Plus a dream for artists and the flock speaks out. Welcome to Galah Weekly, our award-winning newsletter keeping you up to date with regional headlines that matter, plus other delightful things from life beyond the city. By Dean Southwell, who is secretly pleased the rush to the regions has eased.
Regional Australia has a “fleeting moment” to capitalise on a regional renaissance sparked largely by the Covid pandemic.
Sydney University lecturer Caitlin Buckle and Uni SA researcher Akshay Vij have studied what has attracted people to regional Australia and if they’ll stay. Last month they posed the question: Is the regional renaissance over?
The good news is Buckle doesn’t see the end of it yet, although Covid-induced population growth in the regions has slowed.
Regional Australia grew by 70,900 people during 2020-21 and growth is still relatively strong. Meanwhile, capital-city population declined during the pandemic but has since surged.
Buckle's study focused on Ballarat, Broken Hill and the Port Macquarie-Hastings region to learn what drove people to regional areas and how that population change could be managed.
Buckle told Galah this week that health services, education, housing and childcare were issues that need to be addressed if the regions were to attract and retain workers.
Her study showed that 30-40% of people would consider moving away from those regions within the next five years, highlighting the urgency of addressing the issues.
“I believe there are still sentiments from people living in major metropolitan areas that the grass may be greener in regional areas and particularly regional cities. High house prices as one of the drivers out of major cities still remain a key issue,” Buckle said.
Meanwhile, property site Domain has highlighted a price downturn in Victorian sea-change and tree-change towns amid a gradual return to CBD work and a slowing of migration out of the big cities.
Other studies show many Australians are prepared to trade off a backyard for an apartment if it means living close to the CBD of major cities.
How do you go from being a miner with virtually no interest in the night sky to building a two-storey observatory in your backyard and becoming a satellite observer for NASA?
That’s the continuing journey for Broken Hill miner Trevor Barry, and it’s seen him win astronomy awards and feature on national TV.
We’re interested in his story because it’s part of another important Broken Hill story. Barry featured in one of the early editions of the mining city’s new newspaper, the Broken Hill Times. It was launched last month by ENG Media, which also publishes Mildura’s Sunraysia Daily. It defies a trend of newspaper closures across the country and that’s fantastic news for those of us who believe local newspapers play critical roles in informing and, indeed, fostering communities.
Broken Hill’s union-owned Barrier Truth printed its last edition earlier this year.
Port Lincoln teacher Angie Casanova hopes her debut picture-book will help to inspire children to leave their screens and play outside, improving their language skills along the way.
The SA primary school teacher’s book, What is In Your Hair Today?, is the story of her six-year-old daughter Jordy’s adventurous childhood – and the messy hair is evidence of the adventures.
Both Casanova and author-psychologist Steve Biddulph believe children who spend time outside exploring and reduce the time spent on screens develop stronger language skills.
A global shortage of orange juice means shoppers are paying more for their citrus drink, but it’s good news for Australian growers.
Citrus disease in Brazil and Florida has forced juice prices on supermarket shelves to soar by as much as 20%. But it means locally grown product is in demand after a couple of lean years triggered by floods and drought.
Growers in regions such as Mildura, who this year have a quality crop, are looking forward to profits after depressed prices forced some smaller growers to leave the industry.
A WA farmer is defying an order to kill the feral donkeys he sees as critical to his 30-year mission to regenerate his remote Kimberley property.
Zimbabwe-born Chris Henggeler fell in love with the 760 square kilometre Kachana station in the 1980s and he and wife Jacqueline have raised their family there.
Henggeler found destocking wasn’t the answer to the desertification he saw on the property. Instead, he uses his cattle as “gardeners’’ to help mulch and prune vegetation and build soil, and argues that feral donkeys play the same role in parts of the property unsuitable for cattle.
Donkeys, first brought to Australia in the gold-rush era, are a declared feral pest in WA and seen as a threat to native systems. Henggeler has so far defied a WA government order to shoot them, and legal proceedings expected to determine the matter started this week.
Galah magazine subscriber Louise Gaudry from the Canberra suburb of Griffith has won our subscriber giveaway. Louise won $1500 to put towards the rug of her choice from The Rug Shop. Located in Bangalow, NSW, The Rug Shop is Australia’s top family-owned online Persian rug dealer.
Sydney author Charlotte Wood is shortlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize, to be announced next week. This week the author has supported Galah editor-in-chief Annabelle Hickson’s campaign to help those shortlisted for a Galah prize.
We hope you can help, too.
We're almost ready to open entries for the 2025 Galah Regional Photography Prize, which has $25,000 for the winner. Yet we know that making it as a finalist can be a financial burden.
It can cost thousands to have a photographic work printed, framed and shipped, so Annabelle has teamed with the Australia Cultural Fund to create an artist subsidy fund. It’s a tax-deductible way to donate, where every cent goes to the 40 finalists.
Wood contributed this week as the fund achieved about a third its $30,000 target within a few days. "Most people have no idea how much artists have to spend to even enter most prizes, and the out-of-pocket costs can be a huge barrier. Thank you for doing this," Wood wrote this week.
Galah’s shortlisted works will feature in an eight-week exhibition at the New England Regional Art Museum opening in April 2025. And there’ll be a wild party to celebrate on 2 May 2025.
