The SE Voice is the Limestone Coast’s only fully digital publication we deliver all the latest news & sport direct to your fingertips We're run by a creative team of local journalists all based in the region News as we know has changed - we're delivering it first and free Thank you for your support in keeping local news alive It will be almost three years before police officers will occupy their new $18m station at Naracoorte Police Minister Stephen Mullighan said work was about to begin at the Smith Street site and it would have a floor area of 750 square metres Mr Mullighan said the station would be completed at the end of 2027 and the transfer process would then begin The minister was speaking in the House of Assembly on Tuesday in response to a query from Member for MacKillop Nick McBride Your local real estate guide - every Thursday Your browser is notsupported. Upgrade to a different browserto experience this site BACK Stay informed with the latest red meat and livestock industry news MeatUp Forums provide an opportunity for beef sheep and goat producers to learn something new stay up-to-date with the latest on-farm research and technologies and meet others working in the red meat industry These forums introduce producers to the outcomes of MLA research and development projects and the next steps to drive profitability and productivity on-farm At these forums you can hear about the latest red meat research development and adoption programs with a whole-farm and value chain focus; interact with expert speakers advisors and researchers; and access tools and insights – tailored to the needs and interests of producers in the local area Elizabeth Thelander - ethelander@mla.com.au - +61 428 472 983 LOG IN TO myMLA NOW 02 9463 9333|1800 023 100 info@mla.com.au © 2025 Meat & Livestock Australia Limited ABN 39 081 678 364 Have a question or concern about something other than the website {{Name}} {{Weight}}{{Value}} {{{Change.Symbol}}} {{{Change.Amount}}} CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) A scrub fire near Naracoorte has engulfed 20 hectares prompting a major firefighting effort with trucks and aircraft 6:15PM UPDATE: The warning has been reduced to Monitor Conditions is currently affecting the South East region and has quickly expanded to approximately 20 hectares Warning levelWatch and Act – Leave Now Check that the path is clear and go to a safer place Do not enter this area as conditions are dangerous This scrub fire is burning in a North Easterly  direction towards Struan Caves Road and the Naracoorte Caves National Park For updates, check the CFS website at cfs.sa.gov.au or phone the Information Hotline on 1800 362 361 impacting air quality and visibility around the Naracoorte Caves National Park Authorities are urging residents and tourists to remain vigilant and heed safety advice including eight fire trucks and six aircraft in an effort to control and extinguish the blaze assisted by National Parks and Wildlife staff are focusing their efforts on protecting local properties and preventing the fire from crossing the Straun-Joanna road The extensive response also features emergency service personnel managing road safety in the vicinity Road users have been advised to avoid the area to prevent interference with emergency operations and ensure their own safety Local residents have been recommended to close windows and doors to avoid smoke inhalation Homes that have been built to withstand a bushfire phone and data connections.Fire crews are responding but you should not expect a firefighter at your door.What you should doCheck and follow your Bushfire Survival Plan.Protect yourself from the fire’s heat – put on protective clothing.Tell family or friends of your plans.If you are leaving don’t delay.Roads may become blocked or access may change Smoke will reduce visibility.Secure your pets for travel.If you become stuck in your car get onto the floor as the windows may break from the intense heat.If you are not leaving – prepare to defendIdentify a safe place inside Keep moving away from the heat of the fire.Bring pets inside and restrain them.Move flammable materials such as doormats wheelie bins and outdoor furniture away from your house.Close doors and windows to keep smoke out.If you have sprinklers turn them on to wet the areas.If the building catches fire 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 Paul Mitchell, Naracoorte News where food on the table was never guaranteed Nasik Swami’s unique journey to our town – and onto our pages every Wednesday – is an unlikely but inspiring reminder that determination and aspiration remain the most valuable resources for anyone craving a better life The odds of a young boy raised on the main Fiji island of Viti Levu eventually playing a key role in making life better for the Pacific region’s LGBTQI population then using his difficult personal experiences to create change in a women’s crisis centre and subsequently becoming editor of the Shanti Dut at The Fiji Times would have been astronomical That Nasik somehow found his way to Melbourne then Naracoorte – with his young family in tow and determined to forge a new life – is testament to his perseverance and willingness to embrace the have-a-go ethos of his adopted country “This place is now my home,” Nasik says “When I meet people and say I’m from Fiji they immediately ask what I’m doing here.” To Nasik’s “humble” upbringing in rural Fiji but my parents taught me to appreciate the little things in life and be grateful and thankful for whatever you had,” he says just one pair of flip-flops and one uniform for the whole week “It was so tough that at times we didn’t have food Mum would ask our neighbours for food to cook something for our meals.” Nasik’s home life was also impacted by domestic violence – a lived experience he would ultimately use to help others professing to be “an average student” a decision to participate in debating piqued his interest in public engagement and eventually saw him gain formal qualifications in media and journalism plus a Masters in International Relations and Diplomacy He landed a key communications role for the Pacific Sexual and Gender Diversity Network (PSGDN) which is the regional network for LGBTQI groups and individuals across the Pacific region “It works towards ensuring that members of the LGBTQI community live healthy safe and prosperous lives in fully inclusive and just Pacific societies,” Nasik explains “One of my very proud achievements there was setting up a brand-new website for PSGDN – it’s like a home base for LGBTQI individuals and organisations in the Pacific.” Core funding for Fiji-based PSGDN comes from the Australian and the group lobbies for reforms in countries much less socially progressive than Australia “We still have many countries in the Pacific who are part of PSGDN and who criminalise same-sex marriage,” he says Nasik then worked in another communications role where his DV-impacted childhood experiences came to the fore “Gender-based violence is their core business,” he explains “I was working with these women and under the great leadership of the centre’s coordinator and human rights activist to help support survivors of gender-based violence in Fiji through advocacy and strategic communications work because I came from a family where my mum was a victim of domestic violence I grew up witnessing that – my dad would bash up my mum Including how to be a better husband to wife Sonnia “I feel I’m always very respectful; I respect opinions sometimes you need to take a step back… and just don’t contribute to that argument.” Feeling the urge to again grow professionally Nasik landed a job at the “progressive daily” Over the years he advanced to become a journalist “It’s the place where it all started for me,” he said “It led to many things in my life and I’m so grateful “I was hired at a time when Fiji was heading to its 2014 general election and I was given the responsibility to strategise the political campaign for the newspaper “Through teamwork and mentorship from those within The Fiji Times and outside independent and balanced election campaign coverage.” Nasik says the Fiji paper’s readership varies Despite forging a successful career in homeland Nasik says he and Sonnia had good reasons to leave Fiji but we considered a lot of things in making that decision,” he said and we wanted (son) Nirvaan to be in a better place and give him a good future it was a tough choice to leave my family back at home my mum was battling stage 4 cancer.” Nasik eventually came to Australia on a student visa to study Leadership and Management in 2022 He arrived in Melbourne and sought employment to support his studies and livelihood before searching for a job that would allow him to use his professional skills “A few bobbed up and one was the Naracoorte News,” he recalls “I didn’t even read or research where Naracoorte was I actually applied for four jobs that night “Then after a week or so I get a call when I was at work and it was (Naracoorte News founder) Michael Waite who had received my application and was asking if I wanted to move further into the process.” Nasik received an