The Mount Barker Courier

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© 2025 The Mt Barker Courier

Mid-Hills Netball is underway

Some competitive fixtures were the order of the day as the 2025 Mid Hills Netball Association season commenced last Saturday at Woodside. The A-grade competition has been boosted to eight teams and the opening round featured a thrilling draw between...

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Petition for skate park at Meadows

Members of the Meadows Primary School out of school hours care (OSHC) program are pushing for a local skate park, following a surge in interest in skating and BMX driven by Chicks on Wheels founder Vanessa Telford. Since 2021, OSHC students have...

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Updated museum takes patrons back in time

The Hahndorf museum was re-opened last weekend after a refit that will help visitors discover the story behind the oldest surviving German settlement in Australia. Based at the Hahndorf Academy, the museum takes visitors through a summary of the...

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Council and Politics

Gather game sought

The Mt Barker Council still wants the region to be considered as a venue for next year’s AFL Gather Round, despite Mayor David Leach saying previously that the council would not seek another game for three or four years. Mr Leach told The Courier...

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Drought, disease threats loom for apiarists

A Lenswood honey producer says the industry is “incredibly vulnerable” after being severely impacted by drought and the looming threat of varroa mite. Buzz Honey owner Annette Ferris said that a lack of rain was preventing native plants from...

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Council and Politics

Deputy Mayor to resign over ‘toxic’ culture

Mt Barker’s Deputy Mayor says she will quit following a heated clash with Mayor David Leach over a “toxic” workplace culture. Councillor Samantha Jones made the shock announcement that she was “publicly resigning” during Monday night’s...

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Council and Politics

Sharkie set to win, but Labor, Greens closing in

A political expert has warned that Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie must expand her focus beyond “rural, agrarian issues”, to stave off growing support for Labor and the Greens in the region. Ms Sharkie is set to be re-elected to Mayo, despite a 0.89%...

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Council and Politics

Rail, health and living costs on the agenda

MP Rebekha Sharkie says her key priorities for the new Federal term include bringing rail back to the Hills and securing a new urgent care clinic at Mt Barker, as she looks set to retain the seat of Mayo. As of 3pm on Tuesday, May 6, Ms Sharkie led...

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News

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Drought, disease threats loom for apiarists

A Lenswood honey producer says the industry is “incredibly vulnerable” after being severely impacted by drought and the looming threat of varroa mite. Buzz Honey owner Annette Ferris said that a lack of rain was preventing native plants from...

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Concerns over impact of controlled burns

The University of SA (UniSA) has raised concerns about the impact of prescribed burns on reptiles in the Mt Lofty Ranges, including the skink, following the results of a two-year study. The study analysed the health of more than 1750 reptiles from...

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‘Preliminary’ planning underway for busy road upgrade

Preliminary planning is underway for upgrades to one of Mt Barker’s busiest roads, however, details from the State Government remain scant. Upgrades to Adelaide Road were included in the Mt Barker Council’s Road Network Management Action Plan...

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Waterlogged palms replaced

Two palm trees have been removed from Mt Barker’s Emerald Way estate, raising concerns that the area is not suitable for the species. Heavy machinery was used to remove the trees from the corner of Hartmann Road and Emerald Way last week. The...

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Council & Politics

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Council and Politics

Gather game sought

The Mt Barker Council still wants the region to be considered as a venue for next year’s AFL Gather Round, despite Mayor David Leach saying previously that the council would not seek another game for three or four years. Mr Leach told The Courier...

Click here

Council and Politics

Deputy Mayor to resign over ‘toxic’ culture

Mt Barker’s Deputy Mayor says she will quit following a heated clash with Mayor David Leach over a “toxic” workplace culture. Councillor Samantha Jones made the shock announcement that she was “publicly resigning” during Monday night’s...

