ABC Goldfields-Esperance

27/07/2025

Great Southern farmer Tim Haslam suffered burns to 38 per cent of his body after a stubble fire erupted during the harvest of his barley crop in 2023.

Now he is championing fire safety.

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Great Southern farmer Tim Haslam suffered burns to 38 per cent of his body after a stubble fire erupted during the harvest of his barley crop in 2023. Now he is championing fire safety.

27/07/2025

Truckloads of help arrive in SA's Eyre Peninsula from across the Nullarbor in WA as part of a huge logistical, cross-border exercise to deliver thousands of bales of desperately needed hay to farms in the grip of drought.

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Truckloads of help arrive in SA's Eyre Peninsula from across the Nullarbor in WA as part of a huge logistical, cross-border exercise to deliver thousands of bales of desperately needed hay to farms in the grip of drought.

27/07/2025

: A confronting report from the prisons inspector this week laid bare the desperate conditions endured by WA inmates — and the blame lies at the feet of the WA government, writes Keane Bourke.

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A confronting report from the prisons inspector this week laid bare the desperate conditions endured by WA inmates — and the blame lies at the feet of the WA government, writes Keane Bourke.

26/07/2025

‘TOUGH AS NAILS’ 💪⛏️

That’s how the grandson of missing prospector Lawrence Mitchell described his grandfather after he was found yesterday alive and well.

Sam Mitchell told ABC Goldfields this morning he "couldn’t believe it" when his grandfather showed up in the backseat of a car after being missing in the bush for more than two days.

The 88-year-old was prospecting with a family member in the Ora Banda area when he went missing on Wednesday about 8:30am.

He was found by two members of the public just before midday yesterday following an extensive search.

Sam said his grandfather had been coming to Kalgoorlie-Boulder to prospect for 46 years and was "extremely fit".

“I think people pictured him as a frail old man lost out in the bush."

“He walks every day, he chops his wood at night with an axe.”

Lawrence survived by digging a hole in the ground at night to keep warm and drank from puddles.

He was found with his detector and pick still in hand.

“When he showed up, he just stood around the fire and said he was a bit thirsty, that was it,” Sam said.

“He was wondering why there was helicopters getting around, couldn't believe it was all for him.”

Sam said while the family suggested his grandfather head home, the octogenarian wasn’t keen and decided to continue his prospecting trip.

“He'll be back out there this morning … he's probably out swinging at the moment I expect.”

“He's from another generation, they're built tough as nails, he's stubborn.”

Sam thanked everyone for their search efforts, and said his grandfather would be investing in a Personal Locator Beacon.

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26/07/2025

A section of the Goldfields pipeline near Ghooli Road, 13 kilometres east of Southern Cross, was damaged yesterday after it was struck by a truck at around two o'clock in the afternoon.

A spokesperson from Water Corporation said they were confident there would be no impact to customers or water supply, and there was no damage to the Great Eastern Highway.

The spokesperson said repairs began this morning, and are expected to take most of the weekend, with two lengths of the pipeline requiring replacement.

No injuries to the driver were reported by emergency services.

26/07/2025

The WA Liberal Party supports a motion to abandon a target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, putting added pressure on Australian Opposition Leader Sussan Ley to abandon the policy for the federal party.

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The WA Liberal Party supports a motion to abandon a target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, putting added pressure on Australian Opposition Leader Sussan Ley to abandon the policy for the federal party.

26/07/2025

🥶🌫 Saturday morning checklist: CAR LIGHTS ✅ BEANIE ✅

It was a foggy start on Hannan Street this morning!

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, Kalgoorlie-Boulder got down to 0.7 degrees at 6.54am.

Did you capture the fog? Share your view from the Goldfields-Esperance region below. 👇📷

25/07/2025

A huge convoy of hay-laden trucks is making its way across the Nullabor from Western Australia to drought-stricken South Australia in what one young volunteer describes as a "journey of hope".

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A huge convoy of hay-laden trucks is making its way across the Nullabor from Western Australia to drought-stricken South Australia in what one young volunteer describes as a "journey of hope".

25/07/2025

It has been dubbed the "convoy of compassion".

Eighty-five trucks, loaded with more than 6,000 bales of hay and straw, have begun the trek across the Nullarbor, headed to drought-stricken parts of South Australia.

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Eighty trucks, loaded with more than 6,000 bales of hay and straw from WA, will head for drought-stricken parts of South Australia.

25/07/2025

BREAKING NEWS

Police say an elderly prospector who was missing for more than two days in remote bushland in WA's Goldfields was found about 12 kilometres from where he was last sighted.

Lawrence Mitchell was prospecting with a family member in the Ora Banda area when he went missing on Wednesday about 8.30am.

After an extensive search, which included specialist officers from Perth and a police helicopter equipped with thermal imaging, Mr Mitchell was found alive just before midday today.

Police say he waved down a car driven by two members of the public.

Mr Mitchell is being taken to hospital for further assessment with a mild case of dehydration but he is said to be in "good spirits" .

The prospector endured freezing overnight temperatures, while the area also received nearly 3mm of rain in the past two days.

25/07/2025

As triple j's Hottest 100 countdown of Australian songs approaches, a small country town reflects on the Aussie music icons that played there during the "golden age" of rock 'n' roll.

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As triple j's Hottest 100 countdown of Australian songs approaches, a small country town reflects on the Aussie music icons that played there during the "golden age" of rock 'n' roll.

25/07/2025

A tenant advocacy group says long-term caravan park residents in regional Western Australia who are weeks from eviction are largely unaware of their rights.

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A tenant advocacy group says long-term caravan park residents in regional Western Australia who are weeks from eviction are largely unaware of their rights.