email from Michael that his application was successful “That moment changed my life,” Nasik says “I relocated to Naracoorte after about six months in Melbourne My wife and son joined me after about five months “I had no clue what Naracoorte looked like but the caves really caught my interest.” the practical need for life’s necessities cemented Nasik’s love affair with Naracoorte “Initially when I came to Naracoorte I stayed in a fully furnished house,” he explains “My family didn’t buy anything because there was no need “But a while ago we moved to a new place “I reached out to the Naracoorte community through the community Facebook page… and said these are some of the items we need “I started receiving so many messages of help just people telling me that this is what they have and that they’re very happy to share them with me – things like an electric kettle “They would say ‘We have a spare one “This is the community that accepted me.” Now firmly ensconced as editor/senior journalist at The [Naracoorte] News Nasik is more invested in the newspaper than ever putting his heart and soul into every edition “I believe in having a positive impact on the community and The News gives me that avenue “I think it’s an amazing platform and it’s an independent platform “Great people have worked here before me and I’ve heard of their stories and the changes they’ve brought for the community “I’m so proud and inspired by some of the stories written by our founding journalist “We have a great team that works tirelessly behind the scenes to deliver The [Naracoorte] News.” Nasik says The [Naracoorte] News continues to do its best – with limited resources – to cover important community issues community and services” are generally the most read stories says Nasik’s professionalism and journalism have earned respect from the townsfolk “We’re blessed to have someone as earnest and hard-working as Nasik,” Michael says “Him coming to our town has been a classic win-win.” All this from a journalist who only began speaking English in primary school Fiji Hindi is my mother tongue,” Nasik “The good news is our national language is English “I think it was a good thing when Fiji decided to have English as its national language.” This article appeared in the Naracoorte News Sign up for updates from Australian Rural & Regional News Manage your subscription We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info For all the news from Naracoorte Community News, go to https://www.naracoortenews.com/ Former Naracoorte Mayor Bill Pomery has recently passed away at the age of 99 His funeral was held at the Naracoorte Town Hall on Friday He served with the RAAF from 1943 to 1946 and was trained to fly aircraft but was grounded when injured and moved to administration Mr Pomery had been active in his home community He achieved high office in civic affairs and was a long-serving Justice of the Peace Mr Pomery stood for Family First at the 2014 State election He finished in third place for the seat of MacKillop with 1596 primary votes A lifelong resident of Naracoorte and district Mr Pomery held socially conservative views and these were often expressed in letters published in newspapers across the region He wrote and published the book “The bush mayor and beyond” a few years ago Member for Barker Tony Pasin presented a medallion to commemorate the 75th anniversary from the end of World War Two and Mr Pomery’s service during that conflict Mr Pasin visited Mr Pomery at his home in Naracoorte “This medallion and certificate are a way of thanking veterans of the largest global conflict of the 20th century” Mr Pasin said at the time “Mr Pomery is the oldest serving JP in Australia “He has been a prominent figure in the Naracoorte community for many years “The Barker electorate has a rich Second World War history and is proud to be the home to veterans from this remarkable generation of Australians like Bill who served our nation during this time.” the Naracoorte Hotel is getting a complete renovation After an initial set of renovation plans which fell flat in 2020 new owners are poised to bring the historic hotel back to life Dean Group of Hotels is the new owner of Naracoorte’s Kincraig hotel They are set to be completed in as little as 12 months with Dean Group effectively starting from scratch with the hotel’s interior all accommodation being redone to a five-star spec and every area in the hotel getting renovated This is what the Naracoorte community can expect over the next 12 months “the renovations will play on the art deco styling of the period of the hotel’s opening.” Think art deco playing on the era of when it was built – 1930 The group will stick with the original name leaning on the heritage of the venue and its surrounding region they are planning a fresh new rebrand which acknowledges the pub’s rich history and art deco furniture are all in the works “from what we’ve gathered so far from the town locals are looking forward to a new dining destination in Naracoorte.” “People have already been expressing interest for the much-anticipated opening date” Dean Group said Naracoorte will see the Kincraig become a varied food and drink hotspot with offerings for friends Brand-new dining room and front bar spaces along with spacious function rooms are all part of the plans The hotel will also offer a new play area to keep the kids entertained Dean Group says the hotel will also “provide much needed five-star heritage accommodation in the area.” The family-owned hotel group is no stranger to the pub scene. The Largs Pier Hotel, Walkers Arms Hotel and Peninsula Hotel Motel are all amongst the South Australian group’s impressive portfolio the Kincraig Hotel marks a significant boost for Naracoorte’s hospitality scene The group’s multi-million-dollar renovation plans for the venue will prove to be a significant investment in both the hotel and the region The new owners will make a deliberate approach to become a pillar for the local community providing mindful selections of the very best local food and wine Dean Group has owned Mount Gambier’s Macs Hotel going on 15 years Dean Group says they “plan to bring the same high level of hospitality to Naracoorte.” the Kincraig Hotel was part-owned by Port Adelaide player before being taken over by hotel operators and a whole host of wonderful pubs and eateries the Kincraig will be wonderfully suited to the Limestone Coast destination We can’t wait to see these exciting new plans in action with the new Kincraig Hotel expected to open its doors as early as October of next year It's here. Glam Adelaide has today launched an app for readers all over SA. Following a viral video showing tensions in the community, the City of Charles Sturt... 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! Over the next few days, South Australia will see mixed weather conditions, with Adelaide... Craig’s Bakehouse & Cafe opens this week in Naracoorte blending tradition with innovation to offer an authentic Limestone Coast experience The Limestone Coast is set to welcome a brand-new venue this week as the long-anticipated Craig’s Bakehouse & Cafe opens its doors in Naracoorte bringing tourism and employment boosts along with an authentic local experience “Craig’s Bakehouse & Cafe represents more than just a business opening its doors,” says owner “It’s about strengthening the bonds between locals and welcoming tourists with a uniquely local experience We’re not just here to bake bread – we’re here to create memories and contribute to the shared success of the Limestone Coast.” This exciting new venture is set to contribute to the town’s vibrant future while honouring the history and traditions of the region The location Craig’s now calls home has an 80-year heritage as a bakery under the Morris & Sons name leaving another main-street shopfront empty “Craig’s Bakehouse & Cafe isn’t just another business – it’s a reflection of Naracoorte’s community spirit We’ve worked closely with locals through community feedback programs inviting residents to participate in shaping the menu and making the space feel like home Local trades have helped to create the revitalised bakery café that will continue to foster that sense of connection becoming a gathering place for locals and visitors alike where memories are made and shared over freshly baked goods and quality coffee.” The concept for the new bakery is innovative aiming not only to serve locals but also to provide a destination venue for travellers en route to the Coonawarra Wine Region the bakehouse aims to offer an authentic local experience that celebrates the unique flavours of the region paired with plans to engage with the hospitality and tourism industry will play a key role in showcasing Naracoorte as a must-visit destination alongside representatives from local businesses and community organisations will join Craig’s in marking the milestone The event will feature a ribbon-cutting and cake-cutting ceremony with local dignitaries photo opportunities with members of the community and free samples of Craig’s signature baked goods “We’re excited to become a part of the Naracoorte community,” said Craig “Our goal is to