around the Murraylands include: The Kinchina Conservation Park has previously been featured in Murray Bridge News' own Walk of the Month articles and was the NPWS August park of the month in 2022 But the MP will have to spend another three years in opposition after the Coalition's national loss Liberal MP Tony Pasin will serve a fifth term in federal parliament as the Murraylands’ representative in Canberra Mr Pasin earned about 48 per cent of votes in the electorate of Barker even as Labor was returned to government with an increased majority Trailing him locally were Labor’s James Rothe on 22% then the Greens’ Major Sumner and One Nation’s Jenny Troethe each at just under 9% on a disastrous night for the Liberal Party we have lost some exceptional Members of Parliament many of whom I am proud to call close friends as well as hardworking colleagues – none more so than Peter Dutton who has served as Opposition Leader with dignity reset and form a strong and effective opposition to ensure our nation is as strong and prosperous as it can be.” He promised to continue to stand up for communities in Barker without fear or favour Although the Liberal vote dropped by four percentage points, when compared with the 2022 election the party was still number-one at every polling place in our corner of the electorate The map below shows what percentage of the two-party-preferred vote the party won in each community Labor’s major campaign promise locally was $4.85 million for a new nature playground at Murray Bridge’s Sturt Reserve a project which will also receive funding from the city’s council A second Swanport Bridge and freight bypass through Monarto were due to be built no matter which party won the election The federal government included funding for that project in its 2025-26 budget which was finalised just before the election campaign began Labor’s win also means that several local organisations promised money by Mr Pasin will have to continue their search for funding They include Murray Bridge Players and Singers, who had hoped to get $400,000 for upgrades at their rehearsal shed; and Tailem Bend RSL The last interesting thing about the result was just how many voters chose to cast their vote ahead of election day Almost 9000 people voted at the pre-poll voting centre in Murray Bridge between April 22 and May 2 Only about 5400 actually voted on the day at the polling places included on our map above That would suggest that about 60 per cent of locals voted early Click on the toggles below to look back at some of our campaign coverage The hunt is now on for the Murray Bridge district's best sports people the Murray Bridge Sports Awards are back and better with more categories celebrating local sporting excellence on and off the field An extra four categories will highlight initiatives that increase female participation The awards will also shine a spotlight on the contributions made by dedicated coaches Murray Bridge Mayor Wayne Thorley said the awards were an opportunity to honour the triumphs of local sporting leaders and achievers “Our sporting clubs bring people of all ages backgrounds and abilities together with a shared interest in a love of their individual sports,” he said "We’re fortunate to have many clubs with excellent development pathways and dedicated coaches officials and mentors who foster growth and help our athletes achieve excellence in a wide variety of sports.” The awards would bring the community together to celebrate the achievements of sports people and the clubs In 2023 seven locals were celebrated including netballer Nicky Smith shooter Andrew Heard and bodybuilder Megan Knight You have until June 30 to vote for the best athletes Winners will be announced at a Sports Awards ceremony later in the year Sunday's definitely full this weekend from markets to plant giveaways and an art show celebration - all in one day But we can't forget to head down to the Place of Courage at Sturt Reserve Friday afternoon for the annual domestic violence vigil The Monarto karting complex will also play host to the national championships all weekend To express an interest in sponsoring this weekly feature, contact jane@murraybridge.news Australian Karting Championships (Day 1): Monarto Karting Complex Join the Australian Karting community for a weekend of high level racing to see who will become the 2025 Australian Karting Champion Entry for spectators is always free on race days Meet the drivers in the pits and see their machinery up close Come and support the next generation of Australian professional motor racers Domestic Violence Vigil: 4.30pm at Place of Courage The Murray Bridge Regional Collaboration on Violence Against Women and Children invites you to the annual Domestic Violence Vigil This is a time for our community to come together remember lives lost and stand in solidarity with survivors we send a clear message: there is no place for violence in our communities VMRC (Day one - practice): at The Bend Motorsport Park Featuring a variety of state and national categories ensuring an action-packed event for all motorsport enthusiasts Free admission for everyone across all three days Kids DIY - Mother's Day crafts: 10-11am, 11.45am-12.45pm and 1pm-2pm at Bunnings, Maurice Road, Murray Bridge. Make something to give mum on Mother's Day. Children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Bookings: www.bunnings.com.au Australian Karting Championships (Day two): Monarto Karting Complex VMRC (Day two - qualifying and racing): The Bend Motorsport Park River Murray Football and Netball: A-grade netball -12.30pm Southern Mallee Suns v Rambler; Mypolonga v Mannum; Imperial v Mallee Storm; Coorong Cats v Jervois Mannum Market: 9am-2pm at Arnold Park, next to the Mannum Visitor Centre. Join us for a fun-filled day of shopping for unique gifts, delicious local goodies, and a great cup of coffee. Whether you're a local or just visiting, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Don’t miss out on the community spirit and good vibes. For more information -8569 1303 Australian Karting Championships (Day three): Monarto Karting Complex Cars & Coffee: 8am-10am at Wharf Precinct Join us in celebrating all our car Mum's a week early for Mother's Day Priority parking for women driving any car to the event Callington Show Monster Auction: 10am at Callington Oval, 20 Callington Road, Callington. Registration and inspection from 8.30am, auction starts 10am. Farm machinery, building materials, household goods, furniture, collectables, tools, etc. If you have something to sell or donate, please get in touch. Enquiries: 0494 086 236 Kids DIY -Mother's Day craft: 10-11am, 11.45am-12.45pm and 1pm-2pm at Bunnings, Maurice Road, Murray Bridge. Make something to give Mum on Mother's Day. Children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Bookings: www.bunnings.com.au Native Plant Giveaway: 9am-1pm at Community Nursery There’ll be 3,000 native plants available -from ground covers to eucalyptus trees and everything in between; 200 special butterfly attracting plant packs and a limited supply of Indigenous bush foods endemic to the Murraylands Limits are: properties up to 500m² - 5 plants; properties over 500m² - 10 plants Grab a snag from the Murray Bridge Lions Club sausage sizzle while you're there Available to residents of the Rural City of Murray Bridge only proof of address will be required on the day VMRC (Day three- racing): at The Bend Motorsport Park Captain's Cottage Museum Open Day: 12noon - 3pm at Captain's Cottage Museum live music by the Murray Bridge Community Concert Band The Murray Bridge Men’s Shed will also showcase handmade items featuring the Captain’s Cottage logo Join us in celebrating the stories that shaped our town during SA History month Scott D'Arcy - live music: 2pm-5pm at Swanport Hotel Woman's Circle: 10am-12noon at Tailem Bend Community Centre, 141 Railway Terrace, Tailem Bend. Join us for a free information morning on a new Women's Circle. Come and meet other women in your community, have a cuppa and a chat. Please book your spot at calendly.com Funeral Service - David Evan John Cocker: 11am at Bridge City Church Christine Denman - Author Talk: 2pm-3pm at Murray Bridge Library, 2/51 South Terrace, Murray Bridge. Author of ‘Beyond the Bank’, will discuss the recent Murray River flood but also the other historical floods in the Murray area. Part of SA History Month. Enquiries at the library -8539 1175 The Checkpoint: 4-5.30pm at Murray Bridge Library, 2/51 South Terrace, Murray Bridge. The Checkpoint is an after school club for youth aged 12-14 years.Card games, board games and fan favourites. Feel free to bring your own devices, controllers, games and board games. Fortnightly on Mondays. Call the Library for more information or to register - 8539 1175 Giving back to the community: 10am-2pm at Muscle Cutz Barbershop Free haircuts for people living with homelessness or disability Coffee with a Cop: 10.30am -11.30am at Murray Bridge Marketplace Come and share a complimentary coffee with police officers ask questions and get to know a little more about our local cops and police work in the area This event features the SAPOL Motor Bike Unit Funeral Service - Brian Lloyd Fitzgerald: 2pm at Minge Chapel LEGO Club: 4-5pm at Murray Bridge Library, 2/51 South Terrace, Murray Bridge. Whether you're a seasoned master builder or just starting out, our club offers a welcoming space for everyone. Join us on this exciting journey and let's build something awesome together. Every second Tuesday during school term. Bookings essential - 8539 1175 Story time at the Library: 6-6.30pm at Murray Bridge Library, 2/51 South Terrace, Murray Bridge. Put on your PJ;s and bring your favourite teddy. Join us for stories and songs every Tuesday during the school term. For youngsters aged0-5 years. For more information and to book -8539 1175 Headspace Gym Group: 10.30am-11.30am at Snap Fitness, 3/15 Swanport Road, Murray Bridge. Open to any young person aged 12-25. Every Wednesday during school term. For more information or to book -8531 2122 Creative Kids Craft - Mother's Day: 4pm-5pm at Murray Bridge Library, 2/51 South Terrace, Murray Bridge. Join us for a fun-filled crafting experience where we dive into a new theme for each class. There's always something fresh and exciting to be made. Ages: 5-12yrs. Bookings essential -8539 1175 Band Connections: 4pm-6pm at The Station, 3-5 Railway Terrace, Murray Bridge. Plug in, practise, jam with others, or learn a new track. Open to all young people aged 12 - 25, every Wednesday during school term. For more information call Aiden on 0427 400 635 or station-admin@murraybridge.sa.gov.au Funeral service - Beverley Jean Watkins: 10.30am at Minge Chapel Mother's Day celebration event: 5pm-7pm at Bunnings, Maurice Road, Murray Bridge. Join us for a fun-filled event to celebrate Mother's Day. There will be loads of fun with entertainment, kids craft and more. Bookings are essential as spaces are limited, so don't miss out - www.bunnings.com.au Lee - Thursday Night Movie: 5.30pm - 7.30pm at Murray Bridge Library, 2/51 South Terrace, Murray Bridge. The story of photographer Elizabeth 'Lee' Miller, a fashion model who became an acclaimed war correspondent for Vogue magazine during World War II. Rated: M. Bookings essential -8539 1175 Let Murray Bridge News know about an upcoming event or express an interest in sponsoring this feature by emailing jane@murraybridge.news Events may be listed at Murray Bridge News’ discretion Kennewell CNC Machining helped him find a solution – one he is now selling to other rifle enthusiasts This sponsored story is brought to you by Kennewell Guy Jackson describes himself as “obsessively competitive” that competitive drive compels him to collect as much data as he can about his performance using a device called a chronograph you would set it up on a tripod next to your rifle But Guy participates in a more mobile version of the sport – and that meant he needed to connect his chronograph to his rifle somehow The Murray Bridge firm has helped him design prototype and manufacture a mount which enables him to clamp a chronograph to his weapon and collect all the ballistics stats he could ever want while he’s on the move Guy has been able to produce a line of them – and now he sells them for $220 apiece through an online store What started out as an idle thought has turned into a revenue-generating side hustle Kennewell director Brett Kennewell says Guy’s experience has been typical of his company’s clients: someone had a good idea and needed the expertise to make it a reality The first step for any inventor or entrepreneur is to have a free consultation with a member of the Kennewell team: sit down and talk about the product you’d like to have made or could you see yourself commissioning a production run and selling your product online Kennewell will then be able to give you a quote for the design process Kennewell’s engineers will produce a 3D design on a computer: something you can rotate and view from every angle That model can be used to produce a 3D-printed prototype or a set of instructions for Kennewell’s production machines “We can choose the right type of metal so the customer can … test its function you and Kennewell can make any needed alterations to the design the