The Mount Barker Courier

Hills woman earns leadership award

From motherhood to being crowned the Family Business Association’s Emerging Leader in 2025, Hahndorf’s Fore Design + Flex Planning general manager Jordana Ashcroft O’Sullivan has had a transformative 12 months. The mother-of-two returned to...

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Canada Bound

Mt Lofty Rangers volleyballer Jay Trowbridge is set to embark on the journey of a lifetime as he heads to Canada to chase his dream of playing professional volleyball. The Aldgate resident signed on as an international recruit for the Red Deer...

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Camera captures extent of rabbit issue

A significant rabbit infestation was recently uncovered at St Francis de Sales College, with a thermal camera picking up hundreds of rabbits on the school’s soccer oval. The footage was captured and posted on social media by Mt Barker...

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Extra $45m for Mt Barker hospital

The cost to build the new Mt Barker hospital has blown out by another $45m, with the State Government blaming “significant” further increases in construction and labor costs. The cost increase was revealed in the 2025/26 State budget, bringing...

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Wild weather lashes the Hills

Stormy weather battered the Hills last weekend, leaving SA SES volunteers inundated with calls for help. On June 6, the SES issued a severe weather warning for damaging winds in the Mt Lofty Ranges. Calls to the SES began at about 6.45pm on Friday...

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‘Toxic’ culture blamed for councillor’s resignation

A former Mt Barker Councillor is blaming a “toxic” culture and inaction on bullying for her decision to resign from the council. At the end of last week’s meeting, Narelle Hardingham emailed her resignation to the council’s chief executive...

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Budget black hole

The State Government has left a $400m black hole in the funding required to deliver the greater Adelaide freight bypass, but is insisting the project will be delivered in some form. The shortfall was revealed in last week’s State Budget, which...

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News

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Hills woman earns leadership award

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Camera captures extent of rabbit issue

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Extra $45m for Mt Barker hospital

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Wild weather lashes the Hills

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Council & Politics

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‘Toxic’ culture blamed for councillor’s resignation

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Complaints over former councillor’s behavior

Independent investigations have found that former Adelaide Hills Councillor Louise Pascale breached multiple behavioral standards during her time on the council, including standards relating to bullying. The investigations were conducted by law firm...

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Parking plan quashed

A $2.9m proposal to turn a council-owned Hahndorf site into a public car park has been withdrawn because Heritage SA did not support the demolition of a building on the site. The proposal was submitted to the Mt Barker Council by the Wolf Blass...

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Police

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Police

High steaks offender

There was a “high steaks pursuit” at Dawesley last week, after a cow was spotted with a bucket on its head. In a social media post last week, SA Police said a patrol responded to reports of a “cow acting suspiciously” alongside Old Princes...

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Elisa Rose

26 Mar 2025

Fire sparks complacency warning

The CFS is warning residents not to be complacent in the wake of a fire that burned through 3ha of scrub at Birdwood last week. The blaze was sparked by a fallen powerline at about 2.20am on Wednesday, March 19, at a rural property near the...

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26 Mar 2025

Police

Fire damages century-old barn

A century-old barn at Nairne has been “significantly damaged” after catching fire last weekend. At about 9.50pm on March 1, five CFS trucks with about 25 firefighters responded to reports of a structure fire at Jeffery Street. On arrival...

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05 Mar 2025

Not-guilty plea in Littlehampton axe case

A former Hills woman who is charged with attempting to kill her ex-husband in a Littlehampton garage has pleaded not guilty. Lisa Lines and co-accused Zacharia Bruckner both pleaded not guilty this week to one count each of attempted murder, one...

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05 Mar 2025

Community

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King’s honor: Hills resident honored for contribution to medicine

A Hills neurosurgeon who chaired committees to improve patient outcomes and educate and train new surgeons has been made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM). Aldgate resident Dr Glenn McCulloch, pictured, was inspired to pursue a career in...

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Milang welcomes prehistoric resident

Visitors to Milang will get a prehistoric welcome, after a family living on the edge of town installed a saltasaurus next to their driveway. Nine Mile Road resident Brittany Vogelsang said she bought the three-meter-high statue from a friend who...

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Long running passion

The Big Apple awaits Birdwood’s Alannah Luck, as she prepares to strap on her sneakers and take on the world’s biggest marathon to raise funds for a good cause. The doctor and equestrian will head to the US later this year for the New York City...

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Students get a taste of a sustainable future

An event that brought together 10 schools, 150 students and 70 industry guests to discuss sustainability and technology was held at Verdun last week. Tech4Sustainability Day featured workshops, presentations and professional networking opportunities...

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28 May 2025

Sport

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Battle in the Hills Round 3

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Inter league action from Balhannah Oval

River Murray Football League (RMFL) defeated the Hills Football League (HFL) for a second time inside three seasons last Saturday at a weather beaten Balhannah Oval. The Murray Cods’ A-grade defeated the HFL for just the second time since 1997 and...

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The significant efforts of several Hills cricket volunteers were recognised at the SACA Community Cricket Awards on the March long weekend. Firstly current Echunga Miners Cricket Club President Sandro Dametto was acknowledged for 25 years of...

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28 May 2025

Editorial

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Editorial

Fix needed

The State Budget’s $1.7 billion for Hills projects over the next five years is a significant and welcome investment in a region that desperately needs it. The investment includes money for projects like the freeway, Mt Barker and Verdun freeway...

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Editorial

Lower the risk

The region’s fire danger season has ended, but it’s important to remember that the ongoing drought means fire risks are still present. While we’ve had a few small showers in recent weeks, the region’s landscape remains extremely dry, with...

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