ABC Midwest and Wheatbelt

28/12/2025

“Without trucks, Australia stops — you've heard the slogan, it's the most true thing in the world."

🚚

At 83, truck driver Terry Bairstow says he would not change a thing after spending six decades behind the wheel carting grain and sheep.

28/12/2025

TOTAL FIRE BAN 🚫 Extended to Monday December 29th
📍 Chittering
📍 Gingin
📍 Toodyay
🔥 DON'T LIGHT A FIRE. NO HOT WORKS, WELDING OR GRINDING
More information: emergency.wa.gov.au/total-fire-bans
👉 Check warnings for your location on ABC Emergency: ab.co/Emergency or ab.co/ABC_WA

28/12/2025

ℹ️ DOWNGRADED TO ADVICE - NORTHAMPTONℹ️

​​​​​​​**THIS POST WILL NOT BE UPDATED AGAIN. Check here for further updates: https://www.emergency.wa.gov.au/**

📻️ Listen to ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt 828AM, or on ABC listen: abc.net.au/listen/live/wheatbelt
ℹ️ ABC Emergency: ab.co/ABC-WA
⚬ Emergency WA Map: www.emergency.wa.gov.au/

28/12/2025

REMEMBER WHEN: The world's biggest tractor sculpture was unveiled in the WA Midwest town in 2024.
One year later, Carnamah locals said tourism had exploded, and small businesses were reaping the reward of steady customers.
✍️ Chloe Henville via ABC Midwest and Wheatbelt

27/12/2025

TOTAL FIRE BAN 🚫 Sunday December 28th
📍 Chapman Valley
📍 Northampton
🔥 DON'T LIGHT A FIRE. NO HOT WORKS, WELDING OR GRINDING
More information: emergency.wa.gov.au/total-fire-bans
👉 Check warnings for your location on ABC Emergency: ab.co/Emergency or ab.co/ABC_WA

26/12/2025

They’ve dodged road trains on the Brand Highway and scorched under the hot sun in a quest to remove roadside litter - even been chased by a wild pig ! 🐖

"… I heard a noise, and I thought it was a roo that I'd spooked," Sherry Martin said.

"I turned around it was this huge, giant pig chasing me down and the only thing I had was an orange bag in one hand and a pair of tongs in the other.”

The Relics, from Dongara, won the "Litter Action" category at this year's WA Tidy Towns Sustainable Communities Awards.

Read the full story !

Armed with gloves, bags, buckets and tongs, a trio of passionate rubbish removalists have picked up an award in this regional Western Australia town.

26/12/2025

Despite having one of the highest rates of boat ownership in Australia, Karratha's major public boat ramps lack basic facilities.

Visiting boatie Amy Pittman said while men could find a discrete spot to relieve themselves, it was more difficult for women.

"Apparently women don't like fishing, so we don't get toilets," she said.

"Generally, for every man, there's a woman out on the water."

Female fishers say the lack of toilet facilities at Karratha boat ramps does not cater for the increasing number of women on the water.

25/12/2025

Residents in the town of Boddington, south-east of Perth, have been told to evacuate as firefighters battle a fast-moving bushfire on a hot and gusty Christmas Day.

Meanwhile, several other fires burning across WA have caused black-outs to thousands of homes in popular tourist towns.

Margaret River, Lancelin and Ledge Point have been without electricity.

Several bushfires burning north and south of Perth have caused major power blackouts, including the entire town of Margaret River.

25/12/2025

ℹ️ DOWNGRADED TO ADVICE - CANNAℹ️

​​​​​​​**THIS POST WILL NOT BE UPDATED AGAIN. Check here for further updates: https://www.emergency.wa.gov.au/**

📻️ Listen to ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt 828AM, or on ABC listen: abc.net.au/listen/live/wheatbelt
ℹ️ ABC Emergency: ab.co/ABC-WA
⚬ Emergency WA Map: www.emergency.wa.gov.au/

25/12/2025

ℹ️ DOWNGRADED TO ADVICE - COWALLA ℹ️
​​​​**THIS POST WILL NOT BE UPDATED AGAIN. Check here for further updates: www.emergency.wa.gov.au/**
👉 DFES says the fire is now contained and under control. There is no threat to lives or homes.
📍 Area bounded by Moore River, Millbank Road and Cowalla Road

📻️ Listen to ABC Perth 720AM, or on ABC listen: abc.net.au/listen/live/perth
ℹ️ ABC Emergency: ab.co/ABC-WA
⚬ Emergency WA Map: www.emergency.wa.gov.au/

25/12/2025

🎄 Beachgoers treated to a cool change on Christmas morning in Geraldton as a thick fog rolls in 🎄

📸 Bill Lawrie and Morgan Whitehead

24/12/2025

ℹ️ DOWNGRADED TO ADVICE - MONITOR CONDITIONS: YARRAGADEE, LOCKIER and MOUNT HORNER ℹ️
⏰ 11am Xmas day 👉 This warning has been downgraded due to reduced fire activity. This post won't be updated again.
📍 Depot Hill Road, Strawberry Road, Burma Road, Allanooka Springs Road and Depot Hill Nature Reserve in parts of YARRAGADEE, LOCKIER and MOUNT HORNER
⚬ Stay alert and monitor your surroundings. Be ready to act quickly if conditions get worse.

🚧 Depot Hill Road is closed.

📻️ On air warnings will resume if things get worse.
Listen to ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt 828AM, or on ABC listen: abc.net.au/listen/live/wheatbelt

ℹ️ ABC Emergency: ab.co/ABC-WA
⚬ Emergency WA Map: www.emergency.wa.gov.au/