ABC South West

25/06/2026

A rare white truffle has been discovered in Manjimup, in the state's South West.

The truffle was found on Gavin Booth's property, owner of Australian Truffle Traders.

"My wife Mel took the dog for a bit of a donder through as we do every now and again when we've got five minutes and had a bit of a pleasant surprise," said Mr Booth.

"We found actually one and a half kilos in the end."

The monster truffle is scientifically known as tuber borchii. Mr Booth told Chela Williams on ABC Regional Mornings the ingredient has a unique flavour profile.

"More of a garlicky... parmesan sort of mushroomy smell, it's quite bizarre."

The Booth family planted trees years ago but did not expect a white truffle would ever form in the southern forests.

"Realistically you plant a tree, five years later you find one but for us we're lucky - we've kind of beat it by a year so we found our first ones in year four," said Mr Booth.

Despite the exciting find, Mr Booth said cost of living is impacting the truffle industry.

"Here in Australia, I have to say it's pretty grim," he said.

"Somewhere between 80 and 90 per cent of the product that we grow is going to get exported and I think Australia is up for, I hate to say it, a bit of a grim time for the next few years but that's not the story everywhere."

🎧Listen back: https://ab.co/4eub1pW

24/06/2026

The Department Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions is urging anyone who sights a whale entangled in floats and ropes off the South West coast to report it.

Gary McSwain saw the struggling humpback whale about 2pm yesterday afternoon from his boat off the Dunsborough coastline.

“It was maybe 400 metres offshore,” he said.

“He'd swim past, showing us his tail where there you could see the floats and I'd guess a hundred metres of rope trailing behind him.”

A DBCA spokesperson said a trained response team attempted to attach a satellite tag to the whale but was unable to do so before nightfall last night.

“The team is on standby today in case there are any more reported sightings,” they said.

“Please do not attempt to intervene yourself or remove any trailing ropes or line as this can hinder disentanglement efforts by trained experts.”

Anyone who sees an entangled whale is asked to call the Wildcare Helpline immediately on 9474 9055.

Latest local news: https://www.abc.net.au/southwestwa

23/06/2026

The South West has a Logie award nominee!

Ten-year-old Eloise Hart is your regular kid from the South West - except she's also up for Most Popular New Talent at this year's Logie Awards.

From Glen Iris, just north of Bunbury Eloise is up for the going for her roles in Goolagong and Mystery Road: Origin.

The young acting superstar said she feels proud about her nomination but no one is prouder than her mum Tahlia Chesson.

"It's kind of been like a rollercoaster of emotions," said Ms Chesson.

"It's kind of weird to see your little person walking around and now she's all over the screen and now we're going to the red carpet, it's kind of a bit surreal."

Ms Chesson told Chela Williams on ABC South West Mornings she received the news from a producer friend via text.

"The kids kind of walked in and freaked out because they heard me scream," she laughed.

"I told them what happened and I think we might have of scared a couple of neighbours."

Despite her excitement, Ms Chesson's not sure Eloise completely understands the news.

"I don't think she realises how massive it is but I think she's just more excited to get dressed up and walk the red carpet."

Going to the red carpet was one of little Eloise's goals but Ms Chesson was so surprised for it to happen in such a short time.

"We joke about this sort of stuff but actually having it happen and happen so quickly... makes my head spin around," she said.

"We're just a normal little family that goes to the beach, that goes to Honeymoon... so now we're flying to all these places and going to big cities we've never been to - it's incredible."

Eloise and her mum will be heading to Sydney for the 66th Annual Logies awards in August.

Good luck Eloise!

23/06/2026

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is imposing new limits and conditions on the ways farmers can use the controversial herbicide paraquat.

The regulator said it found no links between paraquat exposure and Parkinson's disease, a determination strongly refuted by peak body Parkinson's Australia.

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority concludes its nearly 30-year review of the controversial but popular herbicide.

22/06/2026

With testing and sampling of those animals likely to inform the government's response to the outbreak, farmers like Bill Evans are facing a tense few days.

Producers across an enormous stretch of southern WA are facing a tense few days, as authorities investigate more than 50 dead birds found along the state's southern coast.

22/06/2026

A second bird found sick on a remote beach in Western Australia's south coast has now tested positive for a deadly strain of bird flu, authorities have confirmed.

Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said testing at the CSIRO had confirmed both a brown skua and a northern giant petrel had tested positive for H5N1 avian influenza.

Authorities say a second bird found sick on WA's south coast had the deadly H5 strain of avian flu, as one of the nation's biggest chicken producers announces it is locking down its WA operations.

21/06/2026

Two rehabilitated loggerhead turtles will be released into the wild after two years at a marine rescue sanctuary in WA’s South West.

Volunteers farewelled the turtles at an emotional ceremony in Bunbury this week.

Two turtles are set to be flown 1,400 kilometres in a journey that could take them from Western Australia to Madagascar.

20/06/2026

How are you marking the winter solstice?! 🥶Community leaders have plunged into the icy waters in Geographe Bay, ahead of the shortest day of the year.

The Busselton Mayor was among those who took up the challenge, to raise money for the local volunteer-run hospice.

Busselton Hospice leader James Jarvis also ended up in the water.

"It was very very cold," he said.

"I said I wan't going to go in for anything less than ten grand and then we had an anonymous donor last night that donated $15,000 [to] toss the boss."

About $67,000 was raised to help train and recruit volunteers to work in the Busselton hospice.

🎧 Catch up on your Saturday breakfast program - https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/southwestwa-saturday-breakfast

20/06/2026

Further testing has confirmed the deadly H5 variant of avian influenza has been detected in a bird that washed up on a remote beach in Western Australia's south.

It comes aftera suspected positive result from a bird found near Esperance was announced on Friday.

The brown skua bird was found on a remote beach at the Cape Le Grand National Park, about 700 kilometres south-east of Perth.

It is the first time the disease has been found in Australia and means the virus has finally spread to every continent on the planet.

Bird flu has infected millions of birds and other animals around the world.

The virus, found in a migratory bird in Esperance, raises concerns for the poultry industry despite Australia having spent years preparing for such a biosecurity breach.

19/06/2026

The WA state government wants the Albanese government to release millions of dollars from the National Reconstruction Fund for Collie's transition away from coal.

Workers' unions yesterday rallied at state parliament, calling for federal support to build new heavy industries before coal mines close in 2030.

The state government has already tipped $700 million into the transition of the WA town of Collie away from coal. Now, the Cook government wants tens of millions of federal dollars to finish the job.