team will produce more detailed engineering drawings including all the specifications for your product: materials if any of those finishing touches are required If you’re not sure how to achieve a certain result Kennewell’s engineers can help – they have solved all kinds of problems for all kinds of clients before “Everything is written down to make sure nothing is overlooked,” Brett says “We’ll go through the entire process with you.” Kennewell can take your project right through to production whether you want to produce 10 items or 10,000 Brett and the team take joy in making people’s ideas a reality “We get really excited when someone wants to create a product,” he says “It’s very satisfying when a product idea comes to life then in 3D-printed plastic you can hold in your hand and think about … then in whatever materials you want Guy recommends Kennewell as a partner on any project he was interested and engaging and helped along the way and made suggestions to improve the process and the product they get annoyed if you want to change stuff but he was happy to tweak the design until we got it right Advertising to more than 20,000 highly engaged locals can do wonders for your business. Call Murray Bridge News’ Jane Intini on 0418 835 768 or email jane@murraybridge.news Mallee Districts field an under-18 footy side and Nathan Ackland wins on the golf course This story includes contributions from Joe Di Santo, Daniel Irvine and Michael Potts. Send your sports reports to peri@murraybridge.news Murray Bridge United have hosted a number of games from juniors through to seniors and the main event the A grade Anzac Mateship Perpetual Trophy game A ceremony before the main game was conducted by former United player and current serving Army Reservist Joseph Di Santo with Navy Reservist Sean Hickey sounding the Last Post; United life member Trevor Wehrman reciting the Ode of Remembrance; and past United player and veteran Craig Burgemeister current Stirling player and veteran Michael Henn and veteran families also taking part United’s campaign to retain the trophy got off to the perfect start: they won the toss and at the 12th minute mark of the game striker Emmanuel Slattery put the home team ahead 1-nil Stirling coach Terry Hayes rallied the troops and his young charges brought a high energy back into the game resulting in a number of strong challenges and tackles from both teams The Aces won a penalty in the 41st minute which was converted by Stirling captain Jarrah Gardener putting his team back on level terms going into the half-time break Both teams came out firing in the second half and earned a number of yellow cards The game’s high energy was too much for United’s goalkeeper In the 62nd minute he earned himself a red card bringing his side to down to 10 men and earning another penalty for his team in the process United coach Jeremy Byrnes ordered his goal scorer and Byrnes’ gamble paid off: Slattery made a brilliant save much to the delight of the Beatty Terrace faithful The save brought a new energy to the game – it had the home team believing Slattery could do it all: score goals and save them when Kyle Delaney’s shot on goal spoilt Slattery’s moment; the ball trickled into the back of the net to give the Aces a 2-1 lead United put the fight up to the Aces; both teams had their chances and the intensity remained high Stirling’s coach received a yellow card in the 89th minute bringing to a close a match which had it all and was played in the right spirit United captain Dale Binney was awarded the Di Santo Medallion by retired Army Cadets officer Helen Di Santo for his outstanding efforts United will be at home again this week; they’ll take on Southern Breakers shooters have once more gathered at the Mount Barker and District Rifle Club on Anzac Day to remember the fallen to pay tribute to both past and currently serving members of the Australian Defence Forces and to compete in an annual fathers and sons competition now open to all possible combinations of family collects many from around the state: those whose names have long histories within the shooting movement and those who are just beginning This year the 46 who competed were rewarded with cool conditions with the rain holding off until after the shoot and with the gentlest wind that can be remembered at the notoriously hard-to-read range in Mount Barker which still held a surprise for anyone who let their guard down Testament to this was the high number of shooters who didn’t drop a point during the two rounds of eight from 600 yards and the very high scores registered in the shoot-offs for the Anzac Medals at the end of the day Individual honours for the day went to Philip Bradshaw (TR) Malcolm Hill (FStd) and John Cranwell (FO) who won medals for their disciplines in a very tight contest where the shoot-off went past the set eight shots in order to determine a winner Top off-rifle scores for the day went to Duncan Muller (TR) with 80.11 Bill Gillis (FStd) with 95.03 and Cranwell (FO) with 96.08 Other individual honours were the Jock Waugh Trophy for the-top scoring veteran over the age of 60 Heard’s score was also the top score on the day by an ex-serviceman Rounding out the individual honours was Muller who also won the Robert Richards-Mousley Trophy for the highest scoring junior shooter under 25 Family honours were divided initially into the historic “father and son” award with this year’s Stien Shield won in TR by father-and-daughter combination Bradshaw and Lynlee Lowe with 160.17 Bradshaw and Lowe also won the Sarre Cup handicapped trophy The husband and wife trophy went to Lowe and Anaki Tovale while Lowe and her sister Bronwyn Hajek won the Ted Deed Trophy for top-scoring siblings Bradshaw was a winner again in the Bill James Trophy for the top-scoring grandparent/grandchild combination while she and Lowe claimed the In-Laws Shield The competition also recognised those who came on their own to support the event and to commemorate Anzac Day in this unique fashion by awarding open pairs in each discipline This year in TR it was won by Heard and Daniel Nesbitt while in F-class the winners were Frank Marshall and Tyron Murphy The Fathers and Sons Association thanked everyone for their ongoing support of this special and unique event in the shooting calendar and looked forward to its continued success next year when it will again be held on Anzac Day at the Mount Barker and District Rifle Club the Mallee Districts Storm has fielded an under-18s side in the River Murray Football League With the Mallee Football League folding in 2022, the Karoonda Football Club and Peake Football Club merged to form the Mallee Districts Storm with the club unable to fill an under-18s side until the 2025 season The Mallee Storm under 18s played their first game against Tailem Bend at the start of April with players from the under 15.5s helping to fill the side for the season Inaugural Mallee Districts Storm under 18 captain Bronte Zadow said it was a “big privilege that we can come out here and play U18s every week” After some “nearly” rounds in recent times Nathan Ackland has finally hit the Saturday heights by winning the weekend’s Stableford competition at Murray Bridge Golf Club with a whopping 43 points Ackers had a really good back nine of 23 points to ensure he would win any countback if he needed to and also to claim the day’s pro comp for the best back nine After seeing his son triumph recently he thought it was about time he showed just who was still the boss in the family It was just another beautiful autumn day with no excuses for golfers and did some of the others really cash in The very consistent Lucas Merchant starred again with 40 points to beat the very inconsistent Con Jones on a countback in A grade New-to-comp-golf C-grader Travis Woolley probably thinks golf is easy after blasting out 41 points but he will have to cope with about seven shots less on his handicap after Golflink savaged him for his great round qualifying round one in the club championships will be played An extremely interesting battle for the title is about to take place with more than just the usual one or two players in the hunt this year Send your sports reports to peri@murraybridge.news As we approach the middle of the school holidays we also get closer to chocolate eggs and Easter bunnies Good news there's lots of Easter activities for the kids around the Murraylands if home DIY isn't enough Also this weekend a bit of racing is happening around town with the Murray Bridge Speedway and Roll racing at The Bend Motorsport park This weekly feature is brought to you by Spry Holdings – supporting local is our priority Coomandook Easter Market: 9am-2pm at 3189 Dukes Highway The Coomandook amalgamated pastime club's Easter market day will feature a variety of new and returning stalls Come and browse the selection of goods from local vendors Easter Fun at the Marketplace: 10am-2pm at Murray Bridge Marketplace The Easter bunny will be hopping around to spread Easter cheer and even give the little ones a sweet treat to take home!  And we haven’t forgotten about the adults Easter bunny will be handing out coffee vouchers to shoppers too Join the Easter fun with free face painting and an Easter egg hunt for the kids Roll Racing: Gates from 5pm, racing from 6.30pm at The Bend Motorsport Park, 543 Dukes Highway, Tailem Bend. Roll Racing is open to all types of vehicles from domestics, imports and super cars all battling it out under lights to see who really has a fast car. Tickets: $20 + booking fee from www.rollracing.com.au Speedway - Australasian Speedcar Title (Night one): Gates from 4pm, racing from 6pm at Murray Bridge Speedway, 21 - 35 Kennett Road, Murray Bridge East. Join us for the 50 lap Speedcar Championships. Tickets: Adult -$37.20, student -$21.90 (must show ID at gate), kids under 12 are free. Pit entry -$52.50 (must hold valid licenses for entry). Tickets:speedwaytickets.com.au Murray Bridge Interchurch Council - Easter Sunday Service: 6.30am at Sturt Reserve RP Cutters Easter Tour: 11am at RP Cutters, 27 Magpie Drive, Tailem Bend. Get an exclusive, 'back-stage' tour of this award-winning local business. Includes talks, Q&A's, watch the designers at work and see the machines in action. Morning tea included. Plenty of car & bus parking. Tickets $6 online or $9 on the day. Bookings: rpcutters.com.au Yarn Group: 9.30am-12 noon at Murray Bridge Library, 2/51 South Terrace, Murray Bridge. Are you looking for a welcoming space to work on your knitting, crochet, or other yarn-related crafts alongside fellow enthusiasts? Bring your projects and savour a warm drink with other yarn crafters. Bookings essential: 8539 1175 Escape Room -The Great Egg-Scape: 10am-3.30pm at Murray Bridge Library, 2/51 South Terrace, Murray Bridge. Can you track down the sneaky Easter eggs that pulled a fast one on the Easter bunny? We're betting you won't crack under pressure as you scramble to uncover clues and gather all those elusive eggs! For ages 7-14years. Sessions run for 30 minutes, starting at 10am with the last session at 3.30pm. Bookings: 8539 1175 Funeral Service - Elizabeth Jane Rossiter: 2pm at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church School Holiday Workshop: 12 noon-2pm at Bunnings, Maurice Road, Murray Bridge. Looking for a fun activity over the school holidays and keep the kids entertained? Join us in store and get creative with our super fun craft workshops. Children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Bookings: www.bunnings.com.au Baby Playgroup: 1pm-3pm at Murray Bridge Library Come and be part of our social playgroup for mums and their little ones School Holiday Workshop: 11am-1pm at Bunnings, Maurice Road, Murray Bridge. Join us in store and get creative with our super fun craft workshops. Children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian at all times. Bookings: www.bunnings.com.au Funeral service - Marie Kay Barr: 1.30pm at Karoonda Uniting Church Stitch-em up sewing group: 5.30pm-7.30pm at Murray Bridge Library, 2/51 South Terrace, Murray Bridge. Join like-minded individuals who love sewing and learn a thing or two. Open to all ages, beginners and advanced sewers. For more information: 8539 1175 The Choice - Thursday Night Movie: 5.30pm-7.30pm at Murray Bridge Library, 2/51 South Terrace, Murray Bridge. Gabby Holland moves into a new neighbourhood and develops feelings for Travis, a veterinarian. But when her boyfriend visits to propose to her, she must make her ultimate decision. Rated PG. Bookings essential: 8539 1175 Monica Perrett is hoping to raise awareness and funds for brain cancer research this May Monica Perrett’s life changed forever in August 2024 when doctors discovered a tumour on her husband Nathan’s brain stem One day he was getting up for work as normal and then the next he just knew something felt off but there were no other visible symptoms.  “We just thought we’ll get him in operation remove it and get on with life,” Ms Perrett said They would soon find out the tumour was inoperable There wasn’t much more they could do but bide and cherish time together with family Ms Perrett left her workplace to become a full-time worker for her husband which included daily trips to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for appointments “Not at any stage during this did I think ‘my husband's going to die’ and even though he’s deteriorating you’re doing everything you can and still putting a smile on his face,” she said “Nathan only lasted four months and he passed on December 6 … it just happened so quickly.” Throughout the month of May, Ms Perrett will be completing the 2025 Challenge Brain Cancer initiative by the Peace of Mind Foundation to help with the research of brain cancer Ms Perrett was at a bit of a loss with information regarding the rare disease: “You just don’t hear about brain cancer,” she said The Peace of Mind Foundation was a great source of information and support for her family constantly checking in on Nathan and herself running or even swimming to a distance which is set by you; Ms Perrett is aiming to walk 10 kilometres over the month.  A lot of the community was struggling with the rising cost of living but a little went a long way and any donation big or small would be greatly appreciated businesses and workplaces to go grey in May – an annual campaign held to raise awareness and funds for brain tumour research and support Nathan Perrett had an amazing passion and talent for painting Nathan was also a talented artist: "he loved to paint and painted a lot when he knew he was sick." He often painted his own interpretation of his brain creating a memory for his family to remember him by Ms Perrett hopes to keep raising awareness and funds for brain cancer each year in honour of Nathan that I'd be the voice for him and so that's what I'll continue to do," she said Liberal MP Tony Pasin and six other candidates for Barker have answered voters' questions at a forum hosted by Murray Bridge News ahead of the 2025 federal election How can a distant federal government help regional South Australians who are struggling with drought a housing shortage and the high cost of living The candidates for Barker put their ideas forward at an election forum at Murray Bridge’s Bridgeport Hotel on Monday night About 60 people came to hear from Liberal MP Tony Pasin, his Labor rival James Rothe and five minor-party and independent candidates at the event One Nation and Trumpet of Patriot candidates were unable to attend Audience members most often asked about the housing crisis: the high cost and low availability of both rental housing and homes for sale across the region, an issue which had been prominent throughout the election campaign Both Labor and the Coalition’s representatives defended the subsidies provided to landlords by way of negative gearing Asked whether they would reduce immigration to ease pressure on the housing market most of the candidates said Australia needed to “get the balance right” by limiting arrivals from overseas Nationals candidate Jonathan Pietzsch and independent Cody Scholes all expressed pride in family members who had migrated to Australia Mr Pasin claimed that immigrants pushed low-income Australians out of the housing market: “We’ve opened up too broadly saying that it was wrong to blame foreigners for Australians’ problems “I don’t agree with gaslighting migrants,” the Labor candidate said somewhere along that line they would have come from another country to Australia for a fair go Foreign doctors and other experts were badly needed to fill jobs in regional SA “It’s not migrants that have caused our housing shortage it’s the lack of will from governments,” she said Instead of relying on migrants to grow our nation’s population Family First’s Michael Brohier wanted incentives for Australian families to have more children; those children could then move to the regions to fill fruit-picking jobs Asked what they would do to support locals affected by drought the candidates with an agricultural background had some practical suggestions The Nationals’ Mr Pietzsch suggested that the Farm Household Allowance to be indexed to the current cost of farming and that farm management deposits to be made available to non-farm businesses in the agricultural sector He also called for previous drought preparedness projects to be re-evaluated: “I don’t know that that (spending) has actually had a real impact” Liberal MP Mr Pasin argued that relief needed to be made more easily available: not just to households receiving the Farm Household Allowance and not just as a co-investment in new infrastructure He also emphasised the importance of mental health support in rural communities: “We’ve got to make sure we’ve got our farmers in good health and wellness when (the rain comes).” Independent Ian Penno called for more widespread adoption of multi-peril crop insurance in South Australia as a way to help growers through hard years Labor’s Mr Rothe acknowledged that drought was a massive problem and that more support was needed; Ms Hillam called for funding to be rolled out more quickly rather than legal and practical considerations for making it too difficult to bring flood water from Queensland down to South Australia for use on farms James Rothe and Jonathan Pietzsch answer questions at the Bridgeport Hotel on Monday night Mid Murray Mayor Simone Bailey asked candidates what they would do to support local governments across Barker most of which had been found by the Essential Services Commission to be financially unsustainable Federal funding to councils had halved in the past 20 years she said; that had forced almost all of them to demand more money from ratepayers Mr Pasin and Mr Pietzsch noted that the Coalition had promised to increase federal road funding to councils by $1 billion per year Labor’s Mr Rothe noted that it was important for federal governments to work with local governments Ms Hillam hoped that whichever party won government would take the time to listen to regional councils and fund them properly The divide most evident on Monday night – as it was at the last election – was between the party candidates and those who were disillusioned with politics altogether Mr Scholes was most critical of Australia’s two-party system describing it as a “disaster” and the nation’s leaders as “incompetent” Mr Penno argued that voters had been taken for granted for too long expressed her disappointment that the federal parliament did not reflect the diversity of the Australian people including carers and people on low incomes gave polished answers about their parties’ policies; Mr Rothe was less outspoken but also stuck to party lines many of the candidates had similar views: concern about the cost of living belief in the importance of families and scepticism about renewable energy Mr Pasin and a questioner clashed on the issue of mining royalties; the MP described the figures quoted by the voter as “bunkum” and argued that “iron ore gas and coal keep our hospitals open (and) our schools functioning” Mr Scholes and Mr Pasin disagreed about whether a Liberal MP would be able to work effectively with a Labor government Mr Penno was also lightly booed after he made disparaging remarks about migrants allegedly “terrorising” elderly people in Australia’s cities “It’s not just migrants that run the streets at three o’clock in the morning One in six voters in Barker – almost 21,000 of them – had already voted by the time Monday night’s forum started according to the Australian Electoral Commission In a traditionally “safe” electorate, as much as anything, the event served as a popularity check for the Liberal MP who is seeking a fifth term in office While opinion polls have suggested Labor is in the box seat to retain government we will not know until Saturday night whether they will succeed an early voting centre has opened at Murray Bridge Marketplace The first votes have been cast in next month’s federal election at an early voting centre in Murray Bridge A polling booth opened at Murray Bridge Marketplace on Tuesday for anyone who will be busy The Australian Electoral Commission says are eligible to vote early if you: The early voting centre will be open from 8.30am to 5.30pm on weekdays between now and election day except Anzac Day; 9am-4pm this Saturday; and until 6pm next Friday Polling places will be open around the Murraylands from 8am-6pm on election day Local voters will have 10 candidates to choose from in the House of Representatives for the electorate of Barker; and 16 parties and two un-grouped candidates in the Senate Murray Bridge News will be hosting a free election forum at the Bridgeport Hotel Hear from the candidates and ask your questions before deciding how you will cast your vote the following Saturday The Murray Bridge council will spend $2500 less than it had planned on travel to a conference in Canberra The Murray Bridge council will cut back on its travel expenses in response to public concerns about its spending during a cost-of-living crisis Already have an account? Sign in Tickets are now on sale for Murray Bridge Players and Singers’ family-friendly production of the Broadway hit based on a Nickelodeon TV show This sponsored story is brought to you by Murray Bridge Players and Singers The cultural phenomenon that is Spongebob Squarepants is coming to the stage in Murray Bridge Tickets are now on sale for Murray Bridge Players and Singers’ production of The Spongebob Musical a hit Broadway show about the sea sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea Led by award-winning producers Hannah Smith and Amelia Rooney MBPS’ youth theatre ensemble will present six performances of the show – in a shorter family-friendly format – at Murray Bridge Performing Arts and Function Centre in June Ms Smith invited everyone around the Murraylands to book a ticket high-paced show that it can appeal to everybody,” she said “I’m going to bring my nan to it … she might not understand (the references to the Nickelodeon TV show) Spongebob and his friends have to save their town of Bikini Bottom from an impending volcanic eruption And will the villanous Sheldon J Plankton be able to turn events to his advantage Ava Miller will play the lead role alongside Emmory Chilvers as Patrick Star Freddie Mitchell as Mr Krabs and Braeden Watts as Sheldon They and the other 23 members of the young cast and invited everyone to “come and worship our super sea star saviour” Cast member Archer Smith promised it would keep adults and children entertained Chilvers said it was the most fun she had had on a show – and she took centre stage in last year’s high school production of The School of Rock based on the Nickelodeon TV show that had been running since 1999 it features songs by a five-star lineup of famous musicians “Everybody knows it – everybody has watched Spongebob at some point in their lives.” So don’t wait for a title card from a French narrator – jump on the Murray Bridge Players and Singers website today and book yourself a ticket See who was out and about on Friday morning These photos are free to view. Help Murray Bridge News photograph more local events by subscribing today At the Anzac Day breakfast are Kairo Quilliam Belinda and Brodie Harvey; Merv Schopp and Garry Daniel; Ken and Dennis Duthie; Mia Dyer Tayla McDonald and Michelle Goedings; John and Sophie Meers and Jenny Schulz; Maria Pahl Louise Pickering and Trish Davids; and Thomas Lester and Darren Putman Interested in sponsoring this weekly feature? Contact jane@murraybridge.news Hundreds of locals have enjoyed a so-called gunfire breakfast at Murray Bridge RSL after the city’s Anzac Day dawn service Continuing a tradition started by British soldiers more than a century ago a few veterans had a cup of “gunfire” – tea or coffee with a shot of rum – but most community members zoned in on the bacon and egg sandwiches being cooked by Rotary Club members outside A series of raffles raised funds for upcoming projects by the combined RSL and bowling club a trailer worth several thousand dollars which had been donated by River City Trailers Get ready for the Adelaide Fringe festival in the Murraylands with this listing of every local show This guide to the Murray Bridge Fringe is brought to you by the Murray Bridge Performing Arts and Function Centre The Murray Bridge Fringe is set to dazzle in 2025 with a vibrant array of performances and events for all ages to enjoy at four great locations between February 21 and March 23 Five locations in Murray Bridge will transform into Adelaide Fringe venues hosting a range of free and ticketed performances of comedy March 22 at Murray Bridge Regional Gallery “After spending seven years trying to tell the doctor I had perimenopause and when she finally agreed with me she expected me to burst into tears but I just wanted to say “I told you so!” So I made a T-shirt instead.” Join Claire Wildish and become a part of The Menopause Project an adventure into wild wearable art making community encounters and the unspoken and taboo world of menopause It’s time to ignite your creativity in a fiery celebration of self-expression Perfect for beginners with easy stencils to follow Design options will be emailed to you for selection prior to the event Get ready for an afternoon filled with exciting loads of laughs and a whole lot of entertainment Bring a picnic or indulge in delicious food from the food vans Find something special from the handmade creations at the Markers Market This Makers Market will be part of the 2025 Murray Bridge Fringe program and occur at the same time as the Fringe on Sixth Street Party Until April 6 at Murray Bridge Regional Gallery seven artists tell stories of their culture This exhibition is a love letter to the majestic River Murray A campaign led by the Local and Independent News Association aims to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for publishers around Australia Murray Bridge News will again participate in a national fundraising initiative for independent and local news publishers next week The Local and Independent News Association will lead the Our News The week-long campaign will unite 52 local and independent digital newsrooms across Australia in a collective effort to secure vital community support for grassroots journalism the first $10,000 raised will be doubled by matched funding amplifying the impact of each contribution LINA is a not-for-profit industry association supporting a movement of local and independent digital news publishers in Australia LINA executive director Claire Stuchbery described these newsrooms as the “green shoots” of an industry in crisis “The news industry has been struggling through a period of transition for years now and we’re starting to see independent newsrooms emerge to fill gaps in information for local communities,” she said.  “Many of these news services were started by community-minded individuals who identified ‘news deserts’ in their local areas and a record of events to bring the community together “As we head to the polls this week, I’m reminded once again of how important independent news is to counter misinformation and support people to make informed voting decisions.” LINA’s membership has grown to include newsrooms in all states and territories across Australia publishing public interest journalism and meeting high editorial standards for fairness independence and accountability and other requirements of professional news outlets Developing sustainable news business models online requires investment and innovation which is difficult for newsrooms already pushed to the limits trying to produce quality public interest journalism in a rapid news cycle “Providing quality journalism is a public service – every community needs a news service teachers and firefighters,” Ms Stuchbery said “It’s great to see these independent newsrooms band together for this campaign just as they themselves bring their communities together in an increasingly polarised society.” Donations to the campaign are separate to Murray Bridge News’ paid subscription service the electorate which includes Tailem Bend and the Coorong district State MP Nick McBride will continue to represent the Coorong district in parliament despite having been charged with assault Adelaide media reported on April 14 that Mr McBride had been charged with three counts of assault against his wife Katherine The MP did not respond to a request for comment from Murray Bridge News at the time and SA Police do not identify people charged with crimes Mr McBride issued a public statement on Tuesday “This is a private matter that is currently before the courts,” he said “I am here to continue my work as the Member for MacKillop “I will be making no further comment while this process continues.” Members of parliament who are charged with a crime are allowed to remain in office unless they are convicted of an indictable offence: one serious enough to be subject to a trial by a jury Domestic assault is considered a minor indictable offence, according to the Legal Services Commission South Australia Mr McBride was elected to parliament as a Liberal in 2018, and his electorate of Mackillop grew to include Tailem Bend at the 2022 election He put his hand up for the Liberal leadership after the party’s defeat His wife, a nurse, is no stranger to politics, either – at one stage she hoped to run as the Liberal candidate at this week’s federal election, but a vote of party members went MP Tony Pasin’s way Mr McBride quit the party a few months after that episode and has served as an independent ever since He is expected to face court at Naracoorte next Wednesday His current term in parliament will end at the state election on March 21 of next year One of the biggest annual fundraising events on the River Murray will pass through Mannum and Murray Bridge One of the biggest fundraising events on the River Murray will speed into our region later this year Novita’s Mighty River Run will pass through Mannum and Murray Bridge before finishing at Wellington on November 13 More than 200 people in 40 boats are expected to take part in the five-day run down the river from Berri Together they hope to raise $500,000 to benefit South Australians living with disability including clients of Novita’s hub in Murray Bridge Mighty River Run ambassadors John Riddell and Matthew Robran – yes the TV presenter and the footballer – launched the fundraising effort in Murray Bridge on April 16 Mr Riddell could hardly believe 19 years had passed since he footballer Russell Ebert and radio presenter Jason “Snowy” Carter came up with the idea “Jason ‘Snowy’ Carter and I were on the radio at Mix 102.3 and I was telling him about a trip I’d done down the river and he said ‘that’s interesting’,” he said “He was already working with (what was then) the Crippled Children’s Association so we straight away dedicated it to Novita.” Each crew is responsible for raising its own funds and much reach a target of at least $6000 to be able to participate team registrations for the event usually fill up before it is even announced supporters of the Mighty River Run will be given an opportunity to take part without needing to take a week off work and get out on the water donors can buy a seat on a “virtual tinnie” and receive updates throughout the run All donations to Novita are tax-deductible Mr Robran hoped hundreds of people would take advantage of the opportunity “It’s an opportunity for people who may not be able to be involved in the physical run,” he said “They’ll get some creative material from us Novita CEO Greg Ward said funds raised through the Mighty River Run would help thousands of clients across regional South Australia achieve their goals around therapy “Living in regional areas can present challenges but it shouldn’t mean missing out on essential services,” he said assistive technology and community support in regional areas means making tough choices: spending hours on the road to reach services or going without the support they need “A significant portion of the cost of providing services in regional communities is not adequately funded by schemes like the NDIS “At Novita we are committed to finding ways to ensure people in regional areas can access services where they need them most: in their own communities.” The event launch at Sturt Reserve was followed by a day of fun activities for Novita’s local clients Murray Bridge driver blows five times the limit and the local weekend traffic offence wrap up Police are asking the public for assistance in identifying a man who may be able to help a police investigation relating to a recent incident The man was pictured in Murray Bridge on last Wednesday evening Anyone who knows his identity or whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestopperssa.com.au police are investigating the theft of a sundial from the Murray Bridge Uniting Church on Narooma Boulevard earlier this month Sometime between 11am on March 20 and 8am on March 23 the sundial was taken made of brass and was removed from a stone stand/plinth It was donated by a local family as a memorial and a place of remembrance for their grandfather Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestopperssa.com.au A Murray Bridge driver has allegedly blown almost five times the legal blood alcohol limit on early Sunday morning police stopped a white Mazda on Swanport Road where the 39-year-old man underwent a breath test The test allegedly returned a positive reading of 0.230 and he was reported for alleged drink driving car taken and he will appear in court at a later date Traffic police have also penalised seven other drivers on local roads over the weekend: Police have recovered a pair of GLT tri-axle tipper trailers which were stolen just outside Mannum on Monday night They were found near Calperum on Wednesday A police investigation is ongoing, so anyone with information should forward it to Crime Stoppers by calling 1800 333 000 or visiting www.crimestopperssa.com.au Managing editor Peri Strathearn reflects on this publication’s journey from scrappy start-up to number-one news source About 50 per cent of new Australian businesses fail in their first five years I don’t think I tipped the scales in my favour when I chose to start my business in a regional community of modest size and means as the main breadwinner in a family with two young kids After all, as I said in the video that launched Murray Bridge News five years ago today: “Right now we need local A couple of weeks ago I was in Melbourne, at a conference run by an industry association I got to help create – Murray Bridge News was LINA member number two This evening I’m catching up with a fellow who runs an editorial consultancy out of Singapore We’ve earned one-off grants from three international tech platforms having been handpicked by some of the brightest minds in the industry Our screen network is something publishers around the country have looked at copying: a way of reaching tens of thousands of locals every week including people who might not otherwise follow the news free of interference from social media algorithms A journo who came to us as a uni graduate stayed six months then stepped straight up into a career with the ABC None of that would have happened without a leap of faith five years ago and without the incredibly generous support of a community that has had our back the whole way I’m proud not just that we’re telling stories that would otherwise go untold that we’re helping locals feel connected to their communities and businesses connect with new customers I’m proud that we’re trying things that haven’t been done and that we’re still here and growing despite flood especially when we try to keep our prices affordable for both subscribers and advertisers our email edition reaches five times as many people as the local newspaper Our screens are viewed more than 50,000 times every week And we break more local news than any other organisation – a third of the stories we publish have not been told anywhere else so we rely on tip-offs from community members We also get press releases from governments and other organisations; sometimes we localise national trends or issues; and we try to get out and about to events and meetings as much as we can But we only publish stories with a local hook We have three main revenue streams: subscriptions Subscribers pay our managing editor’s salary – we have many hundreds of kind readers who chip in $8 a month or $80 a year Local businesses help us meet our staff and publishing costs by publishing sponsored stories And we have been very fortunate with grants over the years though those are typically one-offs and not an ongoing source of funding we’ve been lobbying for government support for the independent media sector to make up for the fact that we are simply too small to attract advertising from government agencies or large companies community members deserve to have free access to info about things like upcoming events We compromise by making all those stories free to read and by unlocking our other stories four weeks after they are published But market research tells us that our subscribers would rather have a hard paywall than a donation-based system without people sharing information about what’s happening around them our communities wouldn’t exist – we’d all just be a bunch of people who happen to live near each other I said at Christmas that we had three big goals for this year: to get election candidates focused on the issues that matter to you to launch a major new event for the Murraylands We’ve surveyed you about those election issues and will bring the candidates together at a free forum at the Bridgeport Hotel next Monday night – please come along We’ve launched the Murraylands Business Awards and the response has been incredible – almost 800 people have nominated their favourite local businesses so far we’re seeking a paid correspondent who can help us cover a new community one people have been asking us to include for years Email me if you’re interested in that role or if your business is interested in supporting our efforts then: we’ve achieved everything we could ever want The biggest threat to Murray Bridge News is still the fact that I could make way more money doing something else – this is one of the reasons we keep asking you to subscribe But I genuinely think what we’re doing here is worth supporting We’re a certified social enterprise that exists to serve our community We share original stories you won’t find anywhere else – or you’ll hear them from us first We reach a much bigger audience than our competitors and our advertising rates are more affordable And you’ll find less crazy s*** on here than your local Facebook group, that’s for sure – no offence intended, Scotty In an era when it’s harder than ever to find reliable information when social media algorithms