A lot of people are appreciating the new driving conditions entering and leaving Kyabram’s Albion St IGA supermarket.
Entry is now only on the south side of the supermarket, with the exit on Kings Crt on the north side running parallel with the railway line. Entry to the supermarket can also be made on this roadway.
The supermarket is now also boasting new art work from a bygone Kyabram era on its westerly façade along Albion St, which is impressive.
Week to remember
Kyabram brothers Kyle and Cade Mueller had plenty of reasons to celebrate last weekend.
Kyle booted a personal best haul of 15 goals for Congupna in the Murray Football League against Barooga.
It took his tally for the season to 87.
Kyle’s younger brother Cade made his mark with his employer GrainCorp, being adjudged runner-up in that business’ Employer of the Year award for Victoria.
Cade is site manager for GrainCorp at Murchison, a position he has held for a only year. He has been working for the business for only four years.
About 1000 GrainCorp employees were eligible for the award.
• For more on Kyle’s Deadeye Dick goalkicking performance see Gus Underwood’s Sporting Snapshots.
Rob’s in rare Eyre
Kyabram tour operator Rob Aplin is this week making his 162nd trip to Lake Eyre.
He first started the two-day tours in 1977 and estimates he has taken more than 1000 people on the journey by plane to witness Australia’s largest lake in the centre of the country.
Lake Eyre has had water in it for nearly all his trips and at times has been full or close to capacity.
Rob said it was currently about three-quarters full, with water still running into it.
‘‘Early on we stopped at William Creek but we now base ourselves at either Innaminka or Birdsville for our overnight stays,’’ Rob said.
Rob is scaling down his business, River Country, and has sold the canoeing arm of it to Ashley Bell, who has worked for him for the past 10 years and is a qualified canoe instructor.
But Rob intends to retain its tourism division, with more trips to Lake Eyre and the Great Australian Bight for whale-spotting trips still on the agenda.
Welcome drop
Kyabram Weather Station received 10mm of rain on Saturday into Sunday to break a run of a month without any falls over 1mm.
One mm was recorded over a three-day period last week from Wednesday to Friday, which with Saturday’s rain has taken the August total to 11mm.
But falls on Saturday in the area varied, with most below 10mm.
The latest fall is timely for croppers but with the onset of warmer weather, more rain will be needed soon for continued growth.
Some irrigators are already watering.
Kyabram’s yearly rainfall is now 366mm, but January produced more than a third of this total with nearly 140mm.
Experience is one of a kind
Bullanginya Dreaming, the first permanent interactive laser light experience of its kind in Australia, is partnering with Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Education for an immersive night-time experience.
The experience at Barooga incorporates a traditional Smoking Ceremony led by Bangerang Elders, a personalised guided tour of Bullanginya Dreaming by Traditional Owners and a music and dance program by the Ballanginya people.
For further information, visit Bullanginyadreaming.com.au
Toc looks at emergency options
Tocumwal is looking into a community-run first responder unit as ongoing discussions continue to get a dedicated ambulance station in the Murray River town.
It would run in addition to the current model of care, which sees Tocumwal Fire and Resue NSW members acting as first responders until an ambulance from a nearby station can attend, with the closest at Finley, 21km away.
Square dinkum
G’day.
Just found out on my tax return that there is a limit to the number of dependants you can claim for.
I thought 45 was reasonable — but apparently not.
Hooroo!