The Mount Barker Courier

Council to trial outreach library service

A pilot program that will deliver a small-scale library outreach service to a township outside of Mt Barker is being funded through a $10,000 investment by the local council. The Library Pilot Program will take the form of a “flexible...

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Farmer a finalist

A sheep farmer, high school agriculture teacher and community volunteer from Mt Pleasant has been named a National Rural Ambassador Award finalist. Kayla Starkey will represent SA in the award finals in September. Contenders are aged 20–30 from...

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Rifleman shot an award contender

A photo of a rifleman – the smallest bird in NZ – by a Mt Barker photographer has been named a finalist for the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Award. Bernie Shore took the photo, which is a finalist in the Animals in...

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Public invited to comment on hospital design

The community can have its say about aspects of the new Mt Barker hospital’s design. Staff and community members are invited to provide feedback about the hospital floor plan, to “further test the designs”. The consultation, which will run...

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City centre confusion

The Mt Barker Council has been forced to clarify the purpose of a council-owned building included in the design of its $100m city centre project, after designs from a recent presentation were shared on community Facebook pages. In a Facebook post...

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Ground-breaking work

A Crafers West woman has been nominated for a national soil health award for her significant contributions to viticulture and agroecology. Mary Retallack has spent 30 years of her career restoring agricultural landscapes and promoting soil health...

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Fin Dunford

Cyclists set to return

The Hills will once again play a leading role in the Tour Down Under (TDU), after a local council back-flipped over its decision to pull funding from the event. Spectators will have the chance to witness the world’s best cyclists battle for the...

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Fin Dunford

News

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Thieves hit roadside stalls

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Farmer a finalist

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Rifleman shot an award contender

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Public invited to comment on hospital design

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Council & Politics

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Council to trial outreach library service

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City centre confusion

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Councillor test drives truck of the future

Crafers resident and Adelaide Hills Councillor Adrian Cheater has been test-driving a new fully-electric utility vehicle that he believes could have significant potential for the local government sector’s efforts to decarbonise. As part of the...

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Fin Dunford

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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Joseph Moore

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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An act of love

When Gumeracha mother Theresa Tucker learned her 15-year-old daughter needed a heart transplant, she was thrown into a world of uncertainty, fear – and hope. After the first transplant, Mrs Tucker’s daughter improved, but a few years later, her...

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Hills towns award finalists

Two Hills towns are finalists in this year’s SA Agricultural Town of the Year award, highlighting their significant contributions to “agriculture, community strength and regional leadership”. On July 1, Strathalbyn and Mt Pleasant were named...

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09 Jul 2025

Aldgate firefighter deploys to Canada

A Hills firefighter is among a group of eight SA personnel deployed to Canada to help fight remote wildfires in Alberta. Aldgate CFS firefighter Tony Pratt left Adelaide on June 26, alongside CFS regional officer Peter Ikonomopoulos and personnel...

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02 Jul 2025

Event brings home car crash consequences

The Mt Barker community is being invited to participate in an “eye-opening” session about driver safety, presented by a firefighter and a road crash survivor. SA MFS station officer Doug MacDonald-Taylor, who has seen the devastation car crashes...

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02 Jul 2025

Sport

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Barker strike for derby win

State Soccer League (2) South action returned to the Hawks Nest in Woodside last Saturday with Adelaide Hills Hawks hosting fellow Hills-based rival Mt Barker United. The Hills Hawks marked the occasion with their Indigenous Round, the fixture...

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Aldgate boost hopes

Aldgate returned to the leading quartet within Hills Netball Association A-grade competition following an important victory in Saturday’s Round 10 fixtures. Players were back on court following a bye for school holidays and the hosting Gaters were...

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Tigers break streak

Lobethal Tigers broke a long-standing drought against reigning premier Hahndorf during last Saturday’s Round 12 Hills Football League Division 1 A-grade fixtures. In a determined performance, the hosting Tigers rallied from trailing at three-quarter...

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Eastern women retain State crown

Eastern Zone women have retained the crown during the 2025 SA Country Football Championships hosted over last weekend at Port Pirie. The team secured back-to-back titles with a gritty two-goal victory against South East in the grand final at...

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Hills athletes on world stage

Hills Districts Athletic Club representatives Jack Netting and Akeesha Snowden are set to make their World Para Athletics Championships debut in New Delhi later this year. The duo will race in India from September 26 to October 5 after gaining...

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Umpiring milestone

Hills Football League (HFL) umpiring coach Corey Bowen last month reached a milestone which only three other SA National Football League (SANFL) umpires have previously achieved. In the SANFL Round 9 encounter between Glenelg and North Adelaide at...

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Winning hand by Aces

Stirling Aces continued an impressive 2025 campaign in SA Amateur Soccer League Division 3 Blue competition last Saturday. Following their first loss in the previous round, the Aces bounced back with a Round 12 victory over the visiting Strathalbyn...

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Winning State for Barker

Mt Barker United broke through for a second victory of the 2025 State Soccer League (2) South senior campaign last Saturday night at Summit Sports Park. Hosting competition leader Eastern United, Barker stunned the most fancied visitors, having...

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10 Jul 2025

Editorial

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Editorial

Exploiting trust

It’s extremely disappointing to see that some people have taken advantage of local children and their enterprising way to make pocket money. Roadside stalls in the Hills sell everything from flowers and home-grown produce to firewood and manure...

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Editorial

Growing pains

Councillor Rebecca Hewett’s proposal for a report capturing the congestion on Mt Barker’s arterial road network is a sensible idea. The region has significant infrastructure needs and the council has long shouldered the significant burden of...

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Editorial

Growing pains

Fears that the new Mt Barker hospital will be too small to cater for Mt Barker’s growing population are representative of the issues across the region. A local doctor’s assertion that the hospital is 10 years too late, could be repeated about...

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