create a space where people can come together Craig’s Bakehouse & Cafe will officially open to the public on Thursday Craig’s Bakehouse & CafeWhere: 120 Smith St, Naracoorte SA 5271When: Opening December 12th, then Tuesday to Friday, 6am to 3pm, Saturday and Sunday, 7am to 3pm.For more information, click here Craig’s Bakehouse & Cafe is set to open its doors in Naracoorte ready for the festive season Images via Craig’s Bakehouse & Cafe Craig’s Bakehouse & Cafe is set to open its doors in Naracoorte Craig’s is being transformed into a contemporary bakehouse and cafe adding a new gem to the prime Limestone Coast destination of Naracoorte The building has a rich eighty-year history as a bakery It was formerly home to Morris and Sons Bakery which stood the test of time serving baked goods for well over three quarters of a century The bakery’s official opening is set for Thursday 12th December in its brand new home of 120 Smith Street with a head for business and is the visionary behind the new venue Craig’s Bakehouse is set to become a pinnacle of the Limestone Coast food scene the bakery invited followers to jump onto their website and have their say on what they’d like to see on the menu It’s fair to say Craig’s Bakehouse is all about community and serving the people The bakery has also just launched their wholesale range bringing artisan baked goods to local venues and retailers throughout the region September saw an extensive range of Craig’s Badelicious sweet and savoury bakery items land on the shelves of Foodland Naracoorte Step into the brand new space merging history and new beginnings with a menu designed to showcase the best of artisan baking delicious lunch or a relaxed baked-treat-filled afternoon no visit is complete without savouring a cup of freshly brewed coffee to complement every bite Craig’s Bakehouse is the perfect addition to any Limestone Coast itinerary Whether you’re a local in search of a new favourite spot or you’re just on your way through make a point to stop by and enjoy all Craig’s has to offer When: Opening 12 December 2024Where: 120 Smith Street, Naracoorte, Limestone Coast, South AustraliaFor more information, click here Senior Constable Chris Mailley of Naracoorte has been named the 2024 South Australia Police Officer of the Year for his impactful work in combating domestic violence and engaging the community in support initiatives Naracoorte’s Senior Constable Chris Mailley has been honoured as the 2024 South Australia Police Officer of the Year organised annually by the Rotary Club of Unley in collaboration with South Australia Police (SAPOL) recognises police officers who go above and beyond in their duties and service Senior Constable Mailley has been instrumental in the setup of the ‘Upper South East Domestic Abuse Program’ (USEDAP) This initiative focuses on generating funds to aid individuals in critical domestic situations His efforts have significantly impacted the way domestic and family violence victims receive assistance in the region praised Senior Constable Mailley for his unwavering dedication to helping at-risk community members in the Upper South East “Senior Constable Mailley exhibits outstanding character traits that make him an exceptional police officer and community leader including enthusiasm and compassion,” said Commissioner Stevens Originally hailing from near Birmingham in the United Kingdom Senior Constable Mailley embarked on his policing career nearly three decades ago His extensive background includes involvement with the riot squad the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Senior Constable Mailley moved with his family to Naracoorte in 2009 he has actively contributed to the community by spearheading youth-focused projects such as BMX track construction and drug awareness programs Senior Constable Mailley acknowledged the collective effort behind his achievements “I feel very humbled to be receiving this award It’s nice to be awarded later in my career as it shows we don’t lose our passion for what we do,” he shared Senior Constable Mailley highlighted that the award belongs to the entire community which has supported the domestic violence program and other local projects “This belongs to the community: businesses and management team – there’s just too many involved and that shows how much support there’s been,” he added forming part of the Naracoorte Lucindale Community Care Network operates independently from government support relying on community donations and fundraising efforts Senior Constable Mailley also reflected on his decision to move to South Australia with his family saying South Australia “did not disappoint” SAPOL is currently recruiting from the United Kingdom and he’s spoken to a few successful applicants have no regrets and found the move to be such an exciting new chapter in our lives,” Senior Constable Mailley said “I recall we all had a cheeky smile at each other as we flew in and saw Glenelg beach and from there on His family has integrated well into their new environment with his wife Amanda working as a midwife and nurse and their son Jake serving as a police officer in Port Augusta Senior Constable Mailley is actively involved in the Naracoorte Lions Club and collaborates with the local high school Despite his busy schedule managing a farm and a powder coating business aiming to enhance domestic violence support in the area The award presentation took place at the Royal Adelaide Show and District 9510 Governor Marie-Louise Lees officially recognised Senior Constable Mailley’s contributions “Chris is held in high esteem by his peers members of the Family Violence Investigation Section and wider Naracoorte and Limestone Coast communities,” stated Mr “Rotary is pleased to partner with SAPOL to award a dedicated police officer worthy of such recognition.” The new $18m police station at Naracoorte will be built on a 1.5 hectare block at 31 Smith Street The facility was announced in the 2023/24 budget almost 18 months ago but no location was stated Police Minister Stephen Mullighan announced the location last week in the House of Assembly in response to a query from Member for MacKillop Nick McBride Located 345km south-east of Adelaide, on South Australia’s Limestone Coast, is a World Heritage-listed fossil site that offers a glimpse of how life was long before humans arrived on the continent. Welcome to Naracoorte Caves which for 500,000 years have acted as natural pitfall traps and predator dens ensnaring everything from Ice Age megafauna to modern-day species Thousands of animals have met their end after tumbling into the caves’ concealed entrances and becoming trapped they perished and their skeletons have mingled with those of cave-dwelling animals dead from natural causes and bones picked clean by predators and scavengers.  “The caves at Naracoorte have been accumulating animal remains for the best part of the last 500,000 years so you’ve got a record for vertebrate life within one place that spans the last half-million years,” says palaeontologist Professor Gavin Prideaux from SA’s Flinders University “A lot of really significant climatic changes occurred over that time: there were the glacial–interglacial cycles which are the comings and goings of ice ages so you can see how a really diverse fauna responded to that glacial–interglacial cycling…and what the environment was like at all these successive time periods.” About 120 animal species are represented in Naracoorte’s fossil and bone deposits “When you look at the Naracoorte fossil assemblages most of the species that are preserved there are still around now,” Gavin says “But there’s a whole bunch…[of] larger species – what we’d call megafauna – that aren’t.” These megafauna fossils are the crown jewels of Naracoorte the leopard-sized “marsupial lion” that was the largest-known mammalian carnivore to ever prowl Australian ecosystems; Procoptodon goliah a flat-faced kangaroo that stood 2m tall; modern wombats’ evolutionary relative a hippopotamus-like marsupial herbivore that weighed 500kg; and a 5m-long constrictor snake Thylacine and Tasmanian devil remains have also been found inside the caves these fossils provide a perspective on the diversity of extinct animal forms known as megafauna.  This ancient and mostly oversized assemblage became extinct 60,000–40,000 years ago Whatever caused this extinction event remains a hot topic in scientific circles; many researchers are hardline advocates that humans overhunted these animals to extinction “It’s really hard to pull apart what’s likely to be a human-influenced change versus a climatically influenced change because we know [both] of those factors can drive biotic change,” Gavin explains “That record prior to 65,000 years ago is super critical It gives us a baseline that shows how fauna and vegetation respond to climatic change when there are no humans on the scene Once humans are on the scene and we see evidence of change in the record we’re better able to decipher what’s likely a human impact versus a climate impact.” The megafaunal extinction debate looms disproportionately large among scientists; Gavin says it’s “sucking up so much oxygen out of a whole area of research” he is more fascinated by the animals themselves He wants to understand how Australian ecosystems were structured before the arrival of humans 65,000 years ago and piece together the evolutionary record of these mammals that were biologically distinct from the rest of the world “Australia is a unique experiment in mammal evolution because we have all these mammals here that evolved in isolation for 30 million years,” he says “It’s like this independent experiment; some of them evolved into niches that were somewhat similar to placental mammals elsewhere whereas others were just doing their own thing.”  