We want the photographers to have a great chance to showcase their work, so if you can support the artist subsidy fund, please donate here.
By the way, we’ve obviously got our fingers crossed for Wood when the Booker Prize ceremony is held in London early on Wednesday AEST.
Galahs on the ground told of their sadness, anger and even horror prompted by last week’s story on the unspoken ban and potential threats to abortion rights.
Some said reproductive rights should not be a political issue; others expressed outright fury. All of the comments generally supported retaining abortion rights.
Here’s a selection of your comments:
“To think that it’s 2024 and we are still campaigning for access to safe abortion services for women not only in the bush but also in many large regional areas. It is a subject too easily politicised and we must teach our daughters and granddaughters to be vigilant about the protection of this basic right.” Catherine Haynes, Toowoomba, Qld
“My blood starts to boil when I read that male politicians are once again trying to ban abortion and that women across regional Australia are not able to access this critical service. What century are we in!” Kathy Madell, Maitland, NSW
“I believe that any abortion is sad, but it should not be a political issue. It is a decision for the woman to make following competent and non-judgemental medical advice. No woman should be forced or even encouraged to go ahead with a pregnancy that she does not want or cannot sustain emotionally or financially. However, late-term abortions should be absolutely banned unless there is some compelling medical reason arising from the condition of the fetus.” Anonymous, Surfers Paradise, Qld
“I was born in 1948 and still remain upset at the home-abortion fiascos of the 1950s. Horrified, incensed, that the issue is still not resolved for women countrywide. With that in mind a solution for today is to [allow trained nurses rather than doctors only to work in this field]. Like midwives taking control of birthing, women only need "termination wives” (trained nurses). Women’s centres in regional towns can do it all. And it would get rid of a lot of men in the system, but don’t tell anybody.” Milton Cater, Bangalow, NSW
Qld’s Granite Belt region celebrates its strawberry harvest at the Stanthorpe Berry Festival. Events include cooking demonstrations by celebrity chef Matt Golinski, eating competitions, art workshops, sip sessions, pie throwing and roving entertainment. 16 November, Stanthorpe Showgrounds, Qld. Read more
Artist Angelee Theodoros and her husband Harry moved to the SA Murray River town of Mannum after living in the Adelaide Hills for 40 years. New Places Old Stories is a collection of her work inspired by the Mannum area. Until 30 November, Arnold Gallery, Mannum Visitor Information Centre. Read more
The $50,000 Len Fox Painting Award is a biennial acquisitive painting prize for Australian artists organised by the Castlemaine Art Museum. View an exhibition of the finalists’ works, which includes the work of 2024 winner Nellie Ngampa Coulthard; a $500 people’s choice award will be announced at the end of the exhibition. Until 2 March 2025, Castlemaine Art Museum, Vic. Read more
Interview: Emma Hearnes
A Nyikina man from the Kimberley, Wayne Bergmann has dedicated his life to advancing Indigenous self-determination. As a lawyer, entrepreneur and leader, he has driven groundbreaking native title agreements, including a $1.4 billion compensation package during his time as CEO of the Kimberley Land Council. His leadership of organisations such as the Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Culture Centre, KRED Enterprises, and National Indigenous Times has continued his work in cultural preservation, economic empowerment, and storytelling.
Where do you live and work?
In the beautiful Kimberley region of Western Australia, specifically in Broome and Fitzroy Crossing. This area holds a special place in my heart, both as my home and as a community where I strive to make a difference.
What drives your community work?
I find great fulfilment in nurturing projects and watching them grow. And I really am optimistic about the future. I truly believe that now is the time for Aboriginal economic growth and independence. As more Aboriginal enterprises emerge, we will see more opportunities for Aboriginal people to be employed within their own communities. We are uniquely positioned to address our socio-economic needs, creating lasting change that can positively impact our people from cradle to grave.
What have been some of your proudest achievements?
I’ve had the privilege of overseeing the recognition of 75% of the Kimberley under Native Title, establishing the Kimberley Ranger Network, and successfully achieving National Heritage Listing for the north and west Kimberley. I also grew the Kimberley Land Council from 23 to 140 staff members, which was both challenging and rewarding.
Your book, Some People Want to Shoot Me, is described as an “electrifying tale of resilience, determination and optimism”. Tell me more.
It reflects my personal story, family history and the challenges I’ve faced. These resonate with many First Nations people. I think my story speaks to the importance of the future I’m talking about – where First Nations communities are at the forefront of economic development, paving the way toward greater independence.
What is the hardest part about "living in two cultures" for you?
Living in two cultures – traditional and modern Australian society – is incredibly fulfilling, yet sometimes complex. It’s a privilege to navigate these worlds. I believe preserving the richness of traditional culture adds immense value to Australia's national identity. Understanding our past is crucial for building a unified future.
WA filmmaker Bec Bignall has deftly switched from an animation to help kids understand basic first-aid to a doco on honey, truffles and vegetables.
We mentioned Bignall last week for her role in The Darcy Effect’s Fangs on the Farm project. Now she’s working with the Southern Forests Food Council, which approached her to help them tell the story of the WA food-bowl region. Bignall arranged for a group of filmmakers to meet the farmers and see what they do as prep for a documentary series.
We’d love to hear about the news, events and people that should be making the headlines in Galah Weekly. Share what’s new(s) in your neck of the woods with us at newsie@galahpress.com