feed us rubbish and AI chat bots invent facts out of thin air we’re proving that something as old-fashioned as a weekly email can help tie a community together I don’t know where my career will go over the next five years I don’t know if it makes sense for there to be two news publications in a community of this size But I know I’m grateful to you all for the journey we’ve been on since April 23 And having a nine-year-old daughter who likes to write down people’s names when I’m out taking social photos one who has conversations with me about the news stories she’s read on the screen in our office gives me a whole lot of hope for the future Imagine an independent local news company being passed down through the generations Imagine how many thousands of local stories are waiting to be told The next stage of Murray Bridge’s riverfront upgrade will finally go ahead if Labor is returned to government at next month’s federal election A multi-million-dollar play space will be built on Murray Bridge’s riverfront if Labor wins next month’s federal election Assistant Regional Development Minister Anthony Chisholm, Senator Marielle Smith and local Labor candidate James Rothe announced a $4.85 million commitment to the project at Sturt Reserve on Wednesday morning The Murray Bridge council would chip in at least another $1.4 million What the community would get for that money is a play space on par with the best in South Australia The play space’s crowning feature would be a climbable, sensory “play sculpture” in the shape of Pondi the giant cod who carved out the course of the River Murray according to a Ngarrindjeri legend the whole playground was designed in partnership with the Murraylands’ traditional owners with various elements representing aspects of the legend: a flying fox for the hunter Ngurunderi’s spear and even a mulyewongk – or bunyip – soundscape The current Sturt Reserve playground, damaged in the 2022-23 flood would be demolished to make way for the new space Senator Smith described the project as a bold vision for the future of Murray Bridge “This is about making sure that all children in Murray Bridge have a fantastic place to learn “And it’s a way to celebrate local stories (and) local culture … so the whole community can be proud of its history “This place will not only be a beautiful … playground for Murray Bridge families to enjoy but it will also put this reserve on the map (from) a tourism perspective.” The promised funding will come through if Labor wins the election and remains in government nationally regardless of whether Mr Rothe wins in Barker Murray Bridge Mayor Wayne Thorley welcomed the announcement he suggested; having it represent an iconic dreamtime story would be “extra special” He hoped the project could continue the journey towards reconciliation between Murray Bridge’s Indigenous and non-Indigenous people Ngarrindjeri Ruwe Empowered Communities’ Janice Walker expressed the same hope She suspected this was the first time an Indigenous people had been so central to the design of a play space for the whole community and I think the rest of the Ngarrindjeri people will be honoured,” she said “I think everybody needs to be educated about everybody’s culture.” Ratepayers will not need to pay anything extra towards the council’s $1.4 million contribution – the amount was already included in its budget for 2024-25 the council will budget a bit extra to employ staff to manage the project if it goes ahead The council had flagged its plan to build a new play space at Sturt Reserve way back in 2017, when it approved a four-stage master plan for the city's riverfront The play precinct was always meant to be next when the council was unsuccessful in an application for $13.5 million worth of federal funding In time, the Sturt Reserve master plan calls for the construction of a riverfront swimming pool, dirt BMX track and more Labor’s promise was the second one made by a political candidate at Sturt Reserve this week On Monday, Liberal MP Tony Pasin promised the Murray Bridge council $500,000 for more lighting and security cameras See the photos from the red carpet at Murray Bridge High School's year 12 formal on March 21 These photos are brought to you by Spry Holdings – supporting locals is our priority Murray Bridge High School’s class of 2025 have had their night of nights sashaying down the red carpet and into the town hall for their year 12 formal A crowd gathered on Sixth Street on Friday night to cheer and take photographs as teenagers morphed into young adults before their eyes They basked on the catwalk a moment – a rare opportunity for most – before filing inside to celebrate with their classmates If you have trouble viewing these photos on your smartphone then clicking on the photo you’d like to look at Sophie Duell || Chae Pitson and Heidi Sotnikov Hunt || Ahena Petelo Hannah Francisco and Rahana and Shahana Khan Donald Lockyer || Tarnicka and Taylor Preston || Claire White and Kiara Parkinson Miah Ridley and Talissa Torrans || Broadie Buchanan Rubie Lienert and Nicholas Tarasenko || Syriana Brown and Emilija Adams || Marvey Cepillo and Ashly Delos Reyes Chloe Madsen || Kailey Stapleton and Jacobi Downs || Ryan Dent and Layla-Mae Loxton Cohen Schubert and Johnny Philpott || Abbi Roach and Jermaine Miller || Liam Scarlett Xavier Colmer and Mia Aird || Samuel Tonkin and Mattea Willason || Koby Stimpson and Lily Galpin Koby Muir and Ella O'Shea-Coulter || Liana McLeod Sophia Lund and Aleisha Spurling || Kieran Walsh and Autumn Stapleton Frazer Spaan and Ella Raymond || John Bomediano and Kheanna Salvador || Ethan Buzon and Michael Quejada Jade Wainwright and Finn Schiller || Joseph Tidy and Shaniah de Guzman || Mercedes Schubert and Cambell Heitmann Cameron Hutchinson and Holly Sutton || Anna Le and Summer Ayunon || Cameron Cook Ciara Spencer and Xingtao Mao || Douglas Hunter || Tristan Zadow and Leah Anderson-Morris Simonne Pearson and Brate Kropinyeri || Jacobe Griffiths and Sierra Ridley || Kane Parker and Grace Lawlor Gian Peressin and Saphire Bilney || Judd Ruckenstuhl and Danielle Moore || Jon and Lachlan Atze Cody McEvoy and Maggie Bao || Tristyn Fegen and Haylee Ratzmer || Angus McFee and Roxanna Tyler Kiahna Smith and Heath Matheson || Lucas Chadwick and Tarni Ayres || William Harris Hayden Dahlitz || Maddison Cooper and Sophie Wilson || Jayden Lawson and Tayla Catanzariti Steph Brunfield and Gemma Prior || Ella McKenzie-Campbell and Jacinta Clark || Sarah Clark and Ethan Baxter Connor Bailey and Alia Marhall || Oliver Ellis and Tanaisha Oliver || Jayla Leckie and James-Noah Peterson Riley Hagger and Sera Dalton || Zack Taylor and Tippanni Sharrad || Trung Huynh Mia Williams and Josephine Cutrale || Isabella Vincent Marrot Castelatt and Moshe Hammer || Jordan Small and Monikue Harvey Reign Argon Caraig and Noah Roos || Luke Kobanova and James Murray || Levi Miller and Fallon Small Leland Siebert and Megan Walton || Drew Bettcher and Sophia Long || Courage Doe and Jenny Cao Ethan Ahern and Elle Fiegert || Lucas Bubner and Keira Stavast || Daniel Abbott Harry Hughes and Yuki Sazali || Chenise Duncan || Gabrielle Seidel and Caitlin Ovendon Lucky Rudgley || Zoe Foran and RJ Montgomery-Pittaway || Ellie Chittleborough and Mack Davis The CFS were alerted to reports of a shed fire at a property in Murray Bridge North of the states Murraylands region just after 9:30 this evening Approximately thirty firefighters from five CFS trucks and two MFS trucks have provided a joint response to the shed and vehicle that were fully involved in fire Firefighters are currently working to fully extinguish and prevent any further spread of fire within the property Estimated damages are approximately $100,000 SA Police and SA Ambulance are assisting firefighters on scene with Fire Investigators to attend site tomorrow to determine the cause In the spirit of reconciliation the CFS acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connection to land We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today Kai Martin hopes to raise $25,000 by doing something that Murray Bridge local Kai Martin will run a 325-kilometre ultramarathon over two days next month to raise funds for domestic violence victims and survivors The Lavender Federation Trail usually takes hikers 12 to 14 days to complete supported by a small group of friends and family The 25-year-old disability support worker also hopes to raise $25,000 over the weeks leading up to the marathon In the eight days since he announced his intentions on social media – with a slick video produced by local videographer James Dawson – he has already raised $10,000 “The support from the community is amazing,” he said.  Mr Martin said his intention was to put a spotlight on domestic violence and to make victims feel that they were not alone Many members of the community had since reached out to him about their own experiences with domestic violence which highlighted the need for more public discourse around the topic.  “It’s way bigger than what I ever imagined The money raised will go to the Murray Bridge Regional Collaboration on Violence Against Women and Children He would like to see the money go back into the community by providing safe housing easier to access and more affordable support services and school programs to educate kids on domestic violence Mr Martin has been a passionate advocate on the issue for almost a decade and has chaired the Murray Bridge Domestic Violence Awareness Group since 2018 He also appeared as a guest speaker at an annual domestic violence march at Sturt Reserve in December Mr Martin said having two family members affected by domestic violence meant that the issue was deeply important for him and that it was crucial to give affected people a voice “I feel I have to do this – I can speak for the people who can’t speak,” he said He hoped to reach more men in the community as men were significantly more likely to be reported as perpetrators in domestic violence cases “Hopefully other men in the community go ‘we can be the voice; we can be the ones to stand up’,” he said and I think it’s time for men to step up and do it.” Mr Martin said he also wanted to reach local businesses for sponsorship opportunities.  “One thing I’ve realised is a lot of people who are directly affected by domestic violence probably can’t donate or aren’t in a position where they can donate,” he said.  “It’s up to big businesses – they are the ones that can make a big difference in this.” Mr Martin said his focus was on spreading the word and getting it out as far and wide as possible and getting as many people on board as he could.  Mr Martin will set off from Clare at 6am on Friday May 23 and make his way through the eastern flanks of the Mount Lofty Ranges to reach Murray Bridge by that Sunday Accompanying him across the entire weekend will be friend Aaron Cowling partner Tayla Groves and brother Aidan Martin The finish line will be at the Place of Courage a monument for victims and survivors of domestic violence at Sturt Reserve Mr Martin hopes the community will continue to show support by spreading the word A controversial plan to charge homeowners more and pass the benefits on to businesses and some farmers This weekend the Murray Bridge Triathlon is returning for another year of running The event will mean a few roads will be closed around Murray Bridge on Sunday including the bridge itself If that's not your thing there's plenty of cars to watch and markets to visit Permaculture Diaries -Autumn Days: 10am-11am at Murray Bridge Library, 2/51 South Terrace, Murray Bridge. Use your journal to capture new permaculture insights, record observations, and design and plan your garden. Discover the best times to fertilise plants and learn how to track weather patterns to maximise your garden's potential. For more information - 8539 1175 Funeral service - Nerio (Ned) Cazzolato: 2pm at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church Speedway - Modlites Australian Title: Gates -4pm, Racing -6pm at Murray Bridge Speedway, Kennett Road, Murray Bridge East. Also features Junior Sedans. Adults - $32.10, Student - $21.90 (must show ID at gate), Kids U12 - free. Bookings from speedwaytickets.com.au Crystals & Candles: 9am - 3pm at Murray Bridge Marketplace A one-day-only pop-up event where you can indulge in delicious cheesecakes Support small businesses and treat yourself to something special Kids DIY - Building & Woodwork: 10am - 11am; 11am - 12noon and 1pm - 2pm at Bunnings, Maurice Road, Murray Bridge. Join us for a building-themed, woodwork workshop. This workshop is recommended for kids aged 3-12 years old. Children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Bookings essential: www.bunnings.com.au Palmer Sculpture Open Day: 12 noon at 372 Davenport Road as he celebrates his 50 year career on this beautiful property at Palmer which will host humanities and science residencies in the coming years please bring some food/drink to share if you can River Murray Football & Netball (round one): A-grade Netball - 12noon Coorong Cats v Mypolonga; Jervois v Southern Mallee Suns; Mallee Storm v Tailem Bend; Mannum v Rambler Speedway - Sprintcars/Wingless Sprint Series: Gates -4pm, Racing -6pm at Murray Bridge Speedway, Kennett Road, Murray Bridge East. Features Sprintcars - SA Club Show and Wingless Sprint Series Rd 2. Adults -$32.10, Student -$21.90 (must show ID at gate), Kids U12 - free. Bookings: speedwaytickets.com.au Cars and Coffee: 8am-10am at Johnstone Park Restoring Landscapes: Rockleigh Revegetation Tour: Interested to learn more about revegetation, how to go about it, and who to talk to? This tour will focus on two established revegetation sites/areas in Rockleigh to provide the opportunity to observe examples of different aged revegetation covering various soil types, approaches, and desired functions. Tickets: sold out. Kids DIY - Building & Woodwork: 11am-12noon and 1pm-2pm at Bunnings, Maurice Road, Murray Bridge. Join us for a building-themed, woodwork workshop. This workshop is recommended for kids aged 3-12 years old. Children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Bookings: www.bunnings.com.au Riverbend Nationals (Day 3): Dragway at The Bend, 534 Dukes Highway, Tailem Bend. The Australian Top Fuel Championship is returning to headline the Riverbend Nationals alongside a bumper field of National Drag Racing Championship Group 1 & Sportsman racers Dragway at The Bend. Tickets: adults: $40, concession: $35, adult three-day pass -$60, concession -$55. Bookings: www.outix.co Join Andy for some cool tunes and smooth grooves Hartburn Duo: 2pm-5pm at Swanport Hotel, 3166 Jervois Road, Murray Bridge. Great music and all day dining. Bookings: 8532 3666 Funeral service - Geraldine Margaret Dickson: 10.30am at St Columbkille Catholic Church Nicole Alexander - Author talk: 2pm-3pm at Murray Bridge Library, 2/51 South Terrace, Murray Bridge. Join Nicole as she talks about her new novel "The Limestone Road". From the deserts of Egypt to the rolling hills of South Australia, The Limestone Road is a captivating novel about one soldier's courageous journey home. For more information please contact the library: 8539 1175 Horse racing: Gates at 11am at Murray Bridge Racing Club, 342 Brinkley Road, Murray Bridge. There's nothing like a day at the races. Tickets start from $16.90 + booking fees for general admission - www.moshtix.com.au NEAMI Employment Support Services Workshop: 12.30pm at The Square Activity Hall, 2 South Terrace, Murray Bridge. NESS empowers participants to build confidence, resilience, and essential employment skills with strategies to manage mental health while navigating the workforce. To register contact Casey: 0492 511 817 Creative Kids Craft - Easter: 4pm-5pm at Murray Bridge Library, 2/51 South Terrace, Murray Bridge. Whether it's seasonal decorations, personalised gifts, or unique art projects, there's always something fresh and exciting to be made. Every second Wednesday during school term. For kids 5-12 years. Bookings essential: 8539 1175 Easter at Bunnings: 5pm-7pm at Bunnings, Maurice Road, Murray Bridge. Hop in for a fun-filled Easter family event. Enjoy a variety of activities including Easter-themed crafts, face painting, Farmer Darcy's mini zoo and a special visit from the Easter Bunny. Bookings are essential: www.bunnings.com.au Thursday Night Movies - The Colour Purple: 5pm-7.45pm at Murray Bridge Library, 2/51 South Terrace, Murray Bridge. Torn apart from her sister and her children, Celie faces many hardships in life. With support from a sultry singer, Celie ultimately finds strength in the unbreakable bonds of a new kind of sisterhood. Rated M. Bookings essential - 8539 1175 Murray Bridge residents will get a win with new bins on their kerbside in the next month Residents of the Rural City of Murray Bridge are set to receive new bins in the next few weeks under a contract with Solo Resource Recovery The bin rollout was announced earlier in the year standardising all kerbside bins across the Council area to ensure they meet correct size and colour standards Residents will not face additional costs as the replacement bins are included in Council's contract with Solo Resource Recovery Two community information sessions will be held in the Murray Bridge Library on Wednesday April 30 from 11am-11.45pm and 4.30pm-5.15pm Murray Bridge Mayor Wayne Thorley said the bin replacement program would reduce ongoing repair costs “Council places a high priority on managing our assets in a financially sustainable way,” he said Detailed information will be released in the lead-up including an information pack that will be attached to the new bins when they are delivered This will include communication regarding timelines instructions for the residents and waste education A flyer has started to hit community letterboxes with some early information United are preparing to face a foe with a familiar face on the sideline as they hope to retain soccer's Anzac Mateship Perpetual Trophy This story was contributed by Joe Di Santo Murray Bridge United will host Stirling Districts this Saturday in round three of the division three South Australian Amateur Soccer League: the annual Anzac Mateship Perpetual Trophy game The hosts will not only play senior games; they’ll also host a number of Adelaide Hills Junior Football Association matches against their guests United will be looking to retain the Mateship Trophy while Stirling will be looking to cause an upset This year’s game has a strong Murray Bridge United flair Mark Goldstone and Andrew Beaven now at the helm as Stirling’s senior coach and assistants Stirling has a young squad fighting for promotion back into division two after being relegated to division three last year for the first time this century Hayes’ young chargers will be eager to take the three points and create their own destiny and get hold of their first set of silverware since 2007’s Saturday division two A grade championship The last time Hayes was at United was in season 2021 taking United to runners-up in the Saturday division two championship and then on to the dizzy heights of division one Beaven and current United coach Jeremy Brynes who was also in an assistant coaching role at the time Byrnes will be in no mood for a reunion with his counterparts as he looks to lead a relatively new squad with the experience of long-term players Dylan August Graham Alympic and captain Dale Binney to lead their championship campaign The game will also have a military feel to it Royal Australian Navy bugler Sean Hickey will sound the Last Post United life member and veteran Trevor Wehrman will recite the Ode of Remembrance Vince Nisco and Craig Burgemeister will be in attendance as well as Sheila Gane who be will representing her husband Dennis an army veteran and junior coach; and her son Derrick Both teams need to win on Saturday; a victory to either will put their season on the right track Action at Beatty Terrace will get underway at 9am with a number of junior games being played At 1pm the B grade will play a curtain-raiser followed by a pre-game ceremony then the main event and trophy presentation Here's your guide to Anzac Day services so set those early alarms for Friday morning and cast your eyes upon the list of local dawn services below However, there’s one other event we’d like to draw your attention to this week: Murray Bridge News’ own election forum on Monday night Most of the candidates for Barker will be at the Bridgeport Hotel including Liberal MP Tony Pasin and Labor’s James Rothe Some of them will have come hundreds of kilometres just for you and when else will you get a chance to hold our political figures accountable and you can even grab yourself a drink at the bar while you make up your mind about who to vote for This weekly feature is brought to you by Spry Holdings – supporting locals is our priority Mannum dawn service: 6am at Mannum War Memorial Murray Bridge dawn service: 5.50am at Murray Bridge War Memorial Gunfire breakfast to follow at Murray Bridge RSL Palmer dawn service: 6.30am at Collier Park memorial gates Rockleigh dawn service: 6am at Rockleigh Old School House Tailem Bend dawn service: 6am at Tailem Bend War Memorial Wellington dawn service: 6.30am at Wellington Hall ANDRA Series grand final: 2-9pm at the Dragway at the Bend, Tailem Bend. Witness Australia's best sportsman racers battle it out down the quarter mile; qualifying Friday, continues Saturday. Tickets: $20 at www.outix.co River Murray football and netball: Jervois v Imperials at Jervois Combined Sports Club; Mallee v Mypolonga at Karoonda Memorial Oval; Mannum v Southern Mallee at Mannum Showground; Ramblers v Tailem Bend at Le Messurier Oval ANDRA Series grand final: 9am-5pm at the Dragway at the Bend, Tailem Bend. Witness Australia's best sportsman racers battle it out down the quarter mile; eliminations. Tickets: $30 at www.outix.co April rally – obstacles fun day: 9am at Murray Bridge Riding Club. Non members welcome for $20 day membership. RSVP with your horse's experience level: www.facebook.com Skate park comp: From 11am at Sturt Reserve skateboards 1.30pm; for all ages and abilities South Aussie Auto meet and cruise: 9.30am at the Coles car park Leave at 10.30 for a cruise to Mount Lofty for pictures and chilling; family-friendly event Hat burning: 10am-12pm at the Bridgeport Hotel, Murray Bridge. Join the Brush Bar for a fiery morning as you ignite your creativity in a fiery celebration of self-expression. Tickets: $95 plus booking fee at www.eventbrite.com.au Sunday golf: 10am at Tailem Bend Golf Club to meet new people and enjoy the game; everyone invited Heartbeat and Tracey Allen: 11am-4pm at the Imperial Football Club Nicolina and Dean: 2-5pm at the Bridgeport Hotel Funeral service for Margaret Joan Goddard: 10.30am at the Minge Chapel Barker election forum: 7pm at the Bridgeport Hotel, Murray Bridge. Meet the candidates for Barker at the 2025 federal election, find out what they all stand for and ask your questions; presented by Murray Bridge News. RSVP: events.humanitix.com/barker-election-forum-2025 Know of anything happening today? Email jane@murraybridge.news Adult DIY: 10am-12pm at Bunnings Murray Bridge Join a Garden Corner workshop for all things gardening Weekday races: 11am-6pm at Murray Bridge Racing Club New kerbside bins information sessions: 11am and 4.30pm at Murray Bridge Library Come along to this Rural City of Murray Bridge information session to find out what to do with your old bins waste education and tips for making the most of this change Goldies lunch: 12-1.30pm at Tailem Bend Community Centre. Social lunch and chat; transport arrangements can be made for Tailem Bend residents. Booking essential: $15/10; call 8572 3513 Funeral service for Ann-Marie Rigney: 12.30pm at Lifehouse Church Dried flower shadow boxes: 1-4pm at the Square Community Centre, Murray Bridge. Come along and create a beautiful shadow box for you or a special someone in time for Mothers Day. Book: $65; call 8531 1799 or email reception@mbcci.org.au It’s going to be a huge weekend in the Murraylands with arguably the biggest race meetings of the year for Murray Bridge’s horse and greyhound racing clubs But if it’s a low-cost outing you’re after Murray Bridge will be the place for you on Sunday as cultures collide at the Murraylands Multicultural Yuntu-Walun Festival It’s a celebration of the many people who make our region such a diverse place Yarnspace: 11.30am-1pm at Headspace Murray Bridge. A welcoming environment for young First Nations people aged 12-25. Activities include arts/crafts, speakers and more. For more information call 8531 2122 or email headspace@ireach.org.au Funeral service for Shane Douglas Newland: 1pm at the Minge Chapel Funeral service for Alan Raymond McLean: 1.30pm at Holy Cross Lutheran Church Introduction to Journal Writing workshop: 4-5pm at Murray Bridge Library. Are you a budding author looking to learn more to hone your craft? Join former university lecturer Heather and learn the building blocks to writing. Bookings essential: 8539 1175 Noel and Karen: From 6pm at Murray Bridge RSL. Spend the evening with the ever popular Noel and Karen. Happy hour from 6pm. For the free bus service call Errol: 0428 115 911. Bookings essential: 8532 1314 Kids DIY – Garden seed balls: 10am-12pm and 1-2pm at Bunnings Murray Bridge. Kids will combine clay, potting mix and seeds to create seed balls to take home and plant. This workshop is suitable for kids aged 3-12 years old. Children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Bookings essential: www.bunnings.com.au Magic Millions and Gifford Hill Grazing Trail: Gates from 10am at Murray Bridge Racing Club. Magic Millions day at Murray Bridge Racecourse. Tickets start from $22 at www.moshtix.com.au Drag racing: 4-9pm at the Dragway at the Bend, Tailem Bend. Come and see some of SA's quickest and fastest street-registered cars and bikes. All makes and models, modern and classic. Tickets: $12/10 from www.outix.co A Splash of Fringe: 12.30-2.30pm at Murray Bridge Swimming Centre Bring your family and friends for a day of free activities by the pool get your face painted and try out the lawn games catch some roving entertainment with the Splash Squad plus tunes from the Murray Bridge Community Concert Band from 12.45 to 2.15pm Usual pool entry fees and conditions apply The Crofty Show: 7-9pm at the Bend Motorsport Park, Tailem Bend. Enjoy an evening of laughter and entertainment with live quizzes, polls, challenges, prizes, and a Q&A session where Crofty answers audience inspired questions. No tickets at