There’s still a lot we don’t know about Australia’s megafauna: their diets distribution and ecological roles – alongside the tantalising certainty there are more species out there “We can get the data [to] work out how big they were how they moved and how far they roamed across the landscape All that information is attainable – but we don’t have it So I’ve become sort of more interested in that rather than the bloody extinction debate,” Gavin says the current tally is about 73 species of megafauna in the Pleistocene that aren’t any longer here It’s like going to Africa now and imagining that Their loss from the ecosystem would have a massive environmental impact.” Naracoorte’s animal fossils and bone deposits allow palaeontologists to peel back layers of time and glimpse into prehistoric environments Scientists can analyse pollen and charcoal deposits stored inside the cave to figure out the types of plants that have grown in the area since the Pleistocene “Different types of plants have differently shaped pollen so by studying fossil pollen you can reconstruct the vegetation,” Gavin says you get a much better sense of the structure of ecosystems at particular slices of time.”  Scientists can pair this with other geochemical records Researchers from The University of Melbourne and The University of Adelaide recently examined rainwater stored inside the caves’ 350,000-year-old stalagmites and stalactites using uranium–lead dating to determine their age published in the journal Nature in February revealed that Australia’s ice ages received more rainfall than previously thought suggesting the continent’s glacial periods were more hospitable for plants and animals compared with those in the Northern Hemisphere these prehistoric climate data have modern relevance Naracoorte’s ancient fossils and geochemical records provide insights into the ways animals and plants have responded to past climate change – and that might offer clues for the future “If we’re trying to make inferences about current global climate change and how that will affect our faunas we can’t reliably extrapolate [ecological data] from five years or 10 years or 20 years or 50 years ago because it’s not long enough to make a decent inference,” Gavin says “But that’s where records like those of the Naracoorte caves are really important for understanding what’s likely to happen if the temperature keeps increasing Only four of Naracoorte Caves National Park’s 28 known caves are open; the rest are put aside for scientific research “It’s pretty exciting because we’re discovering new things all the time whether that’s in the lab or in the museum And it captures people’s attention,” Gavin says “People are interested in palaentology because it expands their perspective on things and makes them realise that there’s a big picture out there We certainly get so focused on our own little part of the world sometimes it’s nice to take a step back and think about the bigger picture.” By subscribing you become an AG Society member, helping us to raise funds for conservation and adventure projects. Play Duration: 2 minutes 58 seconds2m 58sBrought to you by In November, National Parks & Wildlife Service is putting the spotlight on SA's only World Heritage-listed site, the Naracoorte Caves. A free World Heritage Festival on Saturday, November 2 will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Caves’ UNESCO World Heritage listing, showcasing the uniquely preserved animal fossils & you can take part in underground yoga. Manager of the Naracoorte Caves, Tom Shortt said to Deb Tribe, "The Naracoorte Caves contain fossils going back about half-a-million years". Fossils on display at the Naracoorte Caves National Park. (ABC South East SA - Sam Bradbrook ) Published: 25 Apr 2025Fri 25 Apr 2025 at 11:30pm Published: 18 Apr 2025Fri 18 Apr 2025 at 8:30pm Published: 11 Apr 2025Fri 11 Apr 2025 at 11:30pm Download the ABC listen app to text and call your favourite live radio Senior Constable Chris Mailley with South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens at the South Australian 2025 Citizen of the Year Awards ceremony at Government House (Photo courtesy of the Australia Day Council of South Australia) NARACOORTE’S very own community champion Senior Constable Chris Mailley has been honoured as South Australia’s 2025 Citizen of the Year Chris received the honour at the South Australian 2025 Citizen of the Year Awards ceremony held at Government House earlier this month Naracoorte Lucindale Council nominated Chris for the honour in the wake of his recognition as a joint recipient of Naracoorte’s 2025 Citizen of the Year Award The Awards are provided by the Australia Day Council of South Australia and administered by local government authorities throughout the State Chris has made a profound impact in the fight against domestic violence by founding the Upper South East Domestic Abuse Program Through community donations and fundraising the initiative provides emergency financial support for victims Chris’s work extends to preventative measures including a youth respectful relationship program In honouring all recipients of this year’s Citizen of the Year Awards Australia Day Council of South Australia chief executive officer Jan Chorley said these individuals are selfless enabling communities to be strengthened by their tireless efforts reminding us of how good we can be when we’re at our best I congratulate all award recipients for their extraordinary contributions to our State,” Jan said If you haven’t had the chance to visit the poppy installation at Naracoorte Town Square you’re truly missing a stunning display of craftsmanship featuring around 1,500 hand-knitted poppies arranged on a five-by-five-metre net was created by Naracoorte’s heartfelt group known as the “Poppy Girls” in honour of the courageous ANZAC soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom the “Poppy Girls”—a close-knit group of anonymous friends—have poured genuine emotion and respect into this meaningful project the group’s Lesley Cook told this publication that the installation was a tribute to all the brave ANZACs who paid the ultimate price for our freedom and to the amazing animals who served alongside them Ms Cook said the inspiration behind the Naracoorte ANZAC poppy installation came from the 5000 Poppies Project set up by a group of ladies from Victoria in 2013 “Having travelled to various places in South Australia and Victoria around ANZAC Day and seeing their poppy tributes I thought it would be good to do something similar for Naracoorte (albeit on a much smaller scale) to honour those who have served,” Ms Cook said She said there was a core group of “Poppy Girls” “We are a group of friends who love to knit and crochet but also wish to remain anonymous as this installation is not about us,” she said “It took the core group of “Poppy Girls” about three and a half days to sew the poppies onto a five-by-five-metre net and four of us about three hours to install it “I do not know exactly how many crafters from the community made poppies or how much yarn/material was used Almost all of it was donated from the stash of yarn that almost everyone who knits or crochets has “I can tell you the installation is heavy.” Ms Cook said the group started making poppies earlier this year “…through the help of Naracoorte Lucindale Council in particular the teams from the library and Visitor Information Centre who acted as poppy drop-off points and gave out free patterns and it quickly became a community project,” Ms Cook said “We have received poppies from as far away as Kadina fellow knitters and crocheters from Apsley The Naracoorte Girl Guides gained their sewing badges by creating material poppies for the installation “We have used three different colour poppies the meanings of which were taken from the SA Army Museum website red poppies were among the first flowers to spring up on the battlefields of France and Belgium “White—this is the international symbol of remembrance for all the casualties of war—civilians and armed forces personnel—for those who have returned with injuries and of peace “And purple is for the animals and birds who also served.” “Working on this project has been an amazing experience We are very lucky to live in this wonderful community,” she said This article appeared in The Naracoorte News, 23 April 2025 Part of the Caves’ Megafauna Experience at the World Heritage-listed site the new presentation is set to captivate visitors with more accurate details than ever before