Click here

Council and Politics

Sharkie set to win, but Labor, Greens closing in

A political expert has warned that Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie must expand her focus beyond “rural, agrarian issues”, to stave off growing support for Labor and the Greens in the region. Ms Sharkie is set to be re-elected to Mayo, despite a 0.89%...

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Police

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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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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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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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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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Community

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Petition for skate park at Meadows

Members of the Meadows Primary School out of school hours care (OSHC) program are pushing for a local skate park, following a surge in interest in skating and BMX driven by Chicks on Wheels founder Vanessa Telford. Since 2021, OSHC students have...

Click here

Updated museum takes patrons back in time

The Hahndorf museum was re-opened last weekend after a refit that will help visitors discover the story behind the oldest surviving German settlement in Australia. Based at the Hahndorf Academy, the museum takes visitors through a summary of the...

Click here

Anzac of the Year

When current president Dennis Oldenhove joined the Macclesfield RSL Sub-branch in 2004, it had just 10 members and was at risk of folding. Now the RSL has about 130 members and Mr Oldenhove’s efforts to turn the organisation around have been...

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Off-grid home to open for Sustainable House Day

When Sharyna Sharman and Benson Sanders-Carter bought their Palmer property in 2017, they wanted to build a home that would blend in with nature, rather than stand out against it. “(We) wanted to build in a way that was more sustainable and would...

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Sport

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Hills Netball season underway

Aldgate and Heathfield claimed character-building wins in a return to Hills Netball Association A-grade ranks during last Saturday’s opening round. As the full competition program commenced the 2025 season, both teams stepped out in the top-tier...

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Chad Dawe reaches 400

A further accolade was added to the already outstanding achievements of champion Meadows sporting identity Chad Dawe last Saturday. Affectionately known as ‘Windsor’, Dawe clocked up his 400th senior appearance when he took to the field for his...

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Mid-Hills Netball is underway

Some competitive fixtures were the order of the day as the 2025 Mid Hills Netball Association season commenced last Saturday at Woodside. The A-grade competition has been boosted to eight teams and the opening round featured a thrilling draw between...

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Hornets on the rise

The Adelaide Hills Hockey Club’s top two teams had great success again last weekend. The Division 2 women played Adelaide Uni at Anembo Park and held the structure well to control most of the game. Despite the work of the Hills midfield, Jacqui...

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Netball’s back !

Both the Mid Hills and Hills Netball Association competitions start this weekend in what is anticipated to be an exciting season on the court. Mid Hills Netball Association competition will commence its 2025 campaign with Round 1 contests scheduled...

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Grand final atmosphere at Lobethal

In a much anticipated showdown at Lobethal Oval, the hosting Tigers delivered a commanding performance to overpower the Onkaparinga Valley Bulldogs, securing a 51-point victory in front of an estimated 3,000 spectators. The final score read Lobethal...

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Hills Football League Country Division starting

Hills Football League (HFL) Country Division action commences this Friday with the traditional ANZAC Round clash between Gumeracha and Kersbrook. For the hosting northern Magpies it has certainly been a roller coaster ride of emotions, having...

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Cricket Awards

Regional cricket award winners were celebrated last month and Langhorne Creek all-rounder Adam Clements won the Alexandra and Eastern Hills Cricket Association A-grade Shaun Tait ‘Cricketer of the Year award’.Returning to the Creek after a stint...

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Editorial

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Council concerns

The latest turn of events at the Mt Barker Council is alarming. For conflict in the council chamber to escalate so far that a long-term councillor resigns on the spot is representative of deep-seated culture issues. And it’s not the first sign...

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Vote responsibly

This Saturday, Australians will have the opportunity to participate in a process millions of people around the world have and still fight for. The opportunity to participate in a democratic election is a privilege not to take for granted and with...

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Basic mistake

The emergence of an old photograph of Liberal Mayo candidate Zane Basic touching a Lego Queen Elizabeth II on its chest is unfortunate. It was a photograph posted to social media years ago and, at the time, was almost certainly intended to be...

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Digital Editions

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