the door. Tickets: $59 at thebend.rezdy.com Murraylands Multicultural Yuntu-Walun Festival: 11am-3pm at Sturt Reserve Enjoy a fantastic lineup of multicultural performers including flamenco dancers Harley Hall’s welcome to country and digeridoo Savour cultural delights from various food vans glitter tattoos and balloon art for the kids plus craft and art stalls Murray Bridge Cup: 11.30am-4pm at Murray Bridge Greyhound Racing Club. First race at 12 noon; food vans, CFS barbecue, bars, TAB facilities and live music plus free activities for the kids including face painting, games, rides and more. Featuring 2024 SA Dog of the Year Fantastic Spike. Entry is gold coin donation. For more information call 0475 682 466 Beer, Cider and Gin Festival: 12-4pm at the Pretoria Hotel, Mannum. Legendary local and international brews, plus gins and premixes; listen to some live acoustic tunes. The kitchen will also be dishing up delicious feeds all day. Tickets $35 pre-sale or $45 on the day from www.stickytickets.com.au; includes free tastings Barney Rebel: 2-3pm at Murray Bridge Library Join ukulele player Barney Rebel for an hour of cool tunes on a hot afternoon Weezy Listening: 2-5pm at the Bridgeport Hotel Tailem Bend Progress Association AGM: 6pm at Tailem Bend RSL Nominations open for Christmas parade and Tailem Topics sub-committees Funeral service for Betty May Jackson: 10.30am at Murray Bridge Church of Christ Proposed changes to council rating system drop-in session: 2-5pm at the local government centre The Rural City of Murray Bridge is proposing changes to its long-standing rating system and is appealing to the community to provide feedback The aim is to ensure the delivery of fairness and sustainability in its property rating system Ratepayers can meet with council staff to review their property details and understand the impact of the proposed changes Rural City of Murray Bridge council meeting: 7pm at the local government centre, Murray Bridge. All welcome. If you can't make it in person, watch the livestream at www.youtube.com Funeral service for Graeme Arthur Searle: 10.30am at the Minge Chapel Creative Kids Craft – Funny faces: 4-5pm at Murray Bridge Library. For crafty kids aged 5-12. Adult must accompany child. Bookings or more information: 8539 1175 Band Connections: 4-6pm at the Station, Murray Bridge. Band Connections is your space to jam with others, learn new songs and practise performing on stage. Use our instruments or bring your own. For ages 12-25, healthy snacks and water provided. Wednesdays during school terms. For more information call 0427 400 635 or email station-admin@murraybridge.sa.gov.au Funeral service for Jack Crombie OAM: 2pm at the Minge Chapel This Time Next Year: 5.30pm at Murray Bridge Library. Movie about Minnie and Quinn, born on the same day, one minute apart. Their lives may begin together, but their worlds couldn't be more different. Years later they find themselves together again. Bookings essential: 8539 1175 Correction: An earlier version of this story gave an incorrect date for the Murray Bridge council meeting Your guide to all the events happening in the Murraylands this week the Rotary Club of Murray Bridge has just the event for you this weekend that wasn't the most imaginative introduction the annual Rotary swap meet makes for a fun morning out Just don't make the rookie mistake of showing up too late Funeral service for Coral Selma Henry: 11am at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church Newbie to Uni – goal-setting: 4-5pm at Murray Bridge Library. Are you new to uni or about to start a TAFE or higher education course? Come and join former university lecturer Heather and learn the fundamentals to be the best you can be when you are studying. Learn how to set short and long-term goals and to achieve them. More information: 8539 1175 Unity College year 12 formal: Arrivals 6.15-7pm at Bridges Event Centre Brinkley Tennis Club 80-year reunion: 6pm at Brinkley Hall Recognition of the 50th year of competition for Wayne Schenke and Heather Richards catch up with past and present members and watch the minor-round match between Brinkley and Jervois from 7pm; food and drinks available for purchase Mannum Lions shed sale: 8am-12pm at Mannum Showground Kids DIY – hula hoop: 10am-12pm or 1-2pm at Bunnings Murray Bridge. Create your own hula hoop using irrigation tube, decorative tape and more. This workshop is suitable for kids aged three and up, who must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Bookings essential: bunnings.com.au Brinkley Tennis Club 80-year reunion: 3pm at Brinkley Hall Great opportunity to catch up and reminisce; please bring a plate of afternoon tea to share Sports-themed bingo: 5.30pm at the Jervois Combined Sporting Club. Annual fundraising event for Jervois Tennis Club; come dressed in something sporty; bar from 5.30pm, food from 6-6.30pm, bingo at 7pm. Bookings: $10 for five rounds; contact Chantelle on 0438 318 327 Mannum Dragonboat Club quiz night: 5.30-9pm at Mannum Community Club. Dinner at 5.30pm followed by quiz at 7pm. Book: $25 for dinner, $10 for the quiz; contact the Club on 8569 1010 Open Slather: 6-11.30pm at the Palmer Hotel. Free entry, giveaways and loads of classic/party rock including the hits of the Kinks, AC/DC, Powderfinger, Green Day, Pink Floyd and so many more. Dinner bookings, more information: 8569 4054 Whole Lotta Zepp: 8.30pm at the Swanport Hotel. Be taken back in time to hear classic hits of Led Zeppelin. Tickets: $21 from www.fringetix.com.au Rotary swap meet: From 6am at Murray Bridge Showground Presented by the Rotary Club of Murray Bridge Exhibition opening: 1.30pm at Murray Bridge Regional Gallery. Artist talk with Lyn Anstey 1.30pm, opening of her exhibition Murray River Calling and Aboriginal artists' exhibition Saltbush Country 2-4pm; guest speaker Jenny Gregson of the Royal South Australian Society of Arts and Kalori magazine. RSVP: events.humanitix.com Mick Kidd: 2-5pm at the Swanport Hotel. Join local legend Mick Kidd and while away a lazy Sunday afternoon with some classic tunes. Bookings, more information: 8532 3666 Wood burning: 9.30am-12.30pm at Murray Bridge Community Centre, 18 Beatty Terrace. Come and try wood burning using a heated tool like a soldering iron to etch designs onto plywood on Mondays in term one. Bookings: $5 per session plus a materials fee; call 8531 1799 or email reception@mbcci.org.au Funeral service for Maurice Paul Deuter: 10.30am at the Bremer Road Cemetery Lifeblood pop-up donor centre: 11.15am-6.15pm at John Dohler Hall, Murray Bridge. Give life – give blood; continues until Thursday. Book now: www.lifeblood.com.au Parent/Child Mother Goose: 9.30am at Mannum Leisure Centre. Every Tuesday during term one, for children aged 0-5 and their parents/caregivers. Features intergenerational sessions, insightful speakers and a supportive environment. For more information, call 8572 3513. Bookings appreciated: www.trybooking.com Lifeblood pop-up donor centre: 10.30am-7.15pm at John Dohler Hall, Murray Bridge. Give life – give blood; continues until Thursday. Book now: www.lifeblood.com.au Lego Club: 4-5pm at Murray Bridge Library. Let your imagination run wild. Fortnightly on Tuesdays during term for ages 5-12. Bookings essential: 8539 1175 Pathfinders national Aboriginal birth certificate program: 9.30am-3.30pm at the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation Indigenous applicants can get a copy of their birth certificate on the same day Lifeblood pop-up donor centre: 9.30am-5.15pm at John Dohler Hall, Murray Bridge. Give life – give blood; continues until Thursday. Book now: www.lifeblood.com.au Where Does it Go? Brinkley Talks Rubbish: 11am-12pm at Murray Bridge Library. Staff from the Brinkley Waste and Recycling Facility want to answer all your questions! You'll come away with an understanding of why your kerbside bins matter, what the future holds for recycling and plenty of interesting facts to share with family and friends. More information: 8539 1175 Band Connections: 4-6pm at the Station, Murray Bridge. Band Connections offers fun opportunities for young people aged 12-25 to develop their talents, build confidence, and connect with others. Instruments available, play with others and learn new songs. More information: Call Aidan on 0427 400 635 Lifeblood pop-up donor centre: 7.30am-2.45pm at John Dohler Hall, Murray Bridge. Give life – give blood. Book now: www.lifeblood.com.au Let's Play with Music: 9.15-10am at the Square Community Centre, Murray Bridge. Every Thursday during school term join this music based program for caregivers and their little ones to build confidence and social connections. Stay after for a nibble and chat. Bookings essential: 8531 1799 or reception@mbcci.org.au Parent/Child Mother Goose: 9.30am at Tailem Bend Primary School. Every Thursday during term one, for children aged 0-5 and their parents/caregivers. Features intergenerational sessions, insightful speakers and a supportive environment. For more information, call 8572 3513. Bookings appreciated: www.trybooking.com Community Photography and Film Club information session: 2-3pm or 5.30-6.30pm at Murray Bridge Library. Are you a keen photographer or a budding cinematographer? Come along to our information sessions and find out more. Bookings essential: 8539 1175 Bedtime stories: 6-6.30pm at Murray Bridge Library. Put on your pyjamas and bring along your favourite teddy. Fortnightly on Thursdays. More information, book: 8539 1175 Correction: The Unity formal is at the racecourse In a recent announcement by travel app Wotif a South Australian town has been named in the top 10 in the 2025 Aussie Town of the Year Awards Murray Bridge was named number seven in the travel app’s picks for destinations across the whole of Australia Taking out first place was coastal town Port Stephens “This is recognition of the beauty and hospitality of Murray Bridge We’re thrilled to welcome visitors from around Australia and the world to experience what makes our town so special.” “This accolade is fantastic for our community We’re ready to showcase our local attractions the largest open-range zoo outside of Africa to our well-loved river and natural landscapes that provide incredible recreational and tourism experiences on our iconic riverfront,” said Mayor Wayne Thorley Less than an hour from Adelaide, Murray Bridge sits along the banks of the Murray River, offering stunning scenery and a range of experiences for all ages. Nearby, the Monarto Safari Park offers stunning new accommodation following the introduction of Asian elephants Burma and Permai the town hosted around 40 events including cycling The town’s event program for 2025 promises to be equally vibrant Among the highlights is Murray Bridge Glows a fire and light festival which has become a winter favourite for locals and visitors The ongoing development and cultural enrichment in the town are contributing to its growing reputation as a premier destination The top ten recognition positions Murray Bridge as the perfect South Australian destination for tourists with it set to become South Australia’s largest regional city Murray Bridge’s acknowledgement as one of Australia’s top towns confirms its status as a must-visit Aussie travel location Over 100 South Australian wine producers are showcasing their best to international importers this.. South Australian councils can now apply for a share of $1.4 million in funding.. Enjoy a fun and interactive dining experience where you can make your own Okonomiyaki.. We think we've found Adelaide's first guinea pig cafe Cosmo’s Pizza is opening beneath Hindley Street Music Hall this May relaxed contemporary dining and polished retail quite like King William Road.. Glam Adelaide is a news website dedicated to bringing you the best of South Australia we pride ourselves in supporting local business We would like to acknowledge the Kaurna people as the custodians of the lands and waters of the Adelaide region Get the latest SA news for free via our iPhone app here: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/glam-adelaide/id1626204930 Get the latest SA news for free via our new Android app here: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=glam+adelaide&c=apps&hl=en&pli=1 Glam Adelaide has today launched an app for readers all over SA Following a viral video showing tensions in the community Adelaide has become home to many a High Tea spots that are perfect for.. Stephen Noonan is bringing his much loved show The Boy and the Ball to.. Wrong Turn At Lungfish is of exceptional quality and an unmitigated stand out South Australia will see mixed weather conditions Get to know more about the brand new mobility equipment and assistive living store in Murray Bridge This sponsored story is brought to you by Thrive Mobility – move with confidence Thrive Mobility have been supplying a broad range of mobility equipment and assistive living technology for over 26 years Now they're bringing business into Murray Bridge with a brand new store at 105 Swanport Road says they pride themselves on meeting the needs of every new face that steps through the door "It's not about getting the most expensive equipment or anything like that.. it's about actually getting what (the customer) needs and what's best for them," he says