Photo description: Flinders Emeritus Professor Rod Wells with the latest marsupial lion reconstruction Photography credit: Flinders University (Grant Gully) Today the Naracoorte Caves is unveiling the latest model of Thylacoleo carnifex known as Australia’s formidable carnivorous marsupial lion The model now includes previously missing tail bones and additional backbone features recently discovered by Flinders University Palaeontology researchers National Parks and Wildlife Service Naracoorte Caves Site Manager spoke about the importance of this addition “We’re excited to head towards the Christmas school holidays with this new display that will extend the legacy of one of the original Victoria Fossil Cave skeletons found in the late 1970s.” He added “To be able to provide an updated skeleton to our guides to interpret for visitors on tour through the Victoria Fossil Cave is going to be an amazing opportunity to pass on information about this intriguing animal.” The new model has been meticulously crafted by Carey Burke a technical officer at Flinders University Palaeontology Lab to craft a dramatic depiction of the predator “We recast some of the original molds and made the new mount based on a 3D model of the Nullarbor skeleton and recast new hands and caudal vertebrates to match the latest fossil record research.” Emeritus Professor Rod Wells from Flinders University’s College of Science and Engineering who played a significant role in the discovery of Thylacoleo fossils over five decades ago praised the more complete and dynamically posed reconstruction “This re-assessment of the biomechanics and behaviour has showcased a dramatic picture of this ferocious ambush predator.” With features resembling those of a cat and known for its carnivorous diet this apex predator weighed about 120kg and is believed to have hunted with its sharp claws and large teeth The species was once widespread across Australia but became extinct roughly 50,000 years ago Visitors to the Naracoorte Caves can now see Thylacoleo in what researchers believe to be its natural hunting pose adding an impactful visual to the already fascinating tour through Australia’s prehistoric past This exhibition is particularly special as it marks 30 years since the caves were first recognised as a World Heritage site reinforcing its importance as a site of significant paleontological and historical value For more information, including detailed photographs and exhibit descriptions, visitors can access the official Naracoorte Caves and Flinders University websites 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 Is our usually quiet town turning into a hotspot for trading chop chop – illegal tobacco South Australia Police (SAPOL) conducted searches at a home and business in Naracoorte seizing around $1,000 worth of illicit tobacco The home and business involved were not publicly identified This police action was part of a broader crackdown on the illegal tobacco trade in the South East and residential premises in Mount Gambier and Millicent were also searched and Consumer and Business Affairs conducted searches on February 19 and 20 seizing nearly $800,000 worth of tobacco and $66,000 in cash Is this just the beginning of the crackdown That’s what this newspaper [Naracoorte News] asked SAPOL Their response: “SA Police will not be providing any further comment in relation to whether the operation is ongoing.” We also inquired about the reasoning behind the name Operation Eclipse “The majority of SAPOL operation names come from a corporately approved list and others are chosen by districts or local service areas to fit the operation’s purpose or location such as Safe Hills for traffic operations in the Adelaide Hills area which aims to prevent livestock theft,” SAPOL said SAPOL explained that many operation names were reused annually which focuses on cracking down on mobile phone use while driving In one search at a Mount Gambier gift shop Further investigations resulted in the seizure of $540,000 worth of tobacco products at a commercial storage premises also in Mount Gambier Searches throughout the region resulted in the arrest of a man for failing to provide his name and address Operation Eclipse commander Detective Chief Inspector Brett Featherby said the regional seizures had significantly disrupted the activities of the syndicates “If organised crime syndicates think they can operate in regional areas and not come to the attention of police they are wrong,’’ Detective Chief Inspector Featherby said in a statement “The seizures in the South-East have enhanced our knowledge of the operating model of the syndicates and are the subject of further investigations.” This article appeared in the Naracoorte News with steers and heifers making up to 30 cents a kilogram more than late last year All articles from our website & appThe digital version of This Week's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other agricultural news sites in your areaContinueEven better jumps were seen on lightweight steers (250-280kg) which made up to 474c/kg This reflected the strong demand from northern buyers with well over half of the nearly 5000 head yarding (offered by SAL Livestock TDC Livestock & Property and Nutrien) heading across at least one border Keilira (pictured with their TDC agent Jamie Gray) sold 192 Glatz blood Angus steers to $1641 and 93 heifers to $1188 from their Harold Park property Picture by Catherine MillerSeveral buyers and agents from as far afield as Gunnedah and Glen Innes 2952 steers averaged $1451 (425c/kg) and 1938 heifers averaged $1125 (352c/kg) Steer top price honours at $2005 went to McPiggery with 13 August 2023-drops which were the heaviest in the yards These Keringa and Bull Oak Well-bloods sold for 410c/kg to Garrison feedlot The highest price of the true weaners were 27 Angus from MH Burzacott and Emery These 427.4kg (January and February 2024-drops) sold to Tyrell Park for 412c/kg They sold 20 Angus to NSW commission buyer Jeremy Cummins for 416c/kg or $1713 Also bound for northern NSW are 11 Angus from Mandala which weighed 405.9kg was one of the volume sellers with 175 steers and 88 heifers The steers which were Black Simmental/Angus crosses topped at $1702 for some 411kg Picture by Catherine Miller Ferris Partners Keilira were also among the high prices with their annual consignment of 192 Glatz Black Angus-bld steers and 93 heifers Their heaviest pen of steers - 23 weighing 387kg made 424c/kg or $1641 to TFI's Glenross property at Millicent The tops of the Ferris Partners heifers made 350c/kg or $1188 were pleased to receive $1573 for their 30 Angus steers weighing 371kg In an example of the strong price rise since last month which sold its heaviest Angus calves in mid-December achieved similar dollar-a-head prices for calves which were 50kg lighter sold the firsf pen in Nutrien's run receiving $4.24/kg for the Angus steers or $1573 They said 2024 was the worst season they can remember but the prices made feeding six days a week from April to September last year all worthwhile Picture by Catherine MillerBoonderoo Pastoral Co's heaviest pen of Granite Ridge and Murdeduk- blds achieved one of the highest cents a kilogram rates on steers with their lightest pen of March/April drop led the heifer buying charge securing two of the highest priced pens - both at 352c/kg made $1330 while SL Childs received $1315 for a pen of 26 which were 373kg These lines of heifers will be joined to Nampara Angus bulls and sold as PTIC females at Mortlake Heifer top price honours at $1496 belonged to eight Charolais-crosses from MH Burzacott and MD Emery had a successful day selling their 53 Landfall and Weeran bld Angus steers to 432c/kg or $1565 and 33 heifers at 362c/kg or $1154. Picture by Catherine MillerTDC Livestock & Property auctioneer Matt Treglown said vendors were well rewarded for a "class yarding" with 400c/kg the benchmark for all steers "The sales in the north have grown from strength-to-strength every day so we knew we were in for a reasonable type of day," he said 'At the end of the day you never know until the buyers line up on the rail and they have today." Mr Treglown said it was a "terrific" heifer sale "There were four or five buyers lined up on each pen and it was underpinned by the feedlots especially on those heavier heifers," he said (pictured right) with his grandson Darcy Clarke were among the local buyers Picture by Catherine MillerNutrien Naracoorte key account manager Brendan Fitzgerald said "black steers which were EU and weaned" were making at least 20c/kg and more in places than December "It is a reflection of what is happening up north and demand from these backgrounders is drifting down here," he said "The weight of the cattle suited a lot of buyers the cattle are hard in condition so they are going to go on feed and go ahead." Mr Fitzgerald noted a similar price rise for heifers "A lot of heifers that were $3/kg to $3.20/kg were up in that $3.40/kg to $3.60/kg range - buyers were selective on type and breeding but they were paying for the right article," he said Tomorrow (Friday) Elders and PPHS will be holding a steer only sale with nearly 