ABC North and West

18/12/2025

Was one of your great grandparents one of the young people of Quorn involved in the fracas with English bodyline bowler Harold Larwood back in the 1930s?

There are various accounts of what happened when the train taking Larwood and fellow Test player the Nawab of Pataudi back to Perth stopped at the local railway platform.

"About 100 youths invaded the corridor carriage in which the two cricketers were having a game of bridge with friends and for the whole 20 minutes during which the train was at the platform uttered hoots and cat calls," Rockhampton's Evening News reported.

"The youths also made insulting remarks about Bodyline bowling and threw paper and missiles at the two Englishmen."

Read more >>👇

Flying fruit pips are less menacing than the cork and leather cricket balls that Harold Larwood hurled at Australian batsmen during the infamous Bodyline series, but a showdown between the English fast bowler and a disgruntled crowd that was allegedly armed with pomegranate seeds is part of the rich...

18/12/2025

It's been a difficult breeding season for Australia's unique sea lions.

There have been reports of a large jump in pup mortality in the algal bloom-affected waters between Kangaroo Island and the South Australian mainland.

But researchers hope conservation efforts will help build the population's resilience.

🎤 Caroline Horn
📹 Che Chorley
🎞️ Steven Love

Get the news that matters to you straight from the source. Download the ABC NEWS app: https://ab.co/abcnewsapp

17/12/2025

It's the most wonderful 'train' of the year... all aboard the Christmas Express 🎶🚂

With just seven sleeps to go before the big day, we've been 'rail-y' loving all the festive decor cropping up around the region!

Like this 'Bute-iful' arrangement our rural reporter Isabella Kelly came across while out and about on the Yorke Peninsula yesterday 🎄🎅

If you can forgive us our love of puns, we'd love to see any creative displays you come across! 🎁🦌

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17/12/2025

TOTAL FIRE BAN 🚫 THURSDAY 18 DECEMBER
📍Eastern Eyre Peninsula
📍Lower Eyre Peninsula
📍Yorke Peninsula
🔥 DON'T LIGHT A FIRE. NO HOT WORKS, WELDING OR GRINDING
ℹ️ www.cfs.sa.gov.au/warnings-restrictions/restrictions/total-fire-bans-ratings/
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​👉Check warnings for your location at ABC Emergency: ab.co/SA_ABC

17/12/2025

ℹ️ DOWNGRADED TO BUSHFIRE ADVICE - STAY INFORMED: Haines
⏰3:45pm 👉This post won't be updated again.
📍 Haines, 7kms south-west of American River on Kangaroo Island.
⚬ CFS says at this time there is no threat.
⚬ Monitor conditions and decide what you'll do if the situation changes.

🚧 ROADS CLOSED: Boundary Road, Haines

📻 Listen to ABC North and West SA 639AM, or on ABC listen: abc.net.au/listen/live/northandwest

ℹ️ ABC Emergency: ab.co/SA_ABC
CFS website: cfs.sa.gov.au/warnings-restrictions/

16/12/2025

A group of 100,000 Australian grain farmers has found a way to share their highs and lows through bumper crops, droughts, and average years in between. 🚜🌾💻

"It's like going to a really good field day or meeting people down at the pub and just sitting around and talking about things, but in a really comfortable environment," Mallee farmer John Gladigau says.

Get the news that matters to you straight from the source. Download the ABC NEWS app: https://ab.co/abcnewsapp

A group dedicated to Australian grain farming created more than a decade ago has just cracked 100,000 followers with about 20,000 people following from overseas.

15/12/2025

It's tempting to look away when we see distressing news coverage or content on social media. Research shows indirect exposure to traumatic events can trigger mental health problems or difficulties in personal relationships, particularly for children, so a balance must be found between engaging with the news and managing anxiety.

If you or anyone you know needs help:
Lifeline on 13 11 14
Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
Su***de Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
Headspace on 1800 650 890
ReachOut at au.reachout.com

10/12/2025

Deck the hays with boughs of barley! 🌾🎄

Things are starting to look very Christmassy, with just 14 sleeps left before the big day 🎁 (but who's counting?)

We've been driving past some impressive displays around our region lately, like Emily Donnell's Grinch hay bales at her farm on the Spencer Highway. 🎅

Have you been creative with decorations this year? Send us your pics. 📸

Personalise your news and stay in the know with the ABC NEWS app: https://ab.co/abcnewsapp

09/12/2025

The winners of ABC's Heywire competition have been announced today, helping 35 young people from regional and remote areas tell their stories to a national audience 📡🎙️

A big congratulations to Rhys from Maitland, who is our region's winner! 🏆👏

Rhys wrote about the reality of being a student in an area with limited internet following the 3G shutdown.

"I'm in the backyard of our farm waving my phone around," Rhys says.

"It's impossible to get a tutor around here so I'm trying to catch-up online.

"But yet again I can't get a simple web page to load."

📲Check out Rhys's story here:

Rhys, from Sandilands, South Australia, Narungga Country.

08/12/2025

A timely reminder to stay fire ready, as large parts of the state face severe heatwave warnings. ☀️

The CFS is encouraging farmers to keep a particularly close eye on their hay stacks in the warm weather, following a slew of fires.

"Simple measures to prevent this spontaneous ignition include ensuring that hay is fully cured (dried) before bailing, protecting hay from rain or runoff, maintaining airflow to the haystack to allow heat and moisture to escape," a spokesperson said.

It comes after a hay shed fire caused more than $500,000 in estimated damage last week at Booborowie in the Mid North. 🧯

Tracey Rains took these photos of a grass fire yesterday in Booborowie.

🚨 Check warnings for your location at ABC Emergency: https://ab.co/SA_ABC

Personalise your news and stay in the know with the ABC NEWS app: https://ab.co/abcnewsapp

08/12/2025

South Australian Liberal frontbencher and first-term MP Ashton Hurn has been unanimously elected to lead the party at the March state election.

The leadership change comes less than 100 days until South Australians start to cast their votes.

Read more: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-08/liberal-mp-ashton-hurn-secures-party-leadership/106113466

📲 Choose your news on the ABC NEWS app and stay in the know https://ab.co/abcnewsapp

07/12/2025

WARNING: This story contains details of sexual assault and language some readers may find distressing.

The winemaking industry is made up of just 36 per cent women, despite equal numbers of men and women studying the topic at university.

A nationwide study looking at gender equity in the industry has identified key reasons women leave the workforce.

The results point to sexual assault, discrimination and a lack of flexibility which leave women feeling they have no choice but to quit.

Among the main factors contributing to women leaving Australia's wine industry were sexism, discrimination, and a lack of flexibility, a nationwide study has found.