ABC Great Southern

26/12/2025

👉We'll do our best to keep this post updated overnight, but for the latest info go to: www.emergency.wa.gov.au/
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🔥Bushfire 🔶 Watch and Act - PREPARE TO LEAVE - FITZGERALD RIVER NATIONAL PARK and WEST RIVER
⏰06:17 PM Boxing Day 👉 Old Ongerup Road is now closed.
📍For people in the vicinity of Old Ongerup Road and Hamersley Drive in the north eastern parts of FITZGERALD RIVER NATIONAL PARK in the SHIRE OF RAVENSTHORPE.
⚬ There is a possible threat to lives and homes as a fire is burning in the area and conditions are changing.
⚬ The bushfire is moving in a northerly direction. It is not contained or controlled.
🚧Old Ongerup Road is now closed: travelmap.mainroads.wa.gov.au/

📻️ Listen to ABC Great Southern 630AM (Ravensthorpe 105.9 FM), or on ABC listen: abc.net.au/listen/live/greatsouthern
ℹ️ ABC Emergency: ab.co/ABC-WA
⚬ Emergency WA Map: www.emergency.wa.gov.au/

26/12/2025

Boddington Fires community update: The Shire of Boddington is hosting a community meeting on Boxing Day at the Williams Sports Pavilion. Watch live here:

26/12/2025

🔨🔧🛠

Harry Strange from Bruce Rock in WA's Wheatbelt restored a FJ45 Toyota LandCruiser.

"I went down the tip hunting for a little engine to restore and while I was hunting around I found a 1970s FJ45 Toyota LandCruiser and I thought, 'I gotta have that,'" he said.

It took the 11-year-old about three months of hard work to refurbish the ute.

Harry's Toyota FJ45 won the people's choice award at the Bruce Rock show.

Find out more about Harry's efforts here.👇
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-26/farm-boy-restores-vintage-toyota-landcruiser/105927368

ℹ️ This post is part of our series recapping our favourite, or the most popular, stories from 2025. To get the latest Great Southern news, visit our website www.abc.net.au/greatsouthern

25/12/2025

A Bushfire Warning is in place for Boddington townsite (about 120km south-east of Perth)

You can get the latest info on this fire from the pinned post here: https://ab.co/495QkMY

Stay up to date via ABC Radio, ABC Emergency and Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA .
📷 Boddington fire from a plane at 2:30pm WST on Christmas Day. (Supplied: Simon Pearsall)

25/12/2025

Research commissioned by the Salvation Army found that almost half of Australians were worried about how they would afford the festive period this year.

Community-led initiatives in regional WA are helping those who are doing it tough.

The WA Council of Social Services has found single-parent families are falling short of covering the cost of basics by $90 a week, while the shortfall for renting pensioners is $70.

24/12/2025

TOTAL FIRE BAN 🚫 Friday December 26th
📍 Bruce Rock
📍 Corrigin
📍 Dumbleyung
📍 Jerramungup
📍 Kent
📍 Kondinin
📍 Kulin
📍 Lake Grace
📍 Narembeen
📍 Ravensthorpe
📍 Yilgarn

🔥 During a total fire ban you must not:
Light, maintain or use a fire in the open air OR Carry out any activity that could start a fire

ℹ️emergency.wa.gov.au/ -tomorrow
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​👉Check warnings for your location at ABC Emergency: ab.co/ABC-WA

24/12/2025

The Gnowangerup IGA has reopened this week.

The store was extensively damaged in a fire in March, leaving the town without a supermarket.

After major repairs, the shop was able to open on Monday.

For the latest news, tune your radio to 630 AM or find ABC Great Southern on the listen app https://www.abc.net.au/listen/live/greatsouthern

24/12/2025

Police are investigating a crash in Hay near Denmark yesterday afternoon.

Around 12.30pm, a dark grey Toyota Kluger travelling westbound on East River Road collided with a white Toyota Prado travelling northbound on Denmark-Mount Barker Road.

The 69yo male driver of the Prado sustained critical injuries and was airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital.

His passenger and four occupants of the other vehicle were conveyed to hospital for medical treatment.

Major Crash investigators are appealing for witnesses and dash-cam or mobile phone footage to contact Crimestoppers 1800 333 000

24/12/2025

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has issued a hazmat general warning due to a rubbish tip fire near the intersection of White Road and Clayton Road in Narrogin.

The blaze is resulting in potentially hazardous smoke being blown in the area.

For more information, head to Emergency WA.

23/12/2025

The WA government abandons plans to burn a parcel of forest that is home to a species of rare tree after a 70-year-old man spent six nights living in the canopy.

23/12/2025

The 12 Days of Christmas Great Southern style thanks to our Saturday breakfast host Ela Bristow-Baohm and her band Dangermice 🎶

Twelve eco-warriors 🌲
Eleven magpies swooping 🐦‍⬛
Ten surfers surfing 🏄‍♀️
Nine shirtless shantymen🎵
Eight orca hunting 🐋
Seven giant tingles 🌳
Six Noongar seasons ☀️
Five blowholes blowing 📸
Four splendid fairy wrens 🪶
Three bristling quendas 🐾
Two pies from Barker 🥧
And a whale breaching out at sea 🐳

Merry Christmas everyone!!

23/12/2025

Emergency services are responding to a crash near Denmark.

The two car collision happened on East River Road at Hay about 12.45pm this afternoon.

Police confirmed the driver of one vehicle needed to be cut free by crews on the ground and was being treated for minor injuries.

For the latest news, tune your radio to 630 AM or find ABC Great Southern on the listen app https://www.abc.net.au/listen/live/greatsouthern