3000 head commencing at 8am Catherine is Stock Journal's long time livestock editor and South East journalist. Newsletters & AlertsView allDaily Today's top stories curated by our news team Our twice weekly wrap of the latest in rural property sales Our twice weekly wrap of the big news in the red meat sector Industry news from Australia's dairy sector The week's top stories curated by our news team Get the latest news to your email inbox FREE It was a great day at the races recently for the Naracoorte Cup Get an all ACCESS PASS to the News and your Digital Edition with an online subscription Get an all access pass to the News and your Digital Edition with an online subscription Cosmos » Palaeontology An analysis of ancient kangaroo fossils from World Heritage caves in South Australia reveals that the prehistoric beasts had a more varied diet than previously thought Such an adaptable palate would have made the now extinct kangaroos resilient to climate change The findings shed new light on our understanding of how most of Australia’s megafauna went extinct The fossils come from the Naracoorte Caves in South Australia Naracoorte is about 320km southeast of the state capital Fossils were preserved in sediment which built up in the cave for about the last 500,000 years The caves are one of the most significant fossil sites in the world highlighting changes in biodiversity in an ecosystem over hundreds of thousands of years At least 93 vertebrate species have been discovered in the caves among the 5,000 catalogued specimens Many thousands more could be awaiting discovery Among the species are some of the largest marsupials ever the buffalo-sized Zygomaturus trilobus and Palorchestes azael The cave’s fossils also include Australia’s largest ever mammal carnivore the extinct “marsupial lion” Thylacoleo carnifex There are also species which are familiar to us such as wallabies, Tasmanian devils, turtles, giant snakes, bats, parrots, possums, lizards and frogs. There are even remains of thylacines (Tasmanian tigers) which went extinct on the mainland long before their human-driven extinction from Tasmania in 1936 It wouldn’t be a species-rich Australian fossil site without a few kangaroos too Naracoorte has preserved ancient kangaroo species including Macropus titan – an extinct giant relative of today’s grey kangaroo – and Procoptodon goliah – a 3m-tall heavily-built short-faced kangaroo which was the largest kangaroo ever The new research, published in the journal Science used Dental Microwear Texture Analysis to compare the diets of 12 extinct species found at Naracoorte with those of 17 modern species “Our study shows that most prehistoric kangaroos found at Naracoorte had broad diets,” says lead researcher Sam Arman “This dietary flexibility likely played a key role in their resilience during past changes in climate.” The findings challenge previous theories that extinct kangaroo species died out due to their specialised diets the study showed that most species were mixed feeders gorging on a combination of grasses and shrubs This suggests the ancient kangaroos would have been able to adapt their diets when climate changes altered vegetation patterns “Most of the Naracoorte kangaroo species actually had similar everyday diets which would reflect foods that were most nutritious and readily accessible,” says Flinders University’s Gavin Prideaux “Having the hardware to eat more challenging foods would have helped them get through seasons or years when their preferred food was rare,” Arman adds but this capability becomes crucial when I do need it.” Veteran Car Club of South Australia (VCCSA) running cars and motorbikes will visit South Australia in September when the town of Naracoorte plays host to the sixth Julian McNeil from the Veteran Car Club of South Australia (VCCSA) says this is the first time this run has been held in South Australia and features only vehicles built before 1905 “From Friday 13th to Sunday 15th September 30 cars and motorcycles from all over Australia will be defying the years and visiting the Naracoorte Caves driving cars or riding motorbikes on 80-to-100-kilometre round trips might sound easy; in these vehicles it is a mighty task “Many of these vehicles have just one cylinder and only the most primitive of transmissions making piloting them a challenging proposition “The people around Naracoorte are fortunate to have the opportunity to witness these machines the youngest “only” 120 years old on the road and we thank them in advance for their patience should they get caught momentarily behind one of the entrants!” Professor McNeil says the best time and place to see all the entrants together will be at a special display arranged in the centre of Naracoorte from 8:30 to 9:30 on Saturday morning and see and hear these remarkable motoring relics from a time long gone while you have the chance.”  will soon open for two days in a bid to raise funds for Motor Neuron Disease (MND) Legorium includes three colourful rooms – one 8m x 8m – boasting displays with various Lego themes from flowers and retro items to planes There are a myriad of sets and displays including a Colosseum Behind Legorium is Naracoorte’s Angela McLachlan supported by her daughter Acacia and partner Dr Tony Cohen Ms McLachlan recalls playing with Lego as a child Almost 20 years ago she started buying various Lego sets for her four young children then helped them build it – “or I built it for them,” she laughed Around six years ago Ms McLachlan started building Lego again Her friends started giving her boxes of their second-hand Lego that was no longer being used She also bought more from Op-shops and via the internet “I originally had (the Lego) in my shed at home but after a while it outgrew my shed,” Ms McLachlan said Family and friends helped her to move the ever-growing Lego collection to another property we have transformed the shed (into a place) for me to sort Since then she has built even more Lego displays with her daughter helping with administrative tasks “Tony helps me too – sometimes we sit and build Lego together “I don’t drink or smoke or have any other vices While Ms McLachlan enjoyed building the Lego it was the detective work involved with all the second hand Lego that she particularly relished “A large majority of the Lego here is second hand,” she said But a lot of it comes in boxes with lots of mixed pieces.” there were things like a non-working pen or a couple of dice mixed in it Ms McLachlan said she liked to go through it all and sort it out uncommon or with specific stickers or patterns,” she said “After finding these pieces I am able to find out what sets they are from “From there I can then track down all the parts for that specific kit and gather all the parts together so it can be built later on “My favourite part of having all this Lego is being able to sort it and give the Lego that people are no longer using With people eager to see her massive collection Ms McLachlan recently decided to open her building at 127 Gordon St to raise funds for Motor Neuron Disease “I have family and friends that have been affected by Motor Neuron Disease (MND),” she said “Opening my Lego collection to the public allows me to share my passion with other people while also raising money for a good cause.” Motor Neuron Disease (MND) is the name of a group of diseases which affect motor nerves or neurons causing the muscles to become weaker and weaker “I hope people come and support this charity as well as enjoy the Lego displays,” Ms McLachlan said During the open days on November 23 and 24 people will be asked to “make a donation” to enter the Legorium This article appeared in the Naracoorte News BORDER DISTRICTS 10.8 (68) d BORDERTOWN 9.9 (63) THE Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League kicked off its 2025 season on […] Naracoorte Lucindale Council has unveiled its 2025 Australia Day award winners Joint Naracoorte Citizen of the Year – David Steadman for his outstanding contribution to the Naracoorte Community David goes above and beyond through his role as a community pharmacist and is a current and long-standing member of many boards including the Naracoorte Area Health Advisory Council the Longridge Aged Care Board and Naracoorte SA 4WD Club Joint Naracoorte Citizen of the Year – Christopher Mailley for his outstanding contribution to the entire Upper South East community particularly through his role in the development of the Upper South East Domestic Abuse Program (USEDAP) Lucindale Citizen of the Year – Vivienne Hocking for her outstanding contribution to the Lucindale community through her long-term involvement with the Naracoorte & Districts Suicide Prevention Network Lucindale Country Club and the Lucindale Economic Development Board (LINC) Vivienne is also an active member of the Naracoorte Area Health Advisory Council and the Lucindale Health Advisory Committee and was a long-standing volunteer of Lucindale Area School Naracoorte Active Citizenship Award – Anne Emerson for her outstanding contribution to the Naracoorte Regional Art Gallery through her role as a board member and volunteer Lucindale Active Citizenship Award – Rachel Major for her outstanding contribution to the Lucindale community through her involvement with the Strength for Life program Naracoorte Young Citizen of the Year – Emma Gallagher for her outstanding voluntary contribution to the community particularly to the Naracoorte P&A Society Show Committee and South East Dressage Club Naracoorte Community Event of the Year – Naracoorte Caves World Heritage Festival Lucindale Community Event of the Year – Lucindale Karting Club for hosting the Australian Dirt Kart National Titles Naracoorte Certificate of Appreciation – Glenn Mathieson for over 45 years of contribution to basketball Naracoorte Certificate of Appreciation – Friends of the Naracoorte Cemetery volunteers for their outstanding efforts at the Naracoorte Cemetery The Citizen of the Year Awards is a premier award program of the Australia Day Council of South Australia The local awards will be presented at Australia Day celebrations in Naracoorte and Lucindale on Sunday Naracoorte’s Australia Day celebrations will kick off with a free community breakfast in the Town Squares at 7am with the official ceremony getting underway at 8am Lucindale’s Australia Day ceremony will get underway at 11am at the Rotunda in Centenary Park followed by a free community barbecue lunch Both events will again be livestreamed to Council’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/naracoortelucindalecouncil especially when it comes to spotting emerging talent and value plays He’s turned his attention to Naracoorte today uncovering a few standout runners that could deliver strong results for punters With two selections marked as highest confidence Check out Carl’s full set of tips for Naracoorte below: Terry continues to nail his best bets at a good rate Subscribe here so you never miss his tips!.  Smashing Action — Win Odds: $2.60 Stake: Standard Fancy Shoulder — Win Odds: $2.35 Stake: Standard Quik Rhapid — Win Odds: $13.00 Stake: Standard Dylan's Lad — Win Odds: $8.50 Stake: Standard Leader's Pride — Win Odds: $7.50 Stake: Standard Flyway — Win Odds: $7.50 Stake: Highest Supreme Thunder — Win Odds: $3.80 Stake: Highest There are loads of tips for today's racing in our Horse Racing Tips market at theGreatTipOff.com 1) 0ms,border-color 250ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;transition:background-color 250ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;background-color:#902fa1;box-shadow:0px 3px 1px -2px rgba(0,0,0,0.2),0px 2px 2px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.14),0px 1px 5px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.12);width:100%;border-radius:4px;margin-right:0px;min-width:auto;height:35px;padding-left:12px;padding-right:12px;padding-top:8px;padding-bottom:8px;background-color:#000;border:1px 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0ms;font-size:1.5rem;font-size:10px;color:#fff;}.css-dlodmc{margin:0;font-family:"Roboto","Helvetica","Arial",sans-serif;font-weight:400;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.5;letter-spacing:0.00938em;color:#000;font-size:12px;color:#fff;font-weight:600;}Follow.css-lm2il2{margin:0;font-family:"Roboto","Helvetica","Arial",sans-serif;font-weight:400;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.5;letter-spacing:0.00938em;color:#000;font-size:16px;font-weight:700;margin-top:24px;margin-bottom:16px;}MORE NEWS Get the inside scoop on how to make the most of your visit to the Limestone Coast from local ranger James there's so much to explore in this diverse region "I have a soft spot for Gum Lagoon Conservation Park There’s a spot along one of the tracks at the top of a hill where you can get an amazing 360-degree view of the surrounding bushland and the park is home to plenty of Mallee Fowl How long should visitors plan to stay in the region What makes Naracoorte and Tantanoola Caves unique When’s the best time to visit the Limestone Coast the Limestone Coast has something for everyone this region is packed with adventures waiting to be discovered Plan your trip to the Limestone Coast today and experience the wonders of this unique region for yourself Flinders University, Naracoorte News Australia’s once-fearsome carnivorous marsupial lion was unveiled at the Victoria Cave visitor complex at the World Heritage-listed Naracoorte Caves on December 9 a new installation at the Caves’ Megafauna Experience features for the first time the missing tail bone and other anatomical features of the backbone revealed by Flinders University Palaeontology researchers in recent years says the display will be another way to mark the 30 years since the fossil caves were recognised as having World Heritage status “Thylacoleo is a symbol of the Naracoorte Caves and has long been associated with the site The limestone caves at Naracoorte have acted as pitfall traps for at least 500,000 years preserving some of the most complete fossils spanning several ice ages and the arrival of humans in the area when Australia’s megafauna reigned including the apex predator Thylacoleo carnifex (known as the marsupial lion) Flinders University Emeritus Professor Rod Wells who was one of the first explorers to discover the scientifically important fossil chamber in Victoria Fossil Cave more than 50 years ago “Thylacoleo was among the first megafauna skeletons discovered in a quarry at Naracoorte in the 1950s Then in 1969 the Victoria Cave chamber yielded sufficient articulated remains of Thylacoleo to reconstruct most of the skeleton,” says Professor Wells from the College of Science and Engineering formed the partial skeleton that has been on display at the Victoria Fossil Cave for many years “More recent discoveries at Naracoorte in 2006 and caves on the Nullarbor in Western Australia in 2010 have finally allowed us to assemble the first complete skeleton of Thylacoleo – including the missing tail This re-assessment of the biomechanics and behaviour has showcased a dramatic picture of this ferocious ambush predator.” built by Flinders University Palaeontology Lab technical officer Carey Burke as well as scans taken by PhD student Jacob van Zoulen features the new ambush posture to create a dramatic display for the Victoria Fossil Cave “We recast some of the original molds and made the new mount based on a 3D model of the Nullabor skeleton and recast new hands and caudal vertebrates to match the latest fossil record research,” says Mr Burke Thylacoleo carnifex is commonly referred to as a marsupial Lion largely because of the cat-like nature of its skull and its carnivorous habits the largest mammalian predator on the Australian continent was capable of grasping or slashing its prey with the long sharp claws on its semi-opposable thumb then stabbing or strangling with its large incisor teeth These animals were relatively common across most of Australia during the Pleistocene period and became extinct about 50,000 years ago Its evolutionary history has been traced back to the ancient rainforests of Riversleigh in Queensland This article appeared in the  Naracoorte News Please press and hold the button until it turns completely green If you believe this is an error, please contact our support team. 147.45.197.102 : 96678d12-ce8e-4e1c-b45a-00fbc4d9 The SE Voice is the Limestone Coast’s only fully digital publication. Locally owned & operated, we deliver all the latest news & sport direct to your fingertips. We're run by a creative team of local journalists all based in the region. News as we know has changed - we're delivering it first and free. Thank you for your support in keeping local news alive. The Naracoorte Town Squares will come to life for the 2025 ‘Taste the Limestone Coast Festival’ this Saturday.
 The much-loved event has been running since 2001 and returned last year with a bang after a three-year hiatus.
 More than 1200 people attended in 2024, enjoying perfect weather and an unforgettable experience.
 With around 15 producers, all local to the Limestone Coast, this festival has established itself as a great event for patrons.
 Wineries from Mount Benson, Coonawarra, Padthaway and Wrattonbully, along with spirits from Penola and beer from Robe, ensure a fantastic selection of beverages.
 To complement the drinks, festival-goers can indulge in an amazing array of food, including Turkish cuisine, Vietnamese specialties, wood-fired barbecue meats, gourmet hot dogs and more.
 No festival is complete without entertainment, and this year’s lineup is sure to impress.
 Kicking off the day is Naracoorte-born Orlando Bennett (AKA Shaun Brown), followed by local talent Wade Roach and the Millicent band Low Expectations in the afternoon.
 The Stringybach Music School will showcase various local artists on our back stage throughout the day.
 Organisers are also thrilled to welcome Rick Wilson and Linda Street, known as ‘Wilson Street,’ as well as Suburban Henry, a Mount Gambier band with strong Naracoorte connections, to round out the night.
 From local artists to award-winning wines, craft beers, gin, and of course delicious food, this event has it all in one spectacular location.
 Tickets are available at Humanitix or at the gate. The festival starts at 12noon on Saturday.