Things can get a bit overwhelming when it's time to decide that having some extra support is necessary "It comes back to asking questions because we want to know why (customers) are coming in and how we can make a difference in their lives." Thrive Mobility work closely with allied health professionals to ensure the best possible support is provided The new store includes a room designed specifically for allied health professionals to work privately with clients to find what products work well for them "It's all about making the community more accessible and inclusive for everyone." Thrive Mobility also provide training sessions for allied health and other service providers Mobility products range from mobility scooters walking aids and recliners to non-slip mats And if you don't find what you're looking for in store there are many other options the Thrive Mobility team are happy to help with whether that's ordering online or creating custom equipment Thrive Mobility's Murray Bridge store will hold a wide range of products "If someone comes in and they need something changed or they want to get a wheelchair which is really good outdoors and fitted for them... we can do custom measurements and then it gets built for them "It just heightens the comfortability," Mason says Thrive Mobility aim to help people move from feeling trapped and lonely to confident and independent Development Manager Darren Roberts says the demand for their service was obvious when speaking to occupational therapists travelling from Adelaide to Murray Bridge Darren has seen first hand how mobility aids has had positive effects on his elderly family members as their mobility lessens "People are sometimes reluctant to get onto it so they sit at home and lose friendships and their lifestyle," Darren says Just getting a walking frame means they're back out socialising without missing out even if they do have some limitations building." The meat processing company’s employees have donated goods and vouchers to a helpful community institution with their employer matching their contribution dollar for dollar Plus police urge travellers to stay safe this Easter the latest local arrests and Murray Bridge officers hit the court Murray Bridge police are investigating the theft of a road bike after it was taken from the rear of a Toyota station wagon last Thursday a black Trek road bike was stolen from the back of a Toyota station wagon parked in a carpark on Bridge Street The suspected thief was allegedly captured on CCTV carrying the bike over their shoulder as they walked along South Terrace a short time later dressed all in black – see the video below Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestopperssa.com.au South Australia Police are urging road users in the region to make it a safe Easter by demonstrating responsible road behaviours As holidaymakers take to the regions Operation Safe Holidays will be deployed state-wide from Thursday 17 to 21 April with a focus on the Fatal Five factors that lead to road trauma Murray Mallee local service area Superintendent Cynthia Healey said people using local roads can expect a police presence ensuring safety in the region police made around 80 speeding and 30 dangerous driving detections in the Murray Mallee region,” Superintendent Healey said remember to take your time and enjoy the beautiful countryside “Remember it’s not about how quickly you can get to your destination but the fact you’ll make it alive.” In 2024 there were three lives lost and 18 serious injuries incurred as a result of road trauma during the Easter long weekend on South Australian roads South Australia police will have a visible presence at venues across the Adelaide metropolitan and regional roads across ensuring community safety Police urge road users to keep it sweet on the roads by not taking risks A 54-year-old Murray Bridge man faces firearms charges after a backyard fire led to the discovery of insecure firearms It was alleged officers discovered an insecure bolt action shotgun The man was charged with possessing a firearm without a licence possessing insecure firearms and possessing ammunition without a licence Anyone with information on illegal firearms in the community can report it anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestopperssa.com.au Murray Bridge police participated in a youth week event held by Ngarrindjeri Ruwe Empowered Communities (NREC) Murray Bridge a 3x3 basketball competition was held at the Murray Bridge Basketball Association courts the teams had an opportunity to take on SAPOL for a ten-minute game The challenge was accepted with three teams taking the opportunity to play against officers from Murray Bridge but in the end the SAPOL team edged out the others winning two out of the three games A 39-year-old man from Tailem Bend was arrested and charged with allegedly trafficking a controlled drug and possessing a prohibited weapon police attended a Tailem Bend home and conducted a search resulting in police allegedly locating cannabis and a prohibited weapon The man was bailed and will appear in the Murray Bridge Magistrates Court on June 7 Murray Bridge trainer Sam Burford is cutting his final tie to the racehorse industry and selling the stables he has spent more than a decade creating who started as a jockey before transitioning to a professional trainer retired in January 2024 to spend more time with wife Rachel and their two young children The listing of his highly profitable racehorse agistment and training facility marks the end of a successful 13-year career training more than 100 winners Racehorse Grasky ridden by jockey Troy Baker and trained by Sam Burford winning at Allan Scott Park Morphettville Racecourse With no firm plans on where the family will relocate – although the Adelaide Hills is a strong possibility – Mr Burford said he was looking forward to what the future would bring “There’s quite a few avenues I could go down (post-horse racing),” he said “I’ve had quite a few different offers to stay somewhat involved in the racing industry or to get out of it altogether “I obviously will need an income but … I’ve had enough horseplay in my life “A racehorse trainer is a seven-day-a-week I’m 41 now but I left school (to become an apprentice jockey) when I was 15 so I’m due a bit of long service leave.” Mr Burford bought the 7628sqm property – which is just 4km from the Murray Bridge racetrack – about 10 years ago but rented the facilities from the previous owner four-bedroom home was added to the property in 2018 complete with an open-plan kitchen and living area generous rear games room and a relaxing front deck rainwater tanks and three-phase and solar power A high-speed equine treadmill and three-horse floats are available for separate sale A nice big shed with room for all of your equipment the equestrian facilities have continued to be used by other racehorse trainers Mr Burford said while a trainer was the obvious buyer could also allow for future subdivision by investors “I would love to see a trainer come in and do really well here,” he said “We’ve built this up to be a beautiful place so it’s always going to be a bit sad (to leave) “It’s where our kids have grown up and it’s where I started my training career so the place does mean a lot to me and I’m very proud of it.” which is listed with Adelaide Hills Real Estate without a price guide third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored lenders or loan products and we cannot introduce you to sponsored lenders We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content realestate.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. a pair are busted for trafficking cannabis a burglar is charged with sacrilege and much more Police have appealed for help from the public to identify a man who may be able to help with an investigation into incidents at Tailem Bend and two other locations to have been wearing a light grey hoodie and driving a slightly rusty Nissan ute SA Police did not say what kind of “incidents” the man might have been connected with at Tailem However, they urged anyone who knew him to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestopperssa.com.au A woman is recovering in hospital after a road accident at Monteith on Tuesday night A road train collided with a Toyota Kluger at the intersection of the Old Princes Highway and South Eastern Freeway around 8.50pm was fined for allegedly failing to give way was airlifted to hospital in Adelaide with non-life-threatening injuries were assessed at the Murray Bridge hospital Police closed the freeway's eastbound lanes for an hour and a half while they investigated and are appealing for anyone else with information which may help to contact them Police have arrested a man and woman from the Murraylands after a chase involving a caravan ended with a crash at Woodchester A Finniss man called police at 2.20am on Saturday to report that his Nissan Patrol had been stolen Officers soon spotted it going east on Callington Road they were soon overtaken – and allegedly almost sideswiped – by a Great Wall station wagon towing a caravan which would also turn out to have been stolen then lost control of his vehicle and crashed the driver of the stolen Nissan – a 30-year-old Murray Bridge woman – stopped to see what had happened and was promptly arrested herself Police charged the man with endangering life driving while disqualified and illegal use of a motor vehicle; and the woman with illegal use driving while unlicensed and breaching her bail conditions Both were kept in custody ahead of a court appearance in Murray Bridge on Monday A 30-year-old Murray Bridge man has been charged with assault breaching a barring order and illegal interference after allegedly assaulting a Swanport Hotel staff member on Tuesday At around 11.45am police were called to the hotel on Jervois Road after the man was refused entry to the premises and allegedly assaulted a staff member The man fled from the area after police arrived jumping over fences of homes before hiding in the boot of a car where he was located shortly after the man was further charged with seven counts of shop thefts alleged to have occurred over the past 10 days The man is being medically assessed before he appears before the court Police have charged a man with sacrilege after he allegedly broke into the Bridge City Church in Murray Bridge early on Tuesday morning Officers went to the Darling Avenue house of worship at 3.30am after an alarm went off and CCTV showed a man entering the building in possession of books belonging to the church The 25-year-old Mount Gambier man was denied bail ahead of a court appearance later in the day The charge of sacrilege carries a maximum penalty of life in prison Anyone with more information about the offence should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestopperssa.com.au Police have also arrested two other alleged burglars during the past week: Both men will face Murray Bridge Magistrates Court on May 7 Can you help police find the Cube e-bike pictured above Murray Bridge sometime on Saturday night or Sunday morning Anyone with information which may help police should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestopperssa.com.au A man and woman from Murray Bridge have been charged with drug trafficking after police allegedly caught them with a car boot full of cannabis over the weekend Police pulled their car over on the Princes Highway at Meningie at 1.30am on Saturday because its boot was open a man jumped out of the car and tried to slam the boot shut but it popped open to reveal – allegedly – several freshly harvested cannabis plants wrapped in a brown bedsheet Police arrested both the 25-year-old man and 20-year-old woman and granted them bail ahead of a June 2 date at Murray Bridge Magistrates Court They seized the cannabis and some secateurs Police have charged a Burdett man with drug and firearms offences after allegedly finding five guns and 10 cannabis seedlings at his property A police dog helped officers search the property last Monday They allegedly seized two gel blaster handguns which were allegedly being hydroponically grown Police arrested the 44-year-old on Monday and charged him with possessing the guns without a licence He was denied bail ahead of an appearance at Murray Bridge Magistrates Court later that day Anyone with information on illegal guns or drugs can report it to Crime Stoppers, anonymously if needed, on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestopperssa.com.au Police have arrested a man allegedly caught riding a stolen motorbike in Murray Bridge on Sunday A highway patrol pulled over the black Yamaha on Riverview Road at 3.30pm and found it had been stolen at Lyrup in January Its rider allegedly tested positive for methamphetamine Officers charged him with illegal use of a vehicle drug driving and driving while unregistered and uninsured; directed him to stay off the road for 24 hours; and granted him bail ahead of an April 28 court appearance Also penalised by Murray Mallee traffic police over the past week: SA Police will have a handful of speed traps set up locally this week: More cameras will be stationed down the Dukes Highway Police are seeking witness in a motorcycle accident Sunday night on the Princes Highway.