 ‘Taste the Limestone Coast Festival’ is proudly run by the Lions Club of Naracoorte, with proceeds going towards a community SOZO machine – an essential tool for lymphoedema patients, particularly those affected as a side effect of cancer treatment. All articles from our websiteThe digital version of This Week's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other agricultural news sites in your areaContinueOn the market with a price guide of $11.5 million to $13.5 million the property is situated alongside the village of Moonan Flat and just a short drive from Ellerston Polo The property features a stunning four bedroom designed by H20 Architects and styled by Adelaide Bragg Naracoorte is a premium 3858 acre rural property in the Hunter Valley Picture suppliedThe residence features large windows that frame breathtaking views of the property The air-conditioned homestead has vaulted 6m ceilings supported by recycled Australian hardwood timbers an open-plan kitchen with granite stone benchtop and polished concrete floors with underfloor hydronic heating with a 13.5 KW solar system The diverse country and soils make the property ideal for cattle breeding and fattening or as a equine development Picture suppliedThe cattle yards are connected to the paddocks by a laneway Picture suppliedAs a productive cattle property Naracoorte ranges from fertile alluvial valley floors to arable sloping grazing country flanked by timbered hills with improved pastures and crops sown annually Naracoorte has a tranquil 7km frontage to the Hunter River well suited to swimming and fishing Naracoorte features a stunning four bedroom Picture suppliedThe homestead has breathtaking views of the property Picture suppliedStock water is also supplied from a system of 43 troughs and 36 dams There are also two centre pivot irrigators The cattle yards are connected to the paddocks by a laneway Naracoorte also has subdivision potential with six approved riverfront lots with a variety of infrastructure and dwelling approvals The six lots are: Gowrie (589ha/1456 acres) Nields Creek (674ha/1666 acres) and Banyandah (3ha/8 acres) Newsletters & AlertsView allAs it happens The sound of Christmas will again ring out across the Naracoorte Town Square on Sunday Southern Air Ag owner and chief pilot Jason Law is one of five people who operate successful businesses at the Naracoorte Aerodrome With a combined annual turnover of more than $10 million the businesses employ a total of 20 people – 15 fulltime and five part-time Mr Law said Naracoorte was now considered a busier general aviation aerodrome than Mount Gambier which serviced mainly passenger flights There are an estimated 3000 aircraft movements at Naracoorte aerodrome annually including the Rescue 1 helicopter and the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) which landed in 2022-23 more than twice a week Mr Law said the aerodrome takes up 46 ha of the 242 ha site which is all Crown Land In addition to the five main users and their aircraft hangars there are a further 10 hangars housing 18 private aircraft A spotlight fell on aerodrome operations during council’s August 27 meeting when Mr Law delivered a presentation to councillors on behalf of users – at the request of mayor Patrick Ross Mr Law had first approached council staff almost a year ago “It has become increasingly obvious that there is a need for a conduit to provide accurate and relevant information to the council reflective of the needs of the aerodrome users,” Mr Law said He highlighted the need to have a group or committee with the council that involved all five aerodrome users “Not one of the five suggested participants is interested in drawing out the process one minute longer than required,” Mr Law said We have no desire or political aspirations to become engrossed in bureaucracy “We anticipate the vast majority of our concerns will be outlined and acknowledged within our own correspondence to then be formalised and accepted or declined at brief meetings.” Mr Law also explained the need for 21 year plus 21 year leases to underpin business growth and development at the airport rather than the council’s current five year plus five year ones Expanding regional safety and airport operations Brett and Tanya Wilson had previously brought retail Jet A1 fuel to the Naracoorte Aerodrome and that business was now owned and operated by Mr Law the Rescue 1 Helicopter did not have the (fuel) range to service our area,” Mr Law said “It is now possible for the inevitable broken legged dirt bike enthusiast in the sand dunes of Beachport to be airlifted from the scene of his or her accident rather than a bumpy Ambulance ride to the waiting flying doctor at the Mount Gambier airport.” “Ironically my own two year old daughter had to utilise this very service when no RFDS planes were available to get her to ICU in Adelaide.” Mr Law said a Naracoorte Aerodrome Users group had formed in a bid to provide accurate and relevant information to the council that “reflects the needs of aerodrome users” The group were disappointed by the disconnect and lack of understanding regarding day-to-day operations and requirements of the aerodrome users and council staff who were charged with its governance Mr Law said the group of aerodrome users included:- “Our main objective is to ensure our voices are heard and our knowledge capitalised on to ensure that any funding or planning required for the aerodrome is utilised to its fullest and in the simplest method possible,” Mr Law said Although Mr Law had been advised by some members to include the Lucindale aerodrome in a committee involving the council he explained they were two completely different airports with different uses and needs the entire purpose of this discussion (is) to close the gap of knowledge between council and (Naracoorte) aerodrome users.” It was also essential that “we move forward in a positive united collaboration with the council,” Mr Law said following a motion from Cr Peter Ireland and seconded by Cr Cameron Grundy councillors unanimously decided to support a Naracoorte Aerodrome working group or committee Mr Law said he was pleased he went to the meeting and after watching various debates he was surprised and impressed by several of the councillors This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News A RECORD number of SE Veterans golfers fronted up at Naracoorte Sporting clubs and community groups in the South East play a vital role in fostering social connections and promoting an active lifestyle They serve as a cornerstone for bringing people together and strengthening local communities Are government efforts sufficient enough to support these local clubs in towns such as Naracoorte Are enough resources being allocated to ensure the long-term sustainability of sports in the region she engaged with local sporting groups and clubs listening to their concerns and assessing their needs Ms Hildyard also had a meeting with the Naracoorte Lucindale Council at the Naracoorte Swimming Lake to discuss the council’s master plan The [Naracoorte] News questioned the minister about the government’s plans to ensure local clubs were not overlooked in the development and enhancement of sporting facilities Ms Hildyard said the government would continue to listen to sporting clubs in the South East “Many regional sports facilities have been funded by the Malinauskas Labor government through various grant programs including the Community Recreation and Sport Facilities Program and the Power of Her—Infrastructure and Participation Program,” she said “Applications for both programs will open again in the second half of 2025 Other grant programs including the South Australian Football Facilities Fund (a legacy of Gather Round) the Active State Collaboration Program and the Active Club Program also provide opportunities for regional clubs to apply for funds.” She said some successful grant applicants included the Bordertown Speedway Club the Naracoorte Demons Netball Club which received $200,000 which secured $500,000 and the Penola Golf Club which received almost $50,000 in funding.” “These are amongst almost 200 other clubs and facilities in the region that have received state government funding.” She said the government had also invested $384,000 over three years to establish the Connected and Active Communities (CAC) project which had been implemented in four South Australian regional locations “The government has partnered with the Limestone Coast Local Government Association to roll the program out across the seven councils within it “CAC is a place-based project aiming to increase physical activity levels and reduce social isolation through the power of sport and recreation sport and recreation opportunities are continuing to be unlocked particularly for those who have not traditionally engaged in organised sport “We will continue to listen to and work with clubs in the South East We are really grateful for the incredibly important role they play in their communities “They help people to do their best on and off their particular playing field.” This newspaper [Naracoorte News] asked the minister if there were mechanisms in place where parents could access financial support for their children when they travelled to sporting facilities in metropolitan centres for higher-level training “Our state government has invested $460,000 in funding over the last eight years to the Limestone Coast Regional Sporting Academy (LCRSA) which is designed to provide aspiring future elite athletes aged 13-18 with the opportunity to access elite training and development programs to provide pathways to regional “This access limits the requirement to travel to Adelaide but when there is a requirement to travel (i.e the LCRSA has an established partnership with M&G Hotel Group which provides free and discounted accommodation at a range of Adelaide locations.” Ms Hildyard said the government had initiatives in place to support regional horse racing clubs (Naracoorte Bordertown) in terms of upgrading infrastructure and keeping regional racing alive and viable a new Racing Industry Support Package was announced by the government The package doubled the racing industry’s share of the betting operations tax from 10 percent to 20 percent funding was paid to Racing SA through the Racing Industry Fund administered by the South Australian Government’s Office for Recreation was to help improve the racing industry’s long-term sustainability as an employer of nearly 5,000 South Australians “This funding can be distributed by Racing SA towards infrastructure projects Racing has such an important place in the hearts of regional communities and I am proud of the government’s role in supporting this industry in the South East.”  This article appeared in the Naracoorte News An ever-popular drawcard for locals and visitors alike the iconic Naracoorte Swimming Lake will open to the public for the summer season on Monday 25 November painted the walls and were on track to paint part of the lake floor and walkway/concourse around the lake prior to the opening Council said a review of the budget allocation would be undertaken to determine if additional parts of the lake floor could be painted at the end of the season This article appeared